Chapter 15
Chapter
Fifteen
TRICK
Cseems distracted when we get back to the hotel, and I bet I know why.
“I’m gonna stop in the lobby for a drink,” C says. “See you back in Coins.”
“Let me take Ash up to the room, and I’ll come back down, C.”
“I’m not tired,” Ash says, her bright eyes hopeful.
“Not tired, huh? You should do some work.”
She laughs and rolls her eyes. “Come on, Scotty. Rachel and Sasha already went upstairs. They don’t need me to babysit now.”
“I can’t take you to the bar. You wanna get me arrested?” I tease.
She makes a face. “No way. Kath would kill me.”
“Sure, but otherwise,” I say, guiding her to the elevators.
“Otherwise, well, I suppose it’s on both of us to keep our stories up. In makeup, I can pass for twenty-one, right?”
“Without makeup, you can pass for fifteen. Don’t push your luck.”
“All right,” she says with another roll of her eyes. “Well, I had the best time tonight. Wait till I tell everyone you took me to a party full of show people. They’ll be so jealous.”
“That’s the idea. Flaunting our association never caused any trouble.”
She sighs. “I made my Instagram private like you asked. I was only going to tell my close friends about tonight. Is that not all right?”
“Better to keep it quiet. But it is all right if you come with Kathleen to Coynston on the weekend and go wherever she goes, even Slattery’s. It’s safe for you to hang out in my bar.”
She wrinkles her nose. “Coynston’s great and all, but it’s not New York.”
Exactly, I think.
We reach the suite, and I open the door. Laurelyn’s dressed in a blue and gold satin kimono over a pair of blue silk pajama pants. The ties make me want to take her in the bedroom to unwrap her and then tie her to the bed. But I won’t.
She’s drinking herbal tea with Rachel. Irina’s wearing a black onesie.
I didn’t even know they made them in that color.
She’s standing on ‘Vil’s forearm, leaning against his chest like it’s a wall.
Her little fingers grip his shirt. When she pauses from babbling, he adds a line or two.
At first I think it’s random, but then I realize he’s telling her a story.
The best part though is the way he helps her move his shirt so she can puts her ear against his chest when he talks.
“We think she likes the vibration.” Rachel says.
“What story are you telling her, ‘Vil?”
He shrugs.
I look over at Rachel.
“It’s a Russian folktale. Sometimes he does it in Russian. That’s the best.”
“Who’s on C?” ‘Vil asks.
“I’m going down. Miller’s been with him all day. I’ll swap out.”
“I can go,” Anvil says, standing.
“Nah, I’m better for this.”
‘Vil pauses, and we exchange a look.
“If it’s me, he might talk about what’s really on his mind. If it’s you, he won’t.”
‘Vil’s blank stare makes me shake my head.
I cross over to my wife and give her a kiss. “You go to bed, babe. I’ll be late getting back.” I turn to Anvil again and gesture to Laurel and Ash. “I’ll leave mine here, ‘Vil. In the suite’s second room?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, is that really necessary? Our suite’s right down the hall,” Laurel says, her brows pinching together. “There are bodyguards and hotel security, right?”
My hand goes to her belly for a second. “Stay here ’til I’m back.” I give her another kiss. “Ash, you sleep on the couch for now.” I nod at the sofa.
She smiles and winks. “Sure, Scotty. No problem.”
CONNOR
About twenty minutes after he left to go upstairs, Trick’s back. He orders a Coke and tells Miller to get some sleep.
“Figured it would be Anvil who came down to switch with Miller.”
“He wanted to. I won the toss.”
That draws a smirk from me. “Yeah right.”
“We hit a billion each. Did you see?”
My smile widens. Making C Crue a billion-dollar syndicate was the first goal.
We hit that mark way ahead of schedule. The day after, Trick wanted to know what to aim for next.
I told him that each of us reaching a billion-dollar net worth was next up.
That was all it took to push him to the next level.
“Here’s to that,” I say, raising my glass.
He clinks his against mine and then we both take a swig.
Trick licks his lips and flashes a grin. “We’re gonna need to toast again come January when I’ve got something stiffer in my glass than straight Coke.”
“I’d imagine we’ll be in the mood to celebrate more than money by then.”
“So what’s going on with Zoe?” he asks.
I lean back in my chair and shrug. “You saw. Rising star on Broadway.”
“I did some digging on Josh Williams.”
“When?” My eyes narrow. Has Rachel mentioned to Trick or his wife that Zoe’s dating the guy?
“At the party. Like me, my phone’s got special skills.”
I stroke my jaw with my thumb.
“Wanna hear?” he asks.
“No, but tell me.”
“He’s thirty. Shares an apartment with two other performers, both women.
One he’s screwing regularly. Twelve grand in credit card debt, and another twenty in school loans.
He’s got a kid who’s eight that he never sees.
The guy’s a real winner in the dad department.
” Trick pauses. “This is his second lead role. No awards. The word is that Zoe’s been out with him, but she’s not dating him.
He wants more, but he’s playing it cool.
” Trick pauses when the bartender pours me another on my signal.
“Hmm.”
Trick signals for a second Coke and squeezes a lime into it. Then he leans in. “Where’s she living? It hasn’t been that long. I thought she’d still be staying in the New York apartment you bought so there’d be a place for her to stay when she’s in the city.”
