Chapter 32
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
PHIL
We’ve been in Vegas for twenty-four hours, and I hate to say it, but Griff was right.
Coming here early was a great idea. Even though I’m away from all my safe spaces, I’m also away from the thing that’s causing me the most stress, and while I wouldn’t say I’m doing great, my anxiety is at least manageable.
I haven’t been nonverbal at all since Spears’s call.
It probably helps that we’ve spent most of that time just us, together, with Vivi.
As soon as I finished up with Pamela—who gave me a very searching look, asked if I was okay, and when I unconvincingly told her I was, said that I could call her if I needed her to throw her weight around.
I don’t know what kind of trouble she thinks I might be in, but I was still touched.
She was thrilled with how the dress is coming along, and I can’t wait for her to see it at the next fitting, when it will be done but for small tweaks.
Anyway, after she left, I discovered that Griff had gotten Calla on his side, and she practically threw us both out. We went back to his place and packed, stopped very quickly at mine to grab a few things I’d need, and then got on the road.
There’s something about highway driving with your boyfriend and his puppy princess riding shotgun that blows away the negative thoughts.
It was just us, my road trip playlist, and the miles rushing past. Vivi likes to sing along, which made us both laugh, and we held hands over the center console and talked about our plans for our little vacation.
Vegas is loud, bright, crowded, and generally overwhelming—not usually the kind of place where I’ll thrive.
But there are ways for me to enjoy Vegas, just like there are ways for me to go to theme parks or parties.
The first trick is to have a quiet, private place I can retreat to when needed, and Griff’s booked us a suite at a swanky hotel on the Strip.
He considered changing it somewhere quieter off-Strip, but I talked him out of it.
Our suite is bright, and airy, with a main living area and a king-sized bedroom.
The bathroom has a huge jacuzzi tub, and after Griff fucked me until I saw stars, we spent an hour soaking in it together, then ordered room service for dinner and ate it in the hotel bathrobes while watching reruns of CSI.
It seemed fitting to watch a show set in Vegas while we’re here.
This morning we slept in a little, but not as much as most tourists do, apparently, because when we took Vivi for her walk, the Strip was a lot quieter than I expected.
Still not quiet by any stretch of the imagination, but there was enough space for me to breathe, and the noise wasn’t overwhelming.
It was actually fun—there’s nowhere quite like Vegas for people-watching.
We ended up walking farther than planned, then stopping for breakfast before coming back.
It all felt so decadent. It’s weird, because even though I know there’s a person harassing me who thought stabbing my effigy was a good idea, that all seems so far away.
Right here, right now, Griff and I are having our first ever vacation as a couple.
I didn’t realize how amazing it would be to have a boyfriend who wanted to spend this much time with me.
Back at the hotel, Griff surprises me with a couple’s massage and sauna, and if I thought I was relaxed before, I was so very wrong.
Even my anxiety is almost at its baseline as I shower and dress after.
I thought I’d be nervous about meeting Griff’s family, and maybe I am, but I guess if I can deal with everything else, this isn’t that big a deal.
That’s what I think right up until we arrive at the park Griff’s sister picked for us to meet at. It’s got a picnic area, a playground, is dog-friendly, and apparently doesn’t get too crowded during the week. And oh look, there’s Penny, with a tall, sandy-haired guy beside her. I don’t see—
“Uuuuuuuuuuuuunccle Griiiiiiiiiiiiiff!” A tiny torpedo collides with my boyfriend’s legs, and he bends to scoop up his nephew.
“Hi! You’re here! Hi, Vivi!” Carter leans dangerously far out of Griff’s hold to give Vivi an ear rub, and I move closer in an attempt to avoid disaster. “Wow! Your hair’s like fire!”
My gut churns. Is that a good thing? I don’t know how kids’ brains work—nobody I’m close to has any. How dare my friends not have had children to prepare me for this moment!
“Carter,” Penny sighs, obviously arriving just in time to hear that. “We don’t comment on people’s personal appearances, remember?”
Carter’s jaw drops indignantly. “You said I could compliment people! I like fire, so it was a compliment.” He turns back to me. “Your hair is amazing.”
That should probably make me feel better, but all I want right now is a hat. “Thank you.” It comes out sounding like a question, but Carter doesn’t notice.
Griff does, though, and he sets his nephew down, passes Vivi to him, and says, “Go play.”
Penny grins so wide, I could probably see her tonsils if I wanted to. “Phil! It’s so nice to meet you at last. Sorry about my son.”
I shake my head and muster up a smile. “No, it’s fine. Good to see you.”
Griff, superhero that he is, distracts his sister. “What, no hello for me?”
She laughs and hugs him, then drags her boyfriend—who looks even more nervous than me—closer. “This is Harry. Meet my big brother, Griffin.”
I’ve never actually been privy to Griff’s scary face before, not even over the past few days. It’s actually pretty hot… though I doubt I’d think so if it was aimed at me. I’m surprised Harry hasn’t pissed his pants.
“Penny and Carter talk about you a lot,” Harry says, wiping his hand on his jeans and offering it. “I’m happy to meet you.”
Aww. I elbow Griff. This guy isn’t going to break his sister’s heart.
