by Sam Mariano
I shouldn’t feel so laidback with someone who basically just admitted she likes my baby daddy, but there’s something about her I trust. Hers seems more like a quiet crush, subdued, probably something Rafe himself doesn’t even know about—which is shocking in and of itself, since he’s so damn full of himself.
“I don’t want to be with a cheater,” I tell her quietly, looking at the tiled floor instead of her.
“He isn’t going to cheat on you,” she tells me, so adamant I nearly believe her.
“You can’t know that,” I state.
“I can now,” she insists. “He employed the dumb bitch here. If I start picking up on any vibes, I’ll just dunk her in a sink full of water and she’ll disintegrate.”
Cracking a smile, I say, “Miss Cotton Candy. I like that.”
“Don’t worry about her. If he actually spent any time with her, he would be bored in ten minutes. I’ve been training her tonight, and every time she opens her mouth I want to stab myself in the temple and end it all.”
“Don’t do that. You’re the best waitress I’ve ever had.”
Sighing as if put-upon, she says, “Yeah. I have an eidetic memory. The orderpad is a prop. I could tell you what Rafe ordered the second Thursday of last March if you asked.”
Intrigued, I cock my head in consideration. “Really? That’s awesome. That must make studying way easy.”
“It did. I’m done as of a year ago, but… yeah, easy peasy.”
“What’d you go to school for?”
After a brief pause, she says, “Not waitressing.”
“Then how come you’re still waiting tables?” I inquire.
“I make questionable decisions.”
A little burst of surprised laughter shoots out of me. “Yeah, I feel you there.”
“Rafe’s a good decision,” she assures me, her faintly resigned smile making me feel guilty, even though I don’t have a reason to. “Just hang in there. The storm will clear. The cotton candy will go away.”
“There will always be more cotton candy.”
“But he won’t always be in crisis,” she states. “Once he’s steady again, he won’t be looking for cotton candy. Trust me, if the man is in a committed relationship, you could strip naked and straddle his crotch and he wouldn’t do anything about it. He’s a damn good man, just give him a little time to come around.”
I struggle to accept the confidence of a woman who clearly likes him, but she has known him much longer than I have. The way she talks, she must have witnessed him on the inside of a relationship, so she must know more about that side of him than I do.
The problem is, I’m struggling to muster the interest in being in that relationship with him. Maybe she thinks his wandering eye and magnetic personality is worth dealing with, but all it does is turn me off. For all that she’s convinced there’s a shiny diamond beneath the dirty surface, I’m not, and I’m not about to spend my life dusting him off every time the man gets bored.
I can’t say any of that to her, but I do feel a little better now that she’s talked me down. Miss Cotton Candy. I’m going to picture a pink sugar cloud every time I look at that dumb skank from now on.
I can’t believe he fucking hired her.
Before I can get worked up again, I offer a smile to the waitress. “What’s your name? There are too many waitresses to keep track of, I swear to God.”
“Virginia,” she tells me, pushing off the wall. “I think Rafe likes waitresses. Something about them serving him appeals to his interests.”
Rolling my eyes, I tell her, “You know what? That makes perfect sense.”
Virginia flashes me a smile. “I better get back out there, make sure Marlena isn’t playing in the sink. Don’t want her to die.”
“Are you sure?” I ask innocently.
“Well… if you need someone to kill her, Rafe knows people. Sin would probably take care of it for you; just tell him she’s a troublemaker. The Morelli outfit is a real boys’ club, but Sin has a personal vendetta against cheating hoes. Ask nicely and he’ll probably clean up that cotton candy mess for you. Burn all her stuff and tell Rafe she went back to Arizona. Problem solved.” The mention of Sin drains my smile, so she adds, “I was kidding. Kinda. Not really. We can pretend I was kidding if that makes you feel faint.”
“No, I have a strong stomach. Killing troublemaking hoes doesn’t nauseate me.”
With a nod that’s all too-knowing, she says, “Is it Sin?”
