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Someone had the waitress make us another round of shots, and I took mine gratefully.

The group just sat there for a while.

I wondered if there was going to be any dancing, or if they actually were lame enough to come to a club and do nothing but sit and talk.

It was looking that way.

They shared a lot of gossip about people I didn’t know. No one so much as glanced my way for a solid hour.

I kept drinking and tried to school my features into an expression that resembled politely interested, but it was hard to keep my mind from wandering.

Why was this so much harder to sit through than my nightly galas? I should have been used to talking to strangers about things I didn’t care about by now.

This felt more pointless, I decided. This small group of elitist women were never going to like or accept me. Why had my husband wanted me to try to be included?

Eventually the alcohol did its job and I just didn’t care. I kept making silly faces at Chester because it made him smile.

“Do you guys dance at all?” I finally just asked them. Why go to a club and not just a restaurant or bar if they were only going to sit there?

I’d interrupted a tirade one of them had been spouting about some woman who’d had the nerve to wear a dress they thought was out of fashion to one of their parties. Blah blah blah.

Millie nodded, her face shaped into its usual pleasant smile. “We’re just getting warmed up.”

“I need to powder my nose,” Addison said, standing suddenly. “Come with me, Noura?”

It wasn’t my favorite idea, but I went along with her just for the sake of being agreeable. Also I needed to pee. I did not have a good liquor bladder.

Addison hooked her arm through mine like we were best friends. I let her, but I glanced back at Chester, who was following us.

Addison finally seemed to notice him. “Will he go into the bathroom with you?” She laughed hard at her own question.

I smiled weakly. “No. He’ll wait outside. He’s just doing his job.”

She sent him a second look. “He’s kind of hot. Have you fucked him?”

I nearly stopped in my tracks. She’d managed to genuinely offend me. And embarrass me. I couldn’t even look at Chester. “Of course not. You know I’m married, right?”

Sometimes I didn’t feel married, but I sure as hell was acting like it.

She rolled her eyes at me. “Like that ever stopped anyone.” She sent Chester an unctuous smile. “I have a question for you, Ginger,” she told him. “Does the carpet match the drapes, and what does a girl have to do to find out firsthand?”

I wondered just how drunk she was.

“Not going there today, Miss Du Mont,” he answered, sounding amused. At least Chester had a good sense of humor.

“Pity,” she purred back.

CHAPTER

TWELVE

I was relieved when we reached the bathroom, and I dashed inside.

Addison touched up her makeup while I used the restroom and washed my hands.

She casually offered me coke at the sink, right in front of the bathroom attendant.

I politely turned her down.