April looked up quickly. “How?”
Bunni laughed. “Living here, you learn to read faces real quick. What’s your name?”
“A-April.”
“Go home, April. Look, lemme take you someplace decent. Spend the night. I’ll give you my number, you call me tomorrow, I’ll bring you back here, you head back home. You got enough money for that?”
“I do.” She nodded and sucked in her lower lip. It was the responsible thing to do.
It was also giving up before she’d even started.
There’s nothing but more shame, more humiliation back home.
April wondered if Shane had told everyone what a fool she was. How she believed the school’s golden boy would throw his life away and run off with the town trash.
“I have enough money…to stay here,” April told Bunni. “Now please, take me to a casino with a hotel.”
Bunni shook her head. “It’s your life, kid. I tried.” She lit a cigarette and cracked her window open, then pulled away from the curb. Bunni didn’t say a word as the cab crawled through the Vegas streets. April watched out the window as the lights grew brighter. Her stomach tightened in anticipation and fear. Where would Bunni take her? Did she have enough money?
Casinos rose on both sides of the Strip, impossibly big. People lined the sidewalks, everyone laughing and drinking while showgirls in feathers weaved through, stopping only for photographs. April’s belly loosened. She could do this.
Bunni kept driving—past all the casinos.
“Where are we going?” April asked in alarm. She turned to look out the rear window at the receding lights as her fear kicked back into high gear.
“You think you can afford to stay at one of the big casinos at a moment’s notice?” She laughed. “I’m taking you where you requested.”
“Oh, right.” April sat back and tried to relax. Were there casinos in the Vegas suburbs?
But they weren’t headed for the suburbs. The buildings around them turned older, darker, shabbier.
“Here we are, old downtown Vegas,” Bunni said as she slowed in front of a seedy-looking building with a tall, flashingsign readingThe Western Pioneer Casino. Some of the bulbs were burned out. “Just what you wanted, a small casino with rooms. Hotel’s next door and it’s decent…enough.”
“It’s perfect,” April said with as much bravery as she could put into her voice. “Thank you.”
“The Pioneer’s full of locals. Felix should be at the desk tonight. Tell him Bunni sent you.”
April tried not to blanch at the dollar amount on the meter. She wouldn’t be taking many taxis if they costthatmuch. She reached for her wallet and took out enough cash plus a generous tip just to prove she could.
Bunni took the money, counted it quickly, and handed back the tip. “Nope, keep it, you’ll need it. And this.” She pressed an old receipt with her name and a phone number written on the back into April’s palm, holding her gaze. “Remember to ask for Felix. And call me tomorrow.”
“Thanks,” April said as she got out and walked to the open trunk to retrieve her bags. Cigarette smoke wafted from the window and Bunni pulled away the moment April set her bags on the sidewalk. She looked up at the doors just as an old guy lurched out and lost his dinner all over the pavement.
I’ve got thisshe told herself. Then April squared her shoulders and wheeled her luggage past the man, on a mission to find Felix.
April wokeup the next morning having no idea where she was. The metal bed frame squeaked as she turned over and opened her eyes. Right, she was in a hotel room in Vegas, one that cost her more than she thought it was worth. At this rate, she’d burn through her money twice as fast as she’d predicted.Damn my pride for not taking Shane’s—I mean, Mr. Foti’s—money.
But, she had a plan, one that ironically came from tutoring Shane.
April showered and dressed, then went downstairs for breakfast. At least she’d eat one meal—a breakfast buffet was included in the price of her room. And it was surprisingly good. She noticed familiar faces from the night before. Felix had told her this was more of a local place, confirming what Bunni had said. Everyone looked tired and she wondered how many had been up all night and were simply refueling for another day of gambling.
That won’t be meshe promised herself as she carried a plate heaped with scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast over to a small table in the corner of the room.This is only temporary.As soon as I have enough money, I’ll head for California like we…I…planned.
After breakfast, April went outside. Dry Nevada air hit her, shockingly hot already, and it was barely eight o’clock. She’d been hoping for a craps table in the casino, but it was all slots, and electronic poker machines lined up around a bar. The receipt Bunni had given her the night before crackled in her hand as she squeezed it. Standing in what little shade an awning provided, April called the number on the back of the receipt.
“This April?” Bunni’s gruff voice answered.
“Yes, it is. I?—”
