Chapter Nine #2
An hour later, they cashed in their tickets. Mari stopped when her original hundred dollars was back in her pot.
James kept twenty out of his original hundred.
Losing all he’d won.
They found Rosa at the dance party, where she’d joined a group from the San Diego Singles. It wasn’t completely clear if she was dancing with a man or a group of women . . . or maybe a group of men and women.
Summer jumped up from where she sat and waved them over.
“Where have you two been?” she asked once they were at her side.
James gave her a side-eye, and Mari responded, “The casino.”
“Win anything?”
“It isn’t about winning, it’s about having fun,” James said.
“That means you lost.”
“I broke even,” Mari said before pointing at James. “This one should have quit while he was ahead.”
“Advice I’m sure you gave, and he ignored.”
“Yes.”
Summer shook her head. “Listen to the women in your life, James. It’s good for your health.”
Mari and James found empty seats that likely belonged to the people on the dance floor.
“Does Rosa ever stop?” Summer asked. “She’s running circles around the twenty-year-olds.”
“I’m not sure she’s the person I left San Diego with. I’m glad she’s having a great time. She deserves it.”
The woman in question currently had her hands in the air as she danced to music that didn’t have words. It reminded Mari of the music that came out of the clubs in the Gaslamp District. All electronic and bass. The kids loved it.
Mari didn’t see the point.
“Would either of you ladies like a drink?” James asked.
“Vodka tonic,” Summer requested.
He looked at Mari.
“I’d love an ice water.”
He stood, winked, and walked away. “Coming right up.”
Mari found herself watching him walk away. One too many, she mused.
Summer slid into the seat he’d just vacated. “How are things going with the two of you?”
“There is no ‘two of us,’” she insisted.
“Are you sure about that? Every time I turn around, you two are together.”
“He’s here alone, and my roommate has abandoned me for the party crowd.” And Mari wasn’t about to put a label on their flirtation.
Summer picked up what remained of her drink and swirled around the melting ice. “His ex-wife is a good friend of mine.”
“He told me.”
“He hasn’t dated much since the divorce.”
“He told me that, too.”
“Did he tell you about his business?”
Mari nodded. “He’s made quite a life for himself and his girls.”
“He told you about Ellie and Madison, too, huh?”
“What is your point?”
Summer glanced into the cup and shrugged. “You sure do know a lot about a man you just met.”
“He’s easy to converse with,” Mari said.
“He’s actually pretty reserved. But apparently not with you.”
That felt at odds with what Mari had witnessed from the man.
The beat of the music changed, and Rosa drifted over. She sank into a chair and fanned herself with her hand. “I didn’t dance this much at our children’s weddings.”
“Even Chloe and Dante had better taste in music.”
“True.” She leaned forward. “But I’m having more fun with this. I think Dante would be embarrassed if he saw me now.”
Mari shook her head. “Your son wants you happy.”
Rosa twisted in her chair and pointed across the dance floor. “See that man? In the black shirt?”
The man in question was currently dancing with several women, occasionally taking a hand and spinning them around. And he was young. “The one that could have gone to school with my Luca?”
“That’s him.” Rosa beamed.
“What about him?”
“He asked me to leave with him.”
Mari’s jaw dropped.
Summer spat out a laugh. “What did you say?”
Rosa just laughed. “I didn’t say anything.”
“You can’t possibly be considering it,” Mari said.
“Why not?” Summer asked.
Because Dante wouldn’t want his mother that happy.
As that thought danced around to the beat of the music, Mari kept it to herself.
Who was she to question or to judge?
She looked at the man again. Midthirties . . . maybe late thirties. Attractive.
Rosa was beaming.
“What happens at sea, stays at sea,” Summer suggested.
“Be careful,” Mari said.
And before Rosa could reply, Mari knew what she was going to say.
“I’ve been careful my whole life.” With that, Rosa stood and went back to the dance floor.
James returned with the drinks. “What did I miss?”
Summer pointed to Rosa. “That.”
Mr. Let’s Leave Together had his arm on Rosa’s waist and was whispering something in her ear.
“I’m guessing that’s a surprise,” James said.
“More of a shock.”
“People think nothing of an older man with a younger woman. Why should there be such a double standard in the twenty-first century?” Summer asked.
Mari took a long drink from the water, her eyes glued to her friend.
“Summer, would you mind taking a picture of us?” James asked, interrupting Mari’s thoughts.
Mari shifted her attention to him.
“For the girls,” he told her.
“Oh . . . right.” She smiled. “Sure.”
Summer took the phone James offered, her eyes narrowing as she looked at Mari.
“His daughters need to believe he’s going to be okay when they go to college,” Mari explained.
“Ah-huh.” Summer’s smile was way too big.
“It’s not—”
“Why don’t you stand up?” Summer asked.
Mari put her glass down.
James stepped in behind her.
“A little closer.”
Mari moved.
James leaned in.
Summer looked over the phone. “Put your arm around her waist, James.”
Mari looked up at him. “She’s enjoying this too much.”
James laughed, forcing a smile on Mari’s face. “Maybe she was the wrong person to ask.”
Mari felt James’s hand touch the small of her back. She shivered.
For a moment, he stilled, and they both stared at each other.
“Do you guys want to look at the camera?” Summer asked.
Mari released the breath she was holding and turned for the photo.
James’s fingertips tightened when Summer said, “Cheese.”