Two Can Play

by K. M. Liss

  I breeze in and say, “Morning,” as cheerfully as I can manage.

  He starts in surprise at the sound of my voice and leaves the breakfast stool to face me, folding his arms and looking down his nose at me.

  “Yeah, morning, for what it's worth.” He eyes me up and down, a little unpleasantly. “Feeling better today? Did issues resolve themselves overnight? I guess not, eh?”

  “It's not that simple, Bren,” I start to explain. He deserves an explanation and to be put in the picture.

  “Well it's simple enough for me but obviously not for you. I thought we were on the same page, Kate? I must have read you all wrong.”

  I'm not sure how to phrase my reply. I led him on and I never mentioned issues with my ex until he was in my bed and his hands were on my tits and other things. That was a big green light and a hell yes, go ahead.

  “It was my fault. I should have said. I'm in the middle of sorting something out with my ex. I'm sorry, Bren, I don't... I mean I shouldn't, or rather we shouldn't....” I fluster with my explanation, trying not to upset him any more than I have already, but not doing very well. He holds his hands up.

  “Hey, don't stress. I get the message loud and clear.” He walks past me with a long hot look, stopping a few paces ahead. “Let me know if and when you're available, babe. Maybe I'll still be interested.”

  Then he winks and strides off.

  I'm getting the whole face-saving vibe. The lighthearted cool guy coming out full force. But he's stewing over this, I can see it.

  I pour a glass of sparkling water and stand drinking it looking out of the window, thinking, and more than a little upset. Upset with myself more than him. I need to grow up and be more assertive with people. Even if they don't like it. I've no intention whatsoever of becoming involved with Brendan, even short or one-night stand term. He's a fun friend. That's all there is to it and I need to make sure he understands that completely, because at the moment, he doesn't. The truth is Aaron was just an excuse to push him away. Aaron or no Aaron, I don't want Bren. It's potentially too difficult and could give rise to problems. I seem to attract problems enough, one way or another. I don't want to add Brendan to them.

  An hour later and I've been through everything. I can't find my damn cell anywhere.

  Maybe I left it in the restaurant? No I remember texting Chris in the car on the way back. Maybe it's in the car?

  Harry and Mom aren't up yet. I look around for keys to his Merc, but can't find them. I decide to go for a swim while I wait for them to surface so I can check the car. After putting on my bikini, I go outside into the brightness and heat. It cheers me up a little. I dip my toe and I'm about to jump in when I see something lying in the water on the edge of the pool. My heart pounds. It's my cell phone. I pick it up and it's soaked. And dead as a dodo.

  Oh fuck! All my contacts and numbers...my whole life is in there. And Aaron's number. Jeee-sus!

  I've no idea if I can rescue it. I'll have to go downtown to a cell phone store and sort it out somehow.

  Shit, what an idiot! I'm way too careless when I've had a few to drink. God!

  Tears stupidly flood my eyes. I was all set to call him this morning. Now I can't.

  I know I can get his number some other way, but that all takes time. I hate hanging around when I've made a decision.

  HIM

  I wake with the alarm buzzing loudly. My stomach churns with the effects of excitement, the morning after, and emptiness as I turn it off and sit up in bed. Throwing off the duvet and stripping my clothes, I enter into the bathroom for a shower. That usually picks me up fast.

  Ten minutes later, I'm feeling much better, drying off and sitting on my bed, thinking.

  I can't call her until I get there. It'll be too early. It's only 4:00 a.m. there at the moment. I'll send a text for now.

  I pick up my iPhone and with a shaking finger I compose some very careful sentences.

  - Kate, I need to see you. It's really important. I'll be arriving in Vegas 1:30 p.m. Virgin flight. Can we meet, please? I'll explain then.

  I press send with a fast beating heart.

  This is it. I'm out there now.

  Exposed.

  I'm open to rejection at any point.

  I'm keeping a closed book, guarding myself as much as possible until I meet her.

  I pray she wants to meet me. That she's still interested, and hasn't frozen me out of her mind after my sickening outburst.

