Something told him he’d be up all night, fighting the urge to text Wade for updates every five minutes.
***
Clack, clack, clack.
Every time someone spun the roulette wheel, Dana winced. Why did they make those devices so goddamned loud? She wouldn’t have thought such a tiny ball could create such a clamor in her head.
The commotion escalated when some lady shouted in triumph as her number was called.
“I can’t watch anymore. It’s giving me a headache.”
“The roulette wheel is giving you a headache?” Anise patted Dana’s back. “I could have sworn it was the drinks last night that gave you that headache.”
Dana grunted.
“Someone got mighty happy at the House of Sin,” teased Jessica.
“Are you kidding me?” said Bea. “Someone was pretty happy before she ever stepped foot inside the place.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Dana groaned. “So you all keep telling me.”
“You can’t blame us,” said Bea. “That was the first time I’ve ever seen you like that. You’re a silly drunk, Dana.”
“I wasn’t drunk. I just overindulged a bit.” She wandered away from the roulette wheel and into another section of the Vice casino, the others following her.
“What exactly did you drink before we got our slushies?” asked Anise.
“I had some wine in my room while I was getting dressed,” replied Dana. “It must have been strong. Are we honestly keeping score?”
“The tables have turned, little sister.” Anise smirked and wagged her finger. “You lectured me a lot during my misspent youth. Consider this payback.”
“Payback, right. Only I thought we were supposed to be having fun. Isn’t that part of our manifesto for the week?”
“We are having fun,” said Anise. “Some of us more than others, that’s all. If only Tommy knew what you were getting up to in that private room with Rico.”
Tommy, Tommy, Tommy. Why did Anise have to keep mentioning Tommy?
Jessica laughed. “Don’t forget, Anise. His full name is Rico Maximum.”
“As in maximum girth.” Bea cackled. “He wasn’t lying.”
“I don’t care what he said. That thing was not real.” Jessica shook her head. “You touched it, Dana. Did it feel real?”
“I didn’t touch it. How many times do I have to tell you guys? He just gave me a lap dance. Besides, with Wade watching over me, poor Rico could barely perform. I think he scared him.”
“Poor Rico.”
When Anise repeated her words, they all burst out laughing again, which only made her head hurt more.
“Ah, Wade was adorable,” said Bea. “Such a sweet man.”
“He looked so uncomfortable.” Jessica bit her lip. “All night long, he kept averting his gaze so he wouldn’t make eye contact with any of the penises.”
“We need to bring him out more often,” added Bea.
“It’s a good thing Alex asked him to join us,” said Jessica, elbowing Dana. “God only knows what sort of trouble you might have gotten into, Miss Thing.”
Alex.
