"Fucking A for awesome!"He tells me.
"Thank you!I'm a Vegas dancer."
"I could have guessed that!"
"Listen.I don't have my phone, and I don't have any money with me to bribe you, but I'm going to offer you a deal you can't refuse."
"I don't know.It'll have to be a pretty sweet deal to break their rules."
"I'll give you the name of my agent who will hook you up with an all-expense paid vacation to Vegas if you will do this for me."
He grins."Hell, yeah.I'll do it.No one plays by the rules anyway."
I tell him he'll have to take over as MC, and then I give him my song choices with my choice of who I want to sing them.Then I give him Cat's number."Text her that Seary."I spell it for him."Says you have won a trip.She'll verify it with me, then hook you up."
He grins."Best gig ever!"
He follows me to the mic and says."Milo, you're next."
Milo prances to the stage as I lean into Aurei's waiting arms.His eyes are like stars, and the crinkle in the corners are deep with happiness."That was fucking dynamite, My Diva Thang."
"Bang, Baby, Bang!Happy faces all around!"I laugh and kiss his puckered lips.I feel as light as a feather as he swings me around, then sets me down."I'm thirsty after all that.Let's take a break."He cinches us and walks hand in hand, the sea of people part with grins, winks, knuckle bumps, and clapping as we go.
18
Milo begins his song, reading the script that runs before the music plays.His slight accent is amplified by the microphone as he recites a story about being a headline singer all alone in a Star Suite.I start to giggle, knowing what's coming.We arrive just as he starts to sing "It's Hard To Be Humble" by Mac Davis.His timing is a little off, which makes his performance hilarious in and of itself, but his delivery of the lyrics once he gets it down and the spectacular way he dances to the catchy tune make his version even funnier.He parades like a peacock, telling everyone how perfect he is, and he knows it.The crowd is cackling with laughter, and "Ha Ha Ha's" burst out all around.Aurei gives me the 'you win' for best song choice look as everyone ignores us to watch him.At the end of the song, he encourages everyone to join him as he finishes.The people on the dance floor lock arms and sway with him.Then he gets a bigger round of applause than we did.He receives his much-deserved accolades then says, "Let's take a 15-minute break.I need a drink!"
When the noise levels off, our waiter walks up to take our order.Aurei tells him our usual."Crown neat with water."
Ann and Bee stand and excuse themselves."Bee is tired and needs to rest."
"Jetlag."
They come over to tell me what fun they had.Aurei and I both stand, and they hug our necks.I hear Bee tell Aurei."Ann said she was a keeper, Bro in law.I have to agree."
He nods."Yeppers.I don't think I'll let her go."
"You better not.Love looks good on you."She punches his arm playfully.
When they walk off, we sit, and Aurei puts his arm around me then pulls my chair between his legs.He leans up and blows in my ear."What are you thinking?"
I lift my shoulder and kink my neck as goosebumps pop out, then I cut my eyes at him."How love looks."
"Hmm.Does it look good on me?"
I kiss his cheek."It does, but I was thinking about Gio and Antonio."
"What about them?"
"They clearly love each other.They've just grown apart, and that's sad."I look back at them and see Angelo is leaning over, talking to Quintus and Antonio, and I realize Mia is gone.
I'm distracted by that knowledge and give Aurei a confused look when he says."Gio needed that."
"Oh.Yes.She did."I turn my attention back to them.They are still sitting stiff, but I can see the 'want to' in both of them.There must be a lot of 'couple baggage' interfering."I think they need a bigger push."Our drinks arrive, and we down the water first, then sip our Crown in silence while listening to the noise around us.I look around, curious to see where Mia is, but my eyes keep drifting back to Aurei.He is sitting back, relaxed in his chair, and studying me.His face looks needy, and his eyes are hooded.Finally, I ask him."What are you thinking?"
"How good love looks."
I smirk at him."Is that all?"
