I put a hand on her arm. “You’d have to have a cesarean. Even though you’re tall, he’s enormous.”
She laughed. “That’s right. He’s way too big to be attractive.”
“I wouldn’t say he’s unattractive. We aren’t into lying to ourselves, just that he’s not right for you.”
She frowned and nodded. “He’s vile. He’s completely corrupt.”
I opened my mouth to tell her that Horse owned the hotel, then stopped because Jezebel didn’t want me to, and she had reasons for everything she did and didn’t do. “What’s it like to live in a hotel? I imagine I’ll have to find somewhere else once I get a regular income.”
“It’s expensive. Going through the lobby is irritating, but it’s close to the other hotels for performances.”
“Is it expensive? Can you keep pets? What about music? Could I play my cello all night? How’s the landlord? Does he jack your rates as high as he can, assuming he’s a male?”
She looked thoughtful. “I have no complaints about the landlord. As soon as I report a problem, it’s fixed by the time I get back from work. The cleaning is immaculate, I can do whatever I want with the place, and he hasn’t raised my rent in five years. The only real drawback to living here is Horse.”
“Huh. Well, and the annoying lobby. You could move.”
“I don’t know. I think I’d just live in the compound rather than try to find another place.” She shuddered and then started walking more quickly.
“Trixie, what’s the deal with Janice? Why was talking to her a threat to Horse?”
Her eyes widened and then she winced. “I shouldn’t have said that. It’s about the femininity versus masculinity thing. He’s more offended than I am when I’m categorized as less than delicate, which makes no sense because he hired Janice after she raised charges against me for sexual harassment and assault.”
I grabbed her arm, slowing her down. “Wait, you assaulted Janice and then Horse hired her?”
She shook her head. “I hugged her. She was so little and nervous, so I gave her a hug, trying to squeeze out some of the tension, you know? It was when I was new to Vegas. I don’t hug people anymore until I know them. You don’t mind, do you? I’m naturally physical, but it’s not sexual.”
“Wait, she charged you for sexual assault over a hug? Seriously? That seems like an overreaction.”
Trixie shrugged. “She overreacts. Still, she does plan great parties for Horse, so I can see why he hired her.”
I shook my head because, what? “I’m still not getting how it threatens Horse if you talk to her.”
“Because Janice will gossip about how I’m a predator, and then all the rumors will start again. For some reason, the idea that I’m not interested in men is an insult to him. It probably comes back to his ego.”
“Oh.” Or it had to do with protecting her feelings. Not just her feelings if it was an issue of legality.
She squeezed my shoulder, her grasp strong and firm. “I’m going to pick up breakfast on the way to the compound. I shouldn’t have carbs, but after I see Horse, I need to eat my rage. You can come with me over the holidays.” She gave me one last wave before she walked out of the beautiful front doors, leaving me standing in the lobby feeling a twinge of aching at the thought of somewhere to go for Christmas.
I had enough time before rehearsal to contact Jordan and send him all of my costume ideas.
He texted back a ‘Thanks, Princess Pink. I’ll take it from here.’
I didn’t like letting it go, but I definitely had other things to focus on. When Hawkins and the other band members came in, I was ready to pass out the music I’d been working on.
“Hi. Can I get your numbers?” I asked as I handed the sheet music around.
They stared at me, took the music, but not looking at it while they stared.
“I thought we could do something different,” I said, pointing at the music. “I really want to play live, and I thought that?—”
“You’re the cellist by the river,” Ziggy interrupted, pulling out her phone. “I thought it was you.”
I stared at her. “I beg your pardon?”
She held her phone at me, and I got to see my epic performance on the teeny-tiny screen. “It’s viral. Dani Divine. Who’s your videographer? Who did your sound? Your costume is sick. It looks so authentic. No plastic vinyl for that, and the snow effects? Genius.”
I cleared my throat while my palms went clammy. “I’m sorry, but that’s not me. I’m going to be late for rehearsal. I’ve just remembered something…” I rushed past them, heart racing so fast I could barely hear myself think. I stumbled through the first restroom I came to and crammed myself and Othello into a stall while I tried to breathe. I pulled out my phone and called Toni.
