Page 99 of Keep Vegas

“If you’re fucking your dad I might have to bail.”

He laughs hard and moves to the middle of the room. “No, but he is fucking me. I have to figure out what’s going on with the company. There’s a lot of pressure on me to be industrious, personable, reasonable, and single. Most of the exes are on the payroll, and the parents put their foot down about this divorce, and I gave in because it was the right thing to do. Remember that last day in Vegas together?”

“When you sent me to fetch gum? Yeah, that was the start of your weirdness.”

“I saw Laura.”

“Oh, shit. Did she see us?”

“No. She was making out with her friend Teddy. They’re in love and she’s been hiding it.”

“You married a lesbian?”

“Technically, according to her, I married a pansexual, bisexual, fluid sexually human who was never honestly into me all the way. Regardless, she loved me just not like she loves her. I told her I understood.” He pulls me to him.

“Oh.” That worry line on his forehead isn’t fixed. I run my finger and trace the furrow.

“Teddy doesn’t want to hide anymore, and Laura’s first step was to divorce me. But her family got a hold of that juicy bone and it spiraled.”

“You people should really stop talking to your parents.”

He grins. “There’s more.”

“Duh.”

tony

This woman. I didn’t want to burden her because she had so much on her plate in order to graduate.

“Sweet girl, you’re the answer to all the questions but not to all of my problems.”

“I like that. Did someone say that?” she asks.

“I did. Just now.”

“Oh, it’s clever and sweet and makes my heart swell.”

“It was meant to.” I grin, but it’s my turn to come out.

I hold her close and inhale her head. I can’t explain it, but it’s like a shot of Valium to my soul. I say, “My darling, perfect, insane, girl, here are my secrets. I signed a contract and got sucked into a sizable bet that I wouldn’t date for a year.”

She pulls away from me and sits. She’s in my dress shirt with her knees together and her feet apart. So sexy and perfect doing her best broken doll model pose.

“You made a deal and bet not to date me?”

I kneel in front of her. “No, not you. It was anyone. The only reason I attached myself to them in the first place is your fault.”

“Wait, I’m to blame for your father being pissed? Cool.” She stands and puts on her pants. This is getting worse, not better.

“STOP. Woman. Sit. It is so not what you think.” She slowly turns.

She puts her hands on her hips, “Promise me I’m not the fool in this story.”

“Most assuredly not.”

“Do not make me hex you.” She squints.

“I’d never cross you, little witch.”