  I make breakfast and eat it with my mind elsewhere. My stomach needs food but I'm kinda feeling nauseated as I eat it. I'm shaking with nerves. I can't believe it.

  What the hell is the matter with me? Actually I know exactly what the matter is, but I'm not admitting it to myself for a second. Fuck, I so need to pull myself together. What the hell am I going to be like when I see her? IF I see her, that is.

  I don't know what's making me feel sicker. Worrying about the plane landing or worrying about what Kate's thinking right now. We bump down on the runway and I take a few deep breaths as the reverse engine noise revs up loudly and we start to slow.

  Not so bad.

  I get up and grab my things as soon as the doors are open. The plane is only half full and I make my way out quickly, through to arrivals. I turn my iPhone to normal setting and with a pounding heart wait for her reply.

  Nothing comes in. My stomach sinks big time.

  Not even a “no thanks you creep” or a “fuck off you bastard”?

  As well as being extremely disappointed, I'm a little angry so I call her.

  I'm getting an “unavailable” message.

  Fuck it.

  Maybe her battery's dead or she's lost her cell phone or something I try to reason. I need to make a little more effort before I give up completely. Now I'm here I've got nothing else to do.

  The heat outside hits me in a blast.

  I've never known anything this hot.

  God this place is a hellish inferno.

  I get in a cab and ask for the strip. I need a hotel. I'm gonna give it two days. If nothing happens. That's the end of it. As I gaze out of the window, unseeing, my mind and body are stressing. I can't stop it.

  I've had a thought. An idea. I know her mom works in the casino at Caesars Palace. I'll go there and ask around for her later today. Maybe I can play the tables as well. I like a gamble. Might as well enjoy myself while I'm here.

  After telling the cab driver to take me there, I sit back with a plan forming. I'm resourceful. It's one of my better skills. I'm also persistent and quite determined when I want something.

  I message her on Facebook and post a status update of where I am.

  The cab stops outside Caesars Palace, so I pay and enter the cool hotel lobby. Despite my mind being preoccupied, I'm very impressed with what I see around me. It's absolutely amazing. I wish I were in a better frame of mind to take advantage of it all. And I had someone with me as well.

  That might even happen soon, I tell myself positively.

  I register for two nights, booking a ridiculously expensive deluxe-king room and make my way up in the Octavian Tower elevator.

  I close the door. Pretty neat room. Huge. The bed's calling to me. I'm dead tired. I need to sleep.

  HER

  The heat is unbearable and I move under the shade of the parasol. I sit there staring miserably at my dodo cell.

  Kelsey appears in her shocking lime-green thong bikini.

  “Hi, how are you?” I say pleasantly.

  “Okay, I guess.” She doesn't ask how I am. Obviously doesn't care or the thought doesn't enter her brain.

  Then she surprises me with an invite.

  “Wanna come for a late lunch today, downtown somewhere?”

  “I'd like that, thanks. My cell's ruined so I need to get a new one.”

  “Fuck no. What happened to it?”

  “I must have dropped it last night. I found it on the poolside in the water this morning.”

  “You poor bitch. God, I don't k
now what I'd do without my iPhone. Actually I've got a spare in my room, my old one. Wanna try your SIM in it, you never know?”

  “Can I?”

  “Sure, come with me, it just needs charging.”

  I follow the almost naked Kelsey to her room. She is definitely NOT a tidy freak. She rummages around swearing to herself and finally finds the purse she's looking for and fishes out the old cell and charger. She plugs it in.

  “Here, give it me.”

  She opens another drawer, and finds a paperclip. When I pass my phone to her, she uses the paperclip to open the SIM tray on both phones, removes my SIM, and then places it inside her old phone. Thankfully we both had the 4s, otherwise my Micro SIM wouldn’t have fit.

  She switches it on and a few seconds later, hands it to me.

  “It's locked, but it seems to be working. We can get it sorted later, maybe get you a new one? Although you will need to sync it with your laptop to get it working properly.” She smiles at me.

