“This place. The casino.”
Marcy blinked. She put her hand on his arm and looked around them. The other man, Frances noticed, tossed down the damp napkins and slunk away. “No way.Really? Rocco—that’s amazing! But of course, it makes total sense. You were always so clever.”
“Thanks. But I thought …” Rocco caught himself. “What brings you to the Pelican?”
“I’m here with friends. And … they’re getting married! Well, they were supposed to, but the happy couple got in this huge fight about his gambling, and I don’t know…” She toyed with a dangling earring. “I thought I should make myself scarce while they work it out. I came in here for a drink, but then I did the dumbest thing and spilled on that poor man.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll take care of that,” Rocco said, and snapped in the direction of the bartender without looking at him.
“Oh my God,” Frances muttered.
“Are you staying here? At the Pelican?”
Marcy blinked.
“No,” Edie said firmly.
“Nope,” Marcy said. “The Bellagio.”
“Oh, theBellagio,” Rocco said, nodding. “Nice place. The Pelican is going to be a lot nicer, when I’m done with it.”
Edie winked at Frances. “My granddaughter,” she mouthed.The Bellagio was more than nice—once, Frances and Nick had investigated staying there for an anniversary. But it was too rich for their blood.
“So, what are you … like, are you working?” he asked.
“Sure am. I have my own PR firm. Need any PR?” She giggled.
Rocco grinned. “Hey, come sit with me.” He slid his hand under Marcy’s elbow. “Let’s catch up.”
Edie and Frances smiled at each other like two proud parents.
“I don’t want to bother you. You’re with friends,” Marcy said.
“I’ll get rid of them,” Rocco said.
Marcy laughed. But she put her hand on the arm he offered and allowed him to escort her to the corner booth. The men there scrambled up from their seats. The two young women looked at Marcy with jealousy. After some discussion, the four of them gathered their things and left, the girls casting a look at Marcy on their way out.
“Just the way girls used to look at you,” Frances said wistfully. “Probably still do.” She was thinking of when they’d been young and full of life with no thought of mortality. She was thinking about it because she didn’t feel well. The pain behind her eye had started up again. Maybe it was anxiety or because she hadn’t eaten. Or maybe the cancer was growing exponentially, and she didn’t know it. Whatever the cause, she couldn’t keep gulping painkillers like an addict.
Tavon arrived with their meal, and they ate while listening to the conversation between Marcy and Rocco. The two talked about what they’d been doing since they last saw each other a couple of years ago. He said he was glad she was doing well. She said she was glad he was, too, like he’d never swindled her.
Then Rocco began to brag about himself. “I’m, like, one of the youngest people to ever own a casino,” he said as he flagged down a waiter. “A lot of articles have been written about it.”
Frances stuck two fingers in her mouth and mimed a gagging reflex.
“Bring us a bottle of the Dom,” he commanded, and to Marcy, “I hope you like good champagne.”
Edie snorted and rolled her eyes.
“What else have you been up to besides being the youngest person to own a casino?” Marcy asked.
“Setting the world on fire, baby.”
“Oh myGod,” Frances muttered.
“I’m going to have the first crypto casino.”
Edie covered her earpiece. “Can you believe how he mentions crypto like he never ripped her off?” she asked hotly.
