‘Of course we’ll help out. Even though it’s our pre-moon and we didn’t come here to work.’ Liam sounds disappointingly on the cusp of not wanting to do it.
‘So, we have Big Mand and Big Sue sneaking around like loved-up teens.’ Ged is ticking off a mental list. ‘Cherry has gone nuclear because she’s no longer pregnant. Liberty is designated carer. And Tash and Sister Kevin are doing what exactly?’
Oh, God.
‘They’ve won some tickets.’
‘What sort of tickets?’
‘Just tickets.’
‘To do what?’
Gah!
‘To see Celine Dion.’
‘CELINE BLOODY DION?’ yells Ged.
‘WHERE?’ says Liam.
‘She’s doing a one-off at the Bellagio.’
They remain motionless for a few seconds. Liam develops a tic in his eye while Ged grinds his teeth very loudly.
‘I’m sure the pool party will be so much better,’ I say. ‘And you guys love being on stage. All that attention.’
They remain unconvinced.
‘I promise we’ll have a blast.’
I should not be making promises I can’t keep. What is wrong with me?
‘Who will be at this pool party of Eddie’s? Isn’t he, like, ninety or something? How old is Nancy? She’s had more than a few laps round the sun.’
‘No idea. Thirty-nine?’ She’s got to be sixty at least. I am making an already bad situation much worse. ‘But I do know that it will be the event to go to.’
Ged huffs, turning to Liam. ‘Look, she’s pulling her earlobe.’
I immediately stop, sandwiching both my hands in my lap, my eyes wide, feigning innocence.
‘Too late, sister. Cancel the Omega Mart. We’re going to try and get tickets for Celine. What table did they win them at? Liam, darling, put on your finery. We’re going gambling.’
This birthday bash is going to be a disaster if there’s just me to entertain Eddie. The Dollz bring all the energy and fun. Sparks fly when they are on stage together. Crowds clap and cheer. They get out of their seats to join in the twerking. They get ridiculously hot and sweaty trying to copy their moves, especially slapping pretend sexual partners on their behinds as they take them doggy style. Crowds have been known to sing along from start to finish, such is the playful atmosphere the Dollz create the moment they strut onto stage. They are mesmerising.
I can already hear Nancy shouting down the phone at me that if Eddie had wanted a melancholy singing statue for his birthday, he would have ordered one.
* * *
I check my phone again to see if Matteo has messaged. Nothing yet. A feeling of emptiness unfurls in my stomach. I have to fight the urge to send him a thousand silly texts thanking him for being so kind to my friends. I just want to know what he’s doing. Where he is. What he’s saying. I want us to be hanging out together.
Instead, I message the group chat and demand a meeting at the love sign. I tell them there has been a change of plan. We are no longer going to the Omega Mart this morning, but we need to discuss Eddie from Talent Star’s birthday bash instead. His party starts at 2p.m. We are expected on stage at 4p.m. I tell them Nancy has been in touch. She is expectingallof us to be on top form for it and to do something special as a surprise. What does that even mean? I’m hoping for a rapid response. A plethora of suggestions to come flooding in.
They do not.
Where to start?I slip my phone back in my pocket and head to the casino. Surely Cherry with her flaming-red hair and cloud of dissatisfaction at the world will be easy to spot, but I’m met with a burst of colour in every direction. The blinking neon lights, the loud trilling, bleeping and blooping of slot machines merge into one gigantic seascape of blazing psychedelic colour and noise. The casino is vast and there are so many people walking around. Someone taps me lightly on the shoulder.
‘Hi there.’