  “Thanks, Kels.” I smile back. I breathe a massive sigh of relief.

  Despite being friendly and nice at the moment, I'm not sure about her motives. I'm keeping Bren's warning in the forefront of my brain.

  We return to the pool and she gets comfy on the sun lounger next to me, in full sun.

  “How can you lay in full sun? It's so hot it hurts.”

  “I do a fifteen-minute roast either side and cover myself in SPF 50. Keeps me tanned and UV safe.”

  I laugh and she looks at me, her brown eyes sweeping over my pale skin.

  “I don't tan well, I'm going for pale and interesting. Not that I have much choice.”

  “You don't take after your mom then?”

  “No, I seem to have inherited the white Russian look from my dad.”

  “Your mom's real nice, Kate. Didn't like her much to start with, but now I've got used to her, she's cool. My dad has had a lot of women interested in him for the wrong reasons. When you've got money you gotta be careful, but I suppose you know all about that. I tend to keep quiet about money myself, particularly with guys.”

  “I know all too well what you mean. The thing is, in close circles, everyone knows you, don't they? And any friends of friends soon know you as well. It's difficult to trust anyone,” I agree.

  “Tell me about it. That's why I'm such a bitch; it's self-preservation. I deliberately don't have many friends.” She laughs.

  “Anyway, my mom's got her own money. Dad gave her a big cash payment when she had me. I'm talking a lot of money. She's got most of it left because she works and doesn't really go for conspicuous consumption. Apart from a couple of cars, I don't think she's bought a thing,” I explain.

  “I guess they're suited. He's happy with her. That's good enough for me.”

  “She's more than happy with him. And I love your dad.”

  “Yeah, he's neat. Love him completely.”

  Now I'm even more wary. She's being sooo friendly. Perhaps I've misjudged her and she's actually nice?

  The garage contains five cars. The Mercedes, three BMWs, one belonging to my mom, and a large SUV. Kelsey drives us to town in her white BMW convertible. Harry has provided them both with their own cars.

  “Got a boyfriend back in Austin?” I ask.

  “I was seeing Jason until a month ago. I kinda lost interest. No one at the moment.”

  “What do you do, at home, your job I mean?”

  “I'm a receptionist at a hotel. It's kinda dull, but Dad insists I do it.”

  “It gives a routine to life, I suppose.”

  “What about you?”

  “I don't work, no. I write stuff when I'm in the mood and there are other things I'm involved in. Charities. They take up a fair bit of my time.”

  “You've got your own funds, though?”

  “Yeah, when I was twenty-one, my dad set me up with a trust fund. I manage that myself.”

  “We don't have a that, a fund I mean, Bren and I. We get an allowance. It's pretty generous, but we only get it if we work.”

  “Your dad's obviously more hands on than mine, more involved with you.”

  “You don't get on with him?”

  “Oh, we get on okay, but he doesn't speak English and lives in Russia.”

  “Go visit, learn some Russian, enough to get by. I would.”

  “I know a little already and I should learn some more, but he's kinda cool with me, Kels.”

  “That's probably the Russian dad way. Cool and aloof. Very distant vit ze daughter,” she jokes.

  “I guess.” I smile. That's exactly what my dad is.

  She pulls into the underground lot and parks.

  We get out and I stand at the side of the car, waiting for her lead.

  “Let's do your cell phone first, get that out the way, and then we'll have lunch and a mooch around. You know, it's kinda fun having a little sis’.”

  “I'm only six months younger than you, and I'm hardly little.” I laugh.

  “Six months is six months.” She chuckles.

  My cell is swapped for an upgraded package. I keep my number and the SIM is successfully installed. Unfortunately I have to wait for a whole day for my new iPhone to become active. Very annoying. Not that I have anything urgent to do. I suppose I'm overreacting. I'm gonna chill.

  We sit in a sushi bar eating lunch and having iced green tea. She seems to be a healthy eater.

  She looks like she's actually very pretty, under the masses of makeup and false stuff. If I ever get friendly enough with her, I might tell her to tone it down. Less is more.

