Night Out

Before I left, I discovered that my boss had made my temporary assignment to the team official and, with it, came lodging and a per diem stipend.

A short drive later and David dropped me off at my hotel. {if investigateSailboat > 0} As I didn't have any luggage, I checked in and then headed out shopping for clothes and essentials.{else}I checked in and dropped off my luggage. Then, having nothing productive to do, I decided to walk around and do some window shopping.{endif}

Despite the temperature in San Diego, supposedly, being cooler than New York at the time, it felt pretty uncomfortable walking around with the scorching sun beating down on me and I was **** to spend most of the afternoon in the air conditioned shops spending the per diem{if investigateSailboat > 0} and a bit of my savings, since the stipend wasn't meant to provide all new clothing{endif}.

After shopping, I decided that, since this was going to be my last dinner in the US, I was going to splurge on a steak house. When I ordered, I told the waiter, "I'll take the juiciest, bloodiest steak and I want it raw." At which, he rolled his eyes and shrugged before writing down my order, as though he'd been asked to serve a crazy woman. Admittedly, I used to order my steak medium until I started dating The Asshole and switched to ordering a salad and grilled chicken in a vain attempt to fit some tableau.

Anyway, the steak I got was the best I'd ever tasted. I spent forty glorious minutes savoring each juicy bite and I finished by soaking up the remaining blood with a roll and scarfing it down.

After returning to my hotel, I dropped off my bags. Then, I tried to decide what to do next. I felt, not really hungry and not really horny, but like I was missing something and I needed to find whatever I was missing before I could get to bed.

While I couldn't place the feeling, I decided that I'd take my mind off it by heading out and seeing San Diego's nightlife.

I took off my old clothes, showered, and slipped into the classic little black dress that I had purchased and set about doing my makeup, which was a chore, given that my skin was still too pale and I considered trying to spend some time at a tanning salon, but then remembered that I was headed to Mexico and I'd surely be getting plenty of sun soon. So, I accepted that I'd be stuck with the overly pale look for tonight and worked around it.

Then, like the tourist I was, I opened the map app and searched for "dance club", bookmarking three that were within walking distance of each other and I took one of the taxis that was loitering outside the hotel for just such a passenger.

The first building that I came to was a low brick structure with all the windows blacked out. Around it were the temporary metal railings they use to guide crowds and, surprisingly, there was already a decent line waiting to get in.

Wondering if I should take my place at the end of the line and wait, I surveyed the people waiting to get in. The girls ranged from 'awkward girl who is showing too much skin to make up for her lack of confidence', to 'girl who is probably going to fall over on the dance floor because she pre-drank way to much', to 'underage girl trying to blend in with the college crowd,' to 'thirty and **** woman' pretending she's still twenty-one. The guys weren't any better, with printed tees being the go-to wardrobe choice. And, I realized, this wasn't my crowd, not that I was really certain what I was looking for.

The next club I walked to wasn't even a dance club, but a lounge hosting some sort of private get together. And the final spot I had saved in my phone was a wannabe Irish pub, but not like the good one I knew in New York.

Dejected, climbed in the taxi that was just waiting to whisk away sodden pub goers.

"Take me, fuck, I don't know. Take me to a club where I don't have to put up with cheerleaders and frat boys."

"Are you talking one for elite muckety-mucks, a comedy club, or somewhere to get your freak on?" the driver asked.

"I doubt I could get into the elite club and, even if I did, it would be like hanging out with my boss, so not that one. And, frankly, I'm not in a laughing mood, so give me the last one."

"Sure thing, ma'am."

Minutes later, he dropped me off at a place called Masque.