“She moved her stuff out of the apartment the weekend we broke up.”
“Which stuff? All of it?”
“All her clothes.”
“But not the furniture and all that?”
“No.” I swirl the liquor in the glass. “She didn’t even take some of the things I gave her as gifts.”
“Left an opening for you to track her down and insist she keep them.”
My molars grind against each other. “It’s not a game. If she wanted the stuff, she should’ve taken it.”
Trick leans back in his chair and gives me a look.
“What?”
“Nothing.” He takes another swallow and sets his glass down, fingering the condensation on its side.
I change the subject, and before I know it Trick’s entertaining me with stories about Anvil nearly causing an explosion with his new propane grill.
I look at my watch. “If I wanted to know where the ‘after after party’ was, how long would it take you find out?”
“They’re at Dusk To Dawn. Ten minutes by car.”
“Christ, Trick,” I say, shaking my head. “Have you got a stake in this that I don’t know about?”
He cracks a smile, then finishes his Coke. “I like when things work out.”
“Who says she and I are supposed to work out? Maybe our relationship ran its course.” That’s not what my heart or my body says, but my head’s not as sure.
“Bullshit,” Trick says without hesitation.
My gaze rises to study his face. “Because?”
“I saw you together tonight.”
“Your back was turned.”
“Yeah, good thing my camera’s got eyes of its own.”
My head tips back as I laugh. When I look at him, he’s smiling.
“If I decide to chase her, it won’t be tonight. It’s too soon.”
“It’s been a month.”
“Right, which is five years in Trick time, but for the rest of us, it’s not that long.”
He shrugs. “I say the time to chase a girl is when she wants you to, and believe me when I say Zoe wants you to chase her tonight.”
“When she first saw me, yes. But then I did something she didn’t like, and she took off.”
Trick rolls his eyes. “Like what? Gave the hard stare to the competition and made him turn tail and disappear? How else could she expect you to react? You’re still you. And she’s always wanted you.”
“She doesn’t text or call. A month of no direct contact. I figure she’s looking for someone to fill my spot.”
“Maybe I’ll have a word with our friend Josh and let him know—”
“No. If that got back to her, it would be counterproductive. Besides, there’s no need. He took off like a scared rabbit the second he realized what I am. Let it lie. If she can find someone she wants to be with more than me, let her.”
Trick frowns. “You’re gonna stand by and let that play out?”
“Yes,” I say grimly.
“And do what in the meantime?”
“Look around for someone I want to be with more than her.”
Trick shrugs, looking like he’s got more on his mind than he’s saying.
“What’s up, man? What’s the rush?” I ask.
“You guys are right together. That’s a fact.
I’ve seen you with a lot of women over the years, C.
Not once have you come close to a serious relationship with anyone other than her.
On the first night you were with Zoe, you brought her home with you and moved her in.
The first night.” He flips a hand to emphasize his point.
“Plus, you’ve got a billion dollars, C. You need help spending some of that.
You’re gonna have kids, right? Now’s a good time. ”
That makes me laugh. “Now we’re getting to the bottom line. You think I should have kids now because you and ‘Vil are.”
Trick nods, tapping his thumb on the bar. “C Crue pool parties and barbecues are gonna be lit.”
“Is that right? That’s the replacement for sex clubs and raves, huh?” I blow out a breath and shake my head. “I’m not sure I’m gonna have kids at all. If I do, it definitely won’t be right away.”
Trick stares at me like I’ve said I’m not sure whether I’ll torch my house.
“For someone so wild, you’ve gotten very domestic very fast, man,” I say.
“No kids? What the hell are you gonna do with your money?”
“Buy apartments that no one lives in,” I say dryly. “Did you always know you wanted kids?”
“Always.” Trick pops his knuckles. “No kids?” he muses, shaking his head. “I think you’ll change your mind. You should’ve seen ‘Vil with Irina tonight. If any of us wasn’t gonna have kids, I would’ve put my money on him. Now look at him. Irina is legit adorable, and he’s here for it.”
“If you’re looking for kids from me soon, you’re backing the wrong girl, Trick. Zoe wants to be a performer. She’s taking voice lessons, acting lessons, the whole nine. She’s not gonna put her career on hold to have babies when it’s just taking off.”
“Condoms break. My pregnant wife’s proof of that.”
I exhale. “All right, enough Modern Family talk. Let’s get to it. If I wanna hit a dungeon tonight, you up for that?”
“To play? No way.” He stands and stretches. “But I’ll come as the C Crue gun that’s covering you.”
I roll my eyes. “And do what? Sit in the corner and play on your phone while I go at it?”
“Probably.”
“Really? You’re serious about no dungeons again ever?”
“I mean… not without Laurelyn, and she’d have to suggest it. Dungeons are hardcore. That’s not someplace I’d take her unless she said she was curious and wanted to check it out.”
“Do you think she would eventually?”
“I doubt it.” He smiles and rubs his wedding ring. “She’s a good girl. That kind needs to be corrupted in private. Luckily, all the things I really like I can do in my own house. Getting back to a dungeon is not a priority for me.”
I rub the back of my neck, thinking about what that was like. When I had Zoe in my bed I didn’t care about going to dungeons either. Tonight’s different. Tonight, I need an outlet so I don’t chase her around New York.