Considering she is an agent of Rafe’s, whether he knows it or not, I don’t offer anything on that subject. With a smile I hope indicates I’m done talking about this, I say, “Thanks for checking on me, Virginia.”
She nods once, accepting her dismissal. “Anytime.” Then, without another word, she backs out of the bathroom.
19
Rafe
After a rough start to the night, things get even worse when I take Laurel to the casino and Gio is hanging out there with his girlfriend, Carla. As soon as I see them, I almost turn around and tell Laurel never mind, let’s just walk the strip, but he spots me and waves, and then it’s too late.
To say Laurel is unimpressed by his flagrant adultery is an understatement. To say she is unimpressed with my casual acceptance of it is an even bigger understatement.
This night was supposed to bring us closer together, but I think it’s driving us apart. Laurel already told me her main issue with me is that she doesn’t think she can trust me, and I am clearly not helping her do that.
I have to get out from under all this and allay her suspicions. I can’t do that with the truth, since even Sin accused me of being shady as fuck, but I do have an idea. I’m not sure if it’s a good idea, but it’s all I’ve got right now. It’s not what Sin wanted—or what I wanted—but I need a viable bail-out if I want Laurel to like me again.
So, I text Sin. I fill him in on what just happened at the restaurant, and tell him I need him to do me a big-ass favor.
I get us away from Gio and Carla as fast as possible, check in with the casino manager, and then tell Laurel we’re on to our next planned stop—one of the clubs I like to go to. Even on nights she likes me, she isn’t thrilled about going to my clubs, but despite her lack of enthusiasm, she nods her agreement. Now she’s probably just eager to stay out as late as possible so she doesn’t have to spend much time alone with me in the hotel room afterward.
The club is busy and loud, but we head right in. I wrap an arm around Laurel’s waist to keep her close, but her expression doesn’t change. She possesses the bored beauty of a model. Never much liked that when I went out with the three models I did date, but I’m pretty sure Laurel gives zero fucks about my opinion of her facial expressions.
Since I’m watching her so closely, I get to see the exact moment her gaze lands on Sin. She stops walking though, so I guess I couldn’t have missed it. If the world beneath her feet opened up and swallowed her, I don’t think she would notice. I didn’t intend the pain I see immediately transform her features and I have to look away from it.
I look where she’s looking and see Sin seated at a table across from Marlena. They’re off in a corner booth, and he’s sipping a beer as Marlena talks animatedly.
“Aw, shit,” I mutter, raking a hand through my hair, playing at obliviousness.
Laurel can’t seem to breathe properly, but my voice tugs her out of the bubble of horror she seems to be living in. “What is going on?”
“I didn’t know they were coming here. I’m sorry.”
“What the hell are you talking about? Why….?”
Sighing, I drape an arm across her shoulders and steer her away, back toward the VIP section. “I didn’t want you to see that unless it turned into something, I’m sorry.”
Shrugging my arm off, she looks at me, demanding an explanation. “See what? What the fuck is going on?”
“Marlena isn’t for me. I met her and thought she seemed like someone Sin would like. Since he’s clearly ready
to get back into the dating pool and it will be easier for everyone once you move on, he let me set him up.”
“They’re on a date?”
Considering she thought I wanted to fuck Marlena an hour ago, you might think she would look relieved. Judging by the look on her face, I think she would strip my clothes off and thrust my naked body at Marlena in a split second if it would get her away from Sin.
I wasn’t entirely confident this would work, but she definitely believes it. I guess Sin is so damned appealing to her, she finds it easy to believe Marlena would go for him. I was a little less confident she would buy Sin going for any woman, period, but Laurel doesn’t know that Sin. She doesn’t think of him as the perpetually single, as being completely disinterested in dating. To me, it is utterly ridiculous that Sin would go out with a beautiful woman I suggested he go out with, but Laurel fell into his bed the same night she met him, so she clearly doesn’t see him the way I do. All she can see right now is that Marlena is romantically linked to a man she likes, but it isn’t me.
