“I’m gonna stop in the lobby for a drink,” C says. “See you back in Coins.”
“Let me take Ash up to the room, and I’ll come back down, C.”
“I’m not tired,” Ash says, her bright eyes hopeful.
“Not tired, huh? You should do some work.”
She laughs and rolls her eyes. “Come on, Scotty. Rachel and Sasha already went upstairs. They don’t need me to babysit now.”
“I can’t take you to the bar. You wanna get me arrested?” I tease.
She makes a face. “No way. Kath wouldkillme.”
“Sure, but otherwise,” I say, guiding her to the elevators.
“Otherwise, well, I suppose it’s on both of us to keep our stories up. In makeup, I can pass for twenty-one, right?”
“Without makeup, you can pass for fifteen. Don’t push your luck.”
“All right,” she says with another roll of her eyes. “Well, I had the best time tonight. Wait till I tell everyone you took me to a party full of show people. They’ll be so jealous.”
“That’s the idea. Flaunting our association never caused any trouble.”
She sighs. “I made my Instagram private like you asked. I was only going to tell my close friends about tonight. Is that not all right?”
“Better to keep it quiet. But it is all right if you come with Kathleen to Coynston on the weekend and go wherever she goes, even Slattery’s. It’s safe for you to hang out in my bar.”
She wrinkles her nose. “Coynston’s great and all, but it’s not New York.”
Exactly, I think.
We reach the suite, and I open the door. Laurelyn’s dressed in a blue and gold satin kimono over a pair of blue silk pajama pants. The ties make me want to take her in the bedroom to unwrap her and then tie her to the bed. But I won’t.
She’s drinking herbal tea with Rachel. Irina’s wearing a black onesie. I didn’t even know they made them in that color. She’s standing on ‘Vil’s forearm, leaning against his chest like it’s a wall. Her little fingers grip his shirt. When she pauses from babbling, he adds a line or two. At first I think it’s random, but then I realize he’s telling her a story. The best part though is the way he helps her move his shirt so she can puts her ear against his chest when he talks.
“We think she likes the vibration.” Rachel says.
“What story are you telling her, ‘Vil?”
He shrugs.
I look over at Rachel.
“It’s a Russian folktale. Sometimes he does it in Russian. That’s the best.”
“Who’s on C?” ‘Vil asks.
“I’m going down. Miller’s been with him all day. I’ll swap out.”
“I can go,” Anvil says, standing.
“Nah, I’m better for this.”
‘Vil pauses, and we exchange a look.
“If it’s me, he might talk about what’s really on his mind. If it’s you, he won’t.”
‘Vil’s blank stare makes me shake my head.