  We shop for shoes and some jewelry. Kelsey buys herself a dress, and I treat myself to another pair of very tight, faded Graffiti skinny jeans, which I love.

  “Want to get your nails done and have a makeup session?”

  I laugh at her.

  “Not really.”

  “You could do with some sprucing up, babe.”

  “I like the natural look, it's low maintenance.”

  “Aww come on, lets have some fun together. My treat?”

  I weaken. Why the hell not?

  “All right. You're on, Kels, but I'll pay.”

  “If you insist rich li'l sis’.” She laughs.

  I've never had such a hilarious time. I can barely stop laughing as I'm smothered in makeup. We are completely done up to the nines. I've never seen myself looking so glam. My finger and toenails are done and I'm finally all tarted up and ready for the ball. If I was going to one. Which I'm not. We leave the beauty salon with some little samples to top up the look later.

  I admire my long false eyelashes and gorgeous, dramatic eye makeup in my little mirror.

  “I think we should hit the town,” Kelsey says, with a grin, reading my mind. “Let's get you an outfit, I've already got mine. We can do champagne cocktails at Flam and then do a club. Find somewhere really buzzing. I'll call the gang, let them know we're out.”

  “Can you let my mom know?”

  “Okay, I'll text Dad first.” She taps out a message and then a few others.

  “Kels, you can't drink and then drive home. What about the car?”

  “I'll leave the car, get it tomorrow in the morning. Let's get you done then dump our stuff in the car and catch a movie for a couple of hours. We can't go out till eight or nine, earliest.”

  “Okay, lead on big sis’,” I joke. “Find me a sexy dress.”

  We change in the car, after the movie. I'm looking forward to this. Brendan's on the way, bringing a friend he knows, and two of Kelsey's friends are meeting us later at nine. Being the elected party leader, wherever she decides is worth hanging out. My knowledge of the latest LV hotspots is non-existent. It's been years since I lived here and I was never into the LV party scene when I did. I don't have any friends left here either, as they've all moved away, one in New Orleans with her boyfriend, one married and in Philadelphia, and the other working in Canada.

  I emerge from the car in my sexy little black dress that skims my thighs and hug
s me tightly everywhere, and contrasts with my pale skin perfectly. I have long swooshy silver earrings, a silver and black clutch, and black high-heeled peep toes, which I hope I can walk more than a step or two in.

  “You're looking hot, girlie,” she says.

  Not as hot as her by a long shot, though. But I don't think I want to look like a glamor model. And that's the look she's gone for.

  “I love my dress. It's a really cute look, and yours is beautiful.”

  Hers is a white, almost non-existent, low-cut, stretchy little thing that accentuates her deep tan and her overloaded top half.

  We really are complete opposites, I think as we walk through the car lot together, arm in arm. But despite that we appear to be getting on. I won't expect too much yet, but she's actually kinda sweet. I'd love to have a sister. Someone I can get close to.

  HIM

  I wake up with a start and look around. I was having a really bad dream about my dad. He was trying to tell me something important but I couldn't hear and he was getting farther away and shouting at me. Probably something meaningful in there, or maybe it's because I really miss the old guy.

  I could talk to him. Properly. Man to man. I've got my friends to talk to, but that's not the same as having your dad around.

  I check my iPhone for texts, emails, and Facebook. Nothing to report on the Kate front. I try not to get despondent.

  After I shower and dress, I head off for something to eat in one of the many restaurants downstairs. I have the best fucking steak, fries and salad I've ever eaten, and an enormous slice of strawberry cheesecake covered in thick cream. As I close my eyes in creamy ecstasy, I remind myself I need to get back into my workout routine; I'll be piling the pounds on soon. It's been two weeks since I hit the gym. It always throws me out when I go to Venice. It feels like I'm on vacation, so I overindulge. And now I'm comfort eating, I guess. The waiter passes by and I stop him and ask for the check. After paying, I leave for the casino. I'm hoping someone will take pity on me when I weave my tale.