Page 41 of Keep Vegas

“I’m still married.”

“You’re such a good husband.” She stands up and puts her hands on her hips. I take a big bite of the squishy white bread, pre-packaged turkeyish sandwich.

I’m chewing the limp lettuce and talking with food in my mouth. “We live in one of the major culinary cities in the world. Find me a fucking dinner that’s not this.” I pick up my garbage can and spit it out.

She lets loose with another giant throaty laugh. “Bacco’s is in the hallway, lobsta ravioli and a green salad. I just won a bet though.”

“Shit. Is Dax here?”

He walks into the room, laughing his ass off, and texts the group chat in front of me. He puts a large to-go bag of food on my desk.

HAYDEN: Did he eat it?

DAX: He chewed and spit it out. Does that count?

ROBBIE: Yeah. If he tasted it.

TONY: What’s with this fucking sandwich?

LAW: Dax saw it in a machine, and we bet him he couldn’t get you to eat it.

COLT: Then he told us Lill could get you to do it. I lost $100 bucks. Was sure you wouldn’t do it.

TONY: Thank you, man. Now you all owe Lill some cash.

My brother unpacks our last-minute dinner, and I only want to text Makenzie back.

TONY: Hi. I’m with people and need to get back to you later, but I’m so happy you texted.

MAK: Didn’t mean to bother you.

TONY: You did. You bothered me so much. I’m going to think about you all night. Gotta go.

MAK: Ok.

Dax hands me a plate, and we dig into the best fucking mac in the world. I love this place.

“Thanks, man. What’s up?”

“You ok? Laura’s bullshit charity piece in the Globe.” She strategically placed an article about her benevolence.

I ask, “Sophie out of town? Is that why you’re here?”

He doesn’t say anything. I stare at him while I tuck into my salad. He avoids the subject, so I know it’s off again.

“Sorry,” I say.

He shrugs. “She has her reasons.”

“Which are bullshit, I’m sure.”

“Same damn shit, actually. And perhaps if she keeps pushing, maybe I should listen. That’s what Monica says.”

“Monica?”

“Hayden’s old assistant from Eva and Rinaldi Agency. You remember her?”

“Oh, yeah. She was cool. Where is she? You did her, right?”