Griff shakes his hand, stern expression still in place.
“Come and eat,” Penny invites, clearly not deterred by her brother’s attitude. She was probably expecting it. “Carter brought a soccer ball, so we all get to play later.”
I’ve never played soccer before, unless you count gym class in school. It kind of sounds like fun.
We head over to the picnic table they’ve staked out, and I gratefully accept a soda and offer to help unpack the food. Harry hands me a cooler bag, then lowers his voice and says, “I brought a bone for the dog, but I don’t want to offend Griff. Do you think it’s okay?”
I grin. “That’s definitely not going to offend him.”
He doesn’t look convinced but screws up his courage and tells Griff, “I have a bone here for Vivi, if she wants to eat when we do. No hassles if—”
“Harry!” Carter, still juiced up on childhood energy, skids to a stop beside him, Vivi on his heels. “I’m starving.”
Harry’s face softens. “I’ll get you a sandwich in a minute, bud. Want some strawberries while you wait?”
“Yes, please.”
Chagrin and pleasure war on Griff’s face, and then he sighs and smiles. Penny kisses his cheek and laughs.
And I get to be part of it.
“Soooooo,” I tease as we get out of the car in the hotel parking garage hours later, “how long do you think it’ll be before Harry proposes?”
Griff scoffs, locks the car, and takes my hand. “They’ll be married by next Christmas. I’ve never seen my sister so goopy over a guy.”
“Goopy? Is that the official word for it?” I reach for the elevator button.
“It is when she’s gonna act like that.” The elevator doors open, and we step in, followed by another couple. Griff hits the button for our floor as three more people join us, and by the time the doors close, it’s cozy inside.
I lean against him, Vivi in my arms, as we start moving. “I’m so full from Penny’s idea of a light lunch that I don’t think I’ll want dinner,” I murmur, and he nods.
“Maybe something light later? Fruit and cheese? Did you want to try to catch that show you mentioned?”
The elevator stops, some people get out, another gets on, and I’m still considering my options when it starts moving again. “Not tonight,” I say finally. “Maybe tomorrow? I think I’d like to be lazy again tonight.”
Griff smiles at me. “If that’s a euphemism, I’m totally on board with it.”
I laugh, my face hot. I don’t think he said it loud enough for anyone to hear, but still.
We stop again, and a few more people get out, and when the elevator doors close again, a tentative voice says, “Phil?”
Before I even look up, my blood freezes. I don’t know why. It could be anyone. But I know.
The older-middle-aged woman is the only other person left in the elevator. Her dark bob is neat and chic, and her clothes and jewelry are classic, if boring. She doesn’t look like the kind of person who’d stab an effigy of me and then deliver it to my door.
In fact, she looks kind of nervous.
Griff steps in front of me, shielding me with his bulk, suddenly seeming a lot bigger, and Mary—because it can’t be anyone else—backs away.
“No, please—I’m not going to hurt you,” she stammers, even as Vivi barks.
“I don’t believe you,” Griff growls, pulling out his phone. He doesn’t call 911, though, just sends a text. “Stay over there.”
“No, really. I’m so sorry, Phil. I… My name is Mary Yeates, and yes, I sent that horrible doll to you, but I’m so sorry!
I didn’t mean it like it seems. I’m just…
It’s just… I don’t want to be old.” Tears begin to roll down her face.
“Margaret Haywood is a beautiful, stylish woman, and I can buy clothes that look like hers and b-be b-beautiful and s-s-stylish too, but—” A sob cuts her off.
“Now she’s wearing clothes like you design, and they look so different from what I wear, and that means I’m an old f-f-f-frump and—” She dissolves into hacking, gasping sobs, covering her face with her hands.
I’d feel sorry for her—I kind of do—but right now I’m so anxious that I can’t talk and have to concentrate on my breathing to keep from passing out… because of her.
Griff’s phone vibrates in his hand, and after glancing at it, he inches toward the elevator control panel and hits the button for the garage. We ride back down in silence punctuated by Mary’s tears.
When the doors open, I’m surprised to see four hotel security guards waiting.
“Mr. Pevensy?” one of them asks.
Griff nods. “I’m Griff Pevensy. This is Phil Marchand, and this woman identified herself as Mary Yeates, who’s been harassing him. Detective Spears with the LAPD—”
“Yeah, he’s already called, and so have the LVPD. Someone’s coming to take Ms. Yeates into custody until Detective Spears arrives. Ma’am, come this way, please.”
Mary’s still ugly-crying as they guide her away. Griff waits until she’s well clear of the area before he draws me off the elevator and wraps an arm around me.
“Are you okay?” he murmurs, and I nod, then shake my head. I need some quiet time.
“The police will want to take your statement,” the security guard says. “Would you prefer to use one of the meeting rooms, or—”
“Could you have them come to our suite?” Griff asks, and I tune everything else out. There’s just the security of his arm, the weight of Vivi in my arms, and my inner monologue counting to a thousand.
I haven’t even reached three hundred when Griff’s arm moves. Looking up, I realize that he’s brought me back to our suite and is holding out my headphones.
“It’s over,” he promises. “I’ll take care of the police. It’s over now.”