“Nah,” Skinner said. He turned on a light in the living area. “I just hustle and manage properties. This house belongs to my mom.”
“Oh,” Joan said. “And where is she?”
“Prison,” Skinner said. He walked over to the TV and turned it on. Fox News blasted into their space. Irene lunged for the remote and turned the volume off.
“Everything is set up. We’ve got internet, too,” Skinner said. “The password is in here.” He picked up a binder and opened it. “Got some take-out menus, some restaurant ideas. There’s a grocery store up on the main road. Pretty small, though. We’re in a bit of a food desert in this part of town. But there’s a liquor storenext to the grocery, because I know how you Golden Girls like to party, am I right?” He mimed tipping a bottle.
“We will now,” Irene muttered.
“Oh, and Todd set up a nice little welcome basket in the kitchen. We’ve got tea and coffee and some other shit if you forgot anything.”
“Todd?” Frances said.
“Todd.” Skinner pointed to the big guy. “I do DoorDash and Uber, too. I can give you a lift anywhere you need to go. I’m a one-stop kind of guy.”
“I have a question,” Edie said.
“Shoot, Blanche.”
Edie hesitated.
Skinner laughed. “Bruh! You’ve gotta see the resemblance. You’re Blanche, and you’re Dorothy,” he said, pointing at Joan, “And you’re Rose, and you’re—”
“I’ll kill you if you say it,” Irene bit out.
Skinner slapped his hands against his bony knees and howled. “This is what I’m saying!” he crowed. “So, what’s your question?”
“I forgot,” Edie said.
“Hey, nice wheels,” Skinner said, looking out the open door at the old Cadillac.
“Thanks,” Joan said.
“Do you have a card, young man?” Edie asked primly.
“A card,” Skinner slowly repeated. “What’s that?”
“A business card.”
“Nah. Just put my digits in your phone.”
Edie’s stared at him. He held out his hand, and then Edie stared at that.
“I’ve got it,” Frances said quickly. “I’ve got your, ah, digits in my phone.”
“Sick,” Skinner opined. “You need anything, text me. I mean anything. Even if I haven’t done it before, I’ll figure it out. I’m up for anything.”
“Anything?” Irene said, nodding approvingly. “Like …anything?”
“Hell, yeah,” Skinner said jovially. “By the way, you can walk to the Strip from here. If you go out the back gate and walk up the alley, you’ll be there in two minutes. But I’d recommend you go in groups. And don’t carry a lot of cash on you, if you know what I mean.”
“What if we hit it big on the slots?” Edie asked.
“Text me. I’ll pick you up and drive you down the alley. One-stop shop,” he reminded her. The four of them stared at him. Skinner put his hands on his hips and surveyed the four of them. “So look, girls, I know what’s going down in here.” He looked at Todd and Todd nodded that he did, too.
“Shit,” Edie whispered.
“This is my mom’s house. So, please don’t be bringing a bunch of dudes over here.”