Poor Marlena. Laurel is going to be throwing flaming darts at her picture before I’m done here. Actually, judging by the hateful look on Laurel’s face as she looks back at their table, she might just throw flaming darts at her.
“We can leave if you want to,” I offer.
“We should go sit with them,” she says.
I freeze, unprepared for that suggestion. “Uh, what?”
“Is this a first date? First dates are awkward. We should go sit with them, keep them company, see how it goes. Maybe it’s going terribly and they need help.”
“Or maybe it’s going well, and we would be intruding.”
Laurel shakes her head adamantly. “He doesn’t look like he’s having fun.”
I’d like to control myself, but I can’t help asking, “Think that might just be wishful thinking?”
Glaring at me, she says, “No. I know what his face looks like when he’s enjoying himself, and that is not it.”
Well, this is backfiring quickly. The last thing I want to do is go sit next to Sin and Marlena on their fake date and watch Laurel moon at him like he’s the greatest thing since sliced fucking bread. Also, she’ll be mean to Marlena, and I’ve brought enough shit on that poor girl.
“No,” I say, firmly. “They’re on their date, we’re on ours.”
Ignoring me, she shrugs out of my hold and ducks behind me, heading for their table.
“Laurel. Goddammit.” I turn and head after her, but the six-inch heels I bought her don’t seem to be slowing her down now. Normally she is considerate; I’ve even noticed her apologizing to people I’ve brushed past, but right now she plows through them on her way to interrupt Sin’s date.
Well, this is probably going to blow up in my face. Knowing Sin the way I do, I can’t imagine this date is going well. In fact, I figure it’s probably terrible, and I was planning on sending Marlena a bouquet of apology flowers tomorrow. I was relieved she had agreed to it, but she’s sweet and wanted to help me cover my tracks so Laurel wouldn’t be hurt, even though Laurel would currently like to see her murdered, ground up, and stuffed into a dog food can.
Marlena’s laugh sounds authentic as we get within earshot. I wouldn’t have taken her for much of an actress, but hell, I’m convinced she’s having a good time.
Sin has better instincts, so he notices Laurel first. Marlena looks up, startled, and the happiness drains out of her face.
“Hi,” Laurel says. The brightness of her tone is so aggressive, I half-expect to see a look of pure madness on her face, but she’s managing to smile.
Sin shifts, looking down. I already know he has good control of his facial expressions, so I’m less impressed that he looks like someone who legitimately got caught out on a date by his ex.
“Oh, hello,” Marlena says, forcing a smile.
“You were just working. Weren’t you just working?”
Marlena nods, tucking a chunk of hair behind her ears. “Yeah. Sin picked me up when I got off, brought me over here.”
Laurel looks a little like Marlena just punched her in the gut. Laurel’s gaze drifts to Sin again, but he will not look at her. I’ve never known him to avoid conflict the way he is right now, but he is very obviously unwilling to look at Laurel. I have to wonder why. Is it because he thinks that’s the way to play it, or because he won’t be able to pull it off if he looks at her? Is he afraid to see the pain he might be inflicting by helping me out? He’s clearly inflicted a good deal already, because Laurel’s chest is working way too hard.
Laurel’s mouth opens like she wants to say something, but then closes, like she can’t find her words.
Marlena clears her throat uncomfortably, looking up at Laurel. “Um, did you guys want to join us?”
“Yes,” Laurel says. Without waiting for agreement from anyone else, she takes a step to the left and sits down, practically right on top of Sin. He quickly scoots down, but only one spot.
Sighing, I take a seat next to Marlena, who scoots closer to Sin to make room for me. Laurel watches the distance shrink with dread. If Marlena touches Sin, I think Laurel is going to launch herself across the table and claw her face off.
What a wonderful fucking date.
