14. Rae
14
RAE
“Y ou buy those?”
I look up from my computer as Ash enters the suite, juggling a ball between his knees.
“Buy what?” I ask.
“The flowers.”
I look at the lilies from Harrison that I’ve moved around the hotel room no less than five times. “No. They were a gift.”
After doing the interview yesterday and going to La Mer to see the Russian homewrecker and his happily wrecked now-fiancée, I’m trying to enjoy a day to myself.
Instead, I’m questioning whether I made a grave miscalculation by going after Mischa so aggressively.
“We have company,” Ash goes on with a grin.
I straighten in my seat at the kitchen table, tugging on the hem of my threadbare tank top. Is Harrison here?
Ash holds the door, and the guy from the gala, Gavin, follows him in.
“Hey.” The man gives me a wave every bit as casual as his messy-on-purpose brown hair and his easy grin.
If he recognizes me from the event, he doesn’t let on. Or maybe Ash told him we’re nothing.
“Excuse us.” I grab Ash and tug him out to the patio, shutting the door. “This a good idea?”
“Have you seen him?” He tosses an appreciative look at the man, who’s perusing the coffee table magazines. “Plus, he came here for me.”
I lift my hands. “Last time, the way he acted sent you spinning out. You deserve someone great, Ash, and I don’t like how he treated you.”
“S’alright,” he murmurs. “Gavin is about to make it up to me.” He ruffles my hair. “But thanks.”
I watch him head inside, grab the man’s wrist, and drag him down the hall. Conflicted feelings collide in my chest. I want to see Ash happy, but with someone who deserves him.
Sex is one thing, but if he’s trying to hide feelings behind it…
Maybe it’s nothing. Maybe this guy won’t hurt him again, or maybe Ash can keep physical separated from the emotional.
Before I can decide what to do, my phone rings on the table. I lunge for it, my stomach flipping as I see it’s an unknown number.
Possibly Mischa.
“Yeah?” I answer.
“Rae. It’s Leni.”
My brows shoot up as I close out of the Ableton Live software on my computer. “Oh, hey.”
“We’ve had a little problem at Debajo. I need you.”
I’m already visualizing flames like the night Harrison was dragged from his bed to find Kings a pile of smoldering char. “What kind of problem?”
“Our talent for tonight isn’t going to make it. He’s too stoned to play.”
Disbelief rises up. Not because it’s the first time in history a DJ has been inebriated on stage, but because Harrison could’ve had the decency to call me himself.
Just because I told him to back off pursuing me doesn’t mean I wouldn’t have enjoyed him asking me to come back to Debajo. A little begging would have been nice.
Now that I picture it, him on his knees, looking up at me like I’m his entire damned world, even as he prepares to wreck me...
Focus, dammit.
“Listen, I know Harrison has a problem with people using substances, but you might have to compromise this time?—“
“No, Raegan, I mean he’s too stoned to play. Like, I’m looking at him, and he’s a mumbling pile on the floor.” Pause. “Here. I’m waving his hand at the phone. ‘Hello, Little Queen. Will you cover my set? I’m a fucking mess.’”
I press a hand to my face, already feeling like crawling back into bed. “It’s my day off.”
“That’s going around. Tag, you’re it.” She laughs. “I promise it’ll be more fun than the place you’re playing all summer.”
“Bliss has been great,” I argue.
“But it’s not home.”
Home . As I remember the stage, the VIP room, the staff, a familiar longing tugs at me.
“Is there a theme?”
“ The future is you .”
I make a face. “Sounds like a bad yearbook title.”
She laughs. “You got something better? We have time to change it and let everyone know.”
Leni’s someone I respect independent of Harrison. Plus, it’s not her fault he didn’t call me himself, and I’m not going to give another woman shit for asking for help just because her boss should’ve done it.
I consider the highly produced shows I’ve been doing at Bliss and my lips twitch. “I have an idea.”
I fill her in, sending an image to go with my description.
She’s quiet for a long time but finally chuckles. “Let’s do it.”
After hanging up, I head down the hall.
Groaning and panting drift through Ash’s closed door. I don’t bother telling him where I’m headed.
I go to my room and pull the closet door wide.
* * *
“Thanks for the ride,” I say, leaning forward from the back seat.
“My pleasure, senorita. You need to come visit.”
“I will,” I promise. “Tell Natalia I’m making her a crocheted doll.”
I shift out of the car, the trench coat wrapped around me mostly for Toro’s benefit.
There’s a line around the block, and the marquee reads: “COME AS YOU ARE.” As I approach the string of patrons, I get a look at some of the outfits. There’s more skin than clothing.
For once, it’s not fancy lingerie-inspired outfits. It’s simple. Nude bandeau tops and miniskirts for the women. A few even have nipples drawn on. The men are in shorts or speedos, a few painted flesh tones.
I can’t help grinning.
Leni, what did you do?
I head in the back, headphones and drive in my bag. Security’s stoic faces break as they spot me. I fist-bump one guy.
“You’re overdressed,” he comments as he holds the door for me.
“Not for long,” I toss over my shoulder as I head to the VIP room.
Leni’s waiting for me at the VIP bar. She’s dressed more like security in head-to-toe black. It’s early, and a handful of staff are back here, including the bartender, who nods at me in recognition. I return the gesture.
“Cam, can I get a?—“
“Vodka soda coming up.”
I grin, turning back to Leni.
“See? Like coming home,” she says.
Maybe she’s right. It already feels better. As if parts of me are waking up. I remember how hungry I was only a year ago, how every show was shiny and new and a chance to do what I loved.
“How’d you get a thousand people to wear skin with three hours’ notice?” I ask.
She shrugs. “Convincing young, beautiful, drunk people to get naked? Not that hard. And I told them Little Queen would be here to show them the way.”
I reach for the belt of my trench coat and shrug out of it.
Cam the bartender is at my side with the vodka soda, but he freezes when I toss the coat on a nearby chair. “Jesus.”
“Venus,” I correct.
“ Birth of Venus , actually,” Leni goes on, scanning me admiringly.
I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror over the bar. The custom lace bodysuit matches my skin tone. I bought it to wear under another costume, but I figured tonight called for something simple. The effect is definitely provocative.
On my feet are nude platform sandals. My blond hair is straight, hanging in slow waves to cover my breasts. My eyes are lined dark, and my lips are sheer.
It’s more than hot.
And sure, maybe I wanted to push Harrison’s buttons, to remind him he can’t jerk me around anymore without getting jerked right back.
Sue me.
I reach for my vodka soda and take a congratulatory sip.
“Can I get you anything else, Raegan? Miss Queen? Fuck,” Cam mumbles.
Leni pinches his cheek. “Sweetie. You’re cute. But if the boss comes down here, you’re gonna have to put those eyes back in, or he’ll rip them out and keep them.”
Cam gulps and heads back to the bar.
Leni laughs silently. “You do look fucking incredible.”
“Thanks. I’m missing one thing.” I reach into my bag, pulling out my headphones. I loop them around my neck, the cord secured. “There.”
She shakes her head.
“What?” I prompt.
“Just deciding if I should call Harrison or wait for him to find out.”
My smile dies. “He doesn’t know I’m here?”
Her brows shoot up. “Honey, I didn’t ask the boss. Think he has a business dinner tonight. Maybe he’ll swing by after.”
Shit . I assumed Harrison was in on this and had his own reasons for not calling me. But he didn’t know…
I catch sight of myself in the mirror once more.
It’s too late to worry about what he’ll think about it. Two thousand people in the next room need entertainment. And I won’t let them, or the staff of the place that made me, down.