“Before we dive too deep into this,” Raye said to me, “we got the thing. So we have an appointment at the man cave tomorrow night.”
Since she was talking in semi-code (“the thing” was Arthur’s report on Amy and Dexter), I just nodded, though deep down I was beside myself we were going to see Titus (and his man cave).
“And we’re on for Jinx tonight,” Raye continued. “We’re picking her up at eight. You in?”
“I’m in,” I said, grabbing my phone to text Gabe about this addition to the evening’s festivities.
“Jinx?” Tod asked, settling into his own chair.
Stevie was dragging another one over.
I looked for Luke and saw his back right before the security gate closed him from sight.
Guess we were done talking, and Luke wasn’t down with an impromptu wedding planning party.
Not surprised.
“Jinx is our friend. She’s a sex worker who had a client fall in love with her.” Raye powered through Alexis’s shocked gasp and Martha’s shocked growl. “She threw his offer to take her out of the life and build a home together in his face. She’s devasted seeing as, since, she’s realized her mistake. We’re forcing her into damage control.”
“Do you know this client?” Tod asked delicately.
“We’ve not met, no,” Raye said. “But we’ve seen him. He’s rich AF, looks like Clark Kent from the Christopher Reeves movies, and he brings her flowers and gifts on their dates.”
“Pretty Woman come to life,” Stevie noted.
“Exactly,” I said.
“What kind of flowers?” Tod asked.
“Roses,” Raye answered.
“Acceptable,” Tod pronounced. “We’ll go with you.”
Oh boy.
“Um…I don’t know—” Raye began.
“This one.” Martha was waving a yellow fabric swatch she’d ripped out of Alexis’s book. “Not this one.” She waved another much paler yellow one.
“I agree. Tuscany, not buttermilk,” Tod said.
“I agree too,” Alexis said.
“Martha, this is Tod and Stevie from Denver,” Raye introduced.
“Howzit,” Martha mumbled not looking up from the scrapbook, then she flipped a page.
“What are we agreeing?” Zach, who had both posterboards under an arm and was dragging both easels with the other, huffed up to us.
“Easels!” Tod cried, popping up to rush around to help Zach. “We are so totally finding a way to work together.”
“We agreed Tuscany, Zach.” Alexis now had the swatch, and she was showing it to Zach.
“Yes, my lovely. Perfection!” Zach yelped like the swatch bit him on the ass.
“Stevie!” Tod exclaimed. “Why did I never do big diagrams and easels?” He fanned an arm across one of the diagrams. “Look at this! It’s stunning.”
“Thanks.” Zach grinned.