Marlena either doesn’t remember that I told her Laurel and Sin were once involved, or doesn’t care. She sells the date, turning a smiling gaze on him. “We were just talking about—”
Sin interrupts. “We were just talking about how rude it is when women approach men they clearly want to sleep with while they’re out on dates with other people.” He pauses just long enough to laugh a little, then he says, “Oh, wait, no.” He looks over at Laurel. “That was you that said that, wasn’t it?”
Laurel glares at him. “Oh, you weren’t talking about how you don’t date, ever? That’s a fun topic.” Elbowing him with exaggerated good-nature, she tells Marlena, “Forever alone, this one. He’ll fuck with your mind, but don’t expect him to fuck anything else.”
“Keep it up,” Sin tells her, grabbing his bottle of beer and tipping it back.
“I will,” she states, not at all worried that she’s coming off like a crazy person. “What kind of sex are you into, Marlena? He likes to tie girls up so they can’t leave. Not just during sex, either. I hope you have captivity fantasies.”
With such smooth cruelty that even I’m impressed, he says, “If she doesn’t yet, she will by the time I’m done with her.”
He wins that round. Laurel loses her crazy mean-face and looks like she just took a fatal blow. Fuck, that’s not fun to watch.
Even Sin looks away.
Marlena oozes discomfort.
Laurel’s breathing is actually starting to worry me. I think she’s near hyperventilation. Concern leaps when she pushes up out of the booth and hustles toward the door.
I sigh, standing up and following her. “Laurel.”
She ignores me and doesn’t stop until she’s outside the club. By the time I get to her, she is, in fact, bent over with her hands braced on her thighs, struggling to draw in breath.
Well, this is not how I saw tonight going. Fantasies of feeding her chocolate covered strawberries and making her come are dying swiftly as she hyperventilates over the sight of Sin on a date with someone else. I have sat right next to Laurel while out on a date with someone else, and she had maybe one or two fucks to give. For the most part, she was fine. Conversed pleasantly with Jayla, smiled and joked around with Sin, caressed his arm and his thigh. I assumed from that experience that Laurel could play it cool, but what I’m seeing right now is far from playing it cool.
I don’t really know how to respond to this. I’ve never seen a woman fall apart over someone else while out on a date with me. When she stands upright, I pull her into my chest, since that’s all I can think to do.
She accepts the comfort. I wonder if there’s any possible way to build on this. If she were falling apart over some random man, I might not consider this a lost cause yet, but I
don’t know what to do about it being Sin.
Once she settles down, Laurel surprises me by taking my hand and dragging me back in the direction of my car. “Let’s go to the hotel.”
“Okay,” I say, though I’m not entirely sure I’m following. “Are you all right?”
“I’m great,” she mutters. “Are any bakeries still open? I need some sweets.”
“This is Vegas. Of course there are bakeries still open.”
“Good. Let’s go buy all the dessert.”
20
Laurel
As I lie tummy-down on the bed, eating macaroons and watching TV, I decide I haven’t been giving Rafe enough credit. Despite not being one for sweets, and despite watching me break down over Sin being on a date with someone else, he took me to the bakery and bought me two boxes full of macaroons and two slices of fruit-covered cake. Knowing I was in pain over another man, he still hauled me back to this hotel room and promptly ordered an entire season of Smallville for me to watch while devouring all the desserts. Through all of it, he didn’t even act a bit resentful.
He comes out of the bathroom now, stripped down to a pair of pajama pants. I know this is not the date night he had in mind, but he doesn’t complain. I’m also pretty sure he didn’t want to spend tonight watching Smallville, but he climbs on the bed and folds his hands behind his head, turning his attention to the TV.
“What did I miss?”
Pushing up to my knees, I crawl up next to him and snuggle into his side. “Only everything. Clark looking dreamy as he looks out the barn window at Lana’s house, then he took the necklace back over there. She heard noise on her front porch and thought it was Whitney, so he left the necklace on her door for her to find and sped away.”
“He’s a swell guy, that Clark.”
I nod my agreement. “Too swell. I ship Lex and Lana hardcore, but with that jaw, I understand why she would be attracted to him even though he’s a major goody-goody.”