‘I’ll pay,’ I offer. I quickly swipe my credit card through the machine, wincing at the extortionately crippling amount, and escort Cherry out of the shop. ‘Come on. You’ll be okay,’ I soothe. ‘Everything will work out for the best. We’ll just meet the others, and then get some rest.’
Cherry wipes her face and sniffs out a thank you. She’s in a right mess. Back to how she was in Benidorm with streaks of make-up running down her face. ‘I’ll be fine once I start gambling. It’ll take my mind off things.’
I nod. ‘I’m sure it will. I’m sure it will.’ I’m absolutely 100 per cent sure it won’t, but she needs something to cling to.
* * *
A short while later, we have made it back to the drop spot. Big Sue is there holding Tash upright. Tash appears awake but apparently is sleeping with her eyes open while standing. ‘Kinda like a horse,’ says Big Sue. ‘Who’da thunk it? Impressive, huh?’ She lets go for a few seconds and Tash remains rigid.
I try not to look startled. Big Sue has now adopted a full-on Deep South accent.
‘Great. So, we have Cherry, you, Tash, and where’s Big Mand?’
Big Sue checks her pockets. ‘No idea, Big Guy. No idea. We’ve been compromised. Infiltrated. Burned. Whaddaya-gonna-do-abad-it?’
Effing hell.
I do some quick thinking. There’s a bar area next to us that seems to double as a snack bar. It seems safe enough to leave these three there while I go in search of Liberty and Big Mand. Big Mand will be furious with Tash. She has made it very clear that we all must stay awake or we will be too shattered for Ged and Liam’s BIG pre-moon spree extravaganza tonight, which would be our morning in body-clock time, and the knock-on effect will be wanting to sleep during our opening gig tomorrow night. The Venetian has a reputation for world-class performances, especially for its Cocktail Hour entertainment, and if we don’t deliver, Nancy, our agent, will never book us ever again.
‘Hey, what’s up? What happened to meeting at the love sign?’ asks Liam on approach. He is dressed in his Rollerblading Ken outfit. It is neon yellow with paint splashes all over it. ‘What do you think?’ he says, twirling around.
It’s a very powerful statement, that’s what I think. It leaves nothing to the imagination.
‘I love it. It really brings out the yellow in your arms and legs,’ says Cherry.
‘I tried to talk him out of it,’ says Ged, dressed in the Cowboy Ken outfit he travelled here in. ‘Here’s the stuff to take your green face away.’ He hands me a small pot, which I slip into my pocket.
‘Can you please babysit these three for me?’ I ask them. ‘I need to round up Liberty and Big Mand. Then I really think we should have a very short nap before cocktail hour. I’ve booked us all a table at the Minus5 bar. I think the freezing-cold atmosphere might help keep us awake.’ I mentally cross my fingers and hope that the boys agree.
Ged yawns loudly. ‘Absolutely fine by me.’
‘Great. Please eat something,’ I say, pointing to the rather unappetising weeks-old jumbo hot dogs, ‘and I’ll be back in five with the others.’
I put a message in the group chat to return to our bedrooms for an emergency snooze, but the Dollz are obviously not checking the WhatsApp updates. I race off deeper into the casino, weaving in and out of the slot machines, the gaming tables, the hundreds and hundreds of people. I scan the floor and instantly spot Liberty. Her blonde ponytail is swinging jauntily. Her tiny butt cheeks are poking below her teeny tiny Barbie dress as she leans over a roulette table to place a bet in the most provocative way I’ve ever seen. There are multiple sets of eyes on her. I smile fondly to myself. She really is a force to be reckoned with.
‘Hey,’ I say, fighting through a small crowd to get to her. ‘How’s it going?’
‘Absolutely brilliant,’ she squeals over her shoulder. ‘I’m up all of these chips. No idea what they’re worth, but this is amazing. And they keep bringing me free drinks!’
Liberty is shining with excitement. It seems a shame to pull her away. ‘I, erm, kind of need your help.’
‘For what?’
‘Putting the others to bed. Big Sue and Tash are virtually asleep anyway, and Cherry… Well, Cherry…’
How to describe Cherry snorting jellies like a sugar-crazed buffalo?
‘Pffft,’ Liberty scoffs. ‘They’re not babies. Besides, I’ve just seen Cherry.’
‘Have you? I literally just left her two seconds ago.’
‘Yeah. Just now. She needed to borrow my Monzo card. Needed to buy something to drink. Even though I told her all the drinks here are free.’
Oh no.
‘What?’ asks Liberty. ‘Why are you looking at me like that?’
‘I… No reason. No reason. I’m sure Cherry wouldn’t…’
