Speak Low (Speak Easy 2)

“See you around, kid.” Rosie offered me a smug look as Joey took her hand to help her from the booth.

It was my turn to fume. They walked off without looking back while I pursed my lips and tried not to stare at Joey’s ass. Fine, go! Beside the fact that dancing with Joey had me so riled up I could hardly sit still, I hadn’t asked him what he and Enzo had discussed, although he probably wouldn’t have told me anyway. As usual, the men called all the shots.

The bottles of champagne were still on the table, so I poured the remains of one into a glass and drank it down. Fast. Then I poured from another and did it again. Nothing about this night had gone as planned. I was wound up, I was jealous, and I was alone.

I was also drunk.

Propping my chin in my hand, I scowled at the tilting, swirling room full of happy people dancing to happy music. I hated all of them but Evelyn. I hated Rosie for taking Joey away and I hated Joey for leaving. I hated Enzo for his games and his goddamn good looks, and I especially hated myself.

At that moment, a flash of gold caught my eye, and I forced myself to focus on it. Gina was headed toward the ladies room with a friend. Good idea. I need to reapply my lipstick too. And if I happened to engage her in a little conversation…

Picking up my purse from the table, I stumbled after her.

#

A lot of speakeasies had been men’s clubs or saloons in the past, which, of course, were not equipped with bathrooms for women. I had no idea what the history of this building was, but the door labeled Ladies Room was near the hat-check, and when I entered, I almost ran headlong into the sloping ceiling. The room appeared to be tucked beneath a stairway or something. Ducking the sharply pitched angle, I headed through a little lounge area cloudy with smoke, nodded at the attendant, and entered the only unoccupied stall. On either side of me, girls chattered away.

“I still can’t believe you’re getting married next weekend,” said the girl on my right.

“I can,” squeaked someone on my left.

Fucking Gina. Her voice was like chalk on a slate.

“He’s been putting me off all year,” she went on. “I would have liked a ring by now, though, or at least some kind of diamonds. Last week he hinted around that he had a gift for me, but I got nothin’

to show for it.”

The necklace. I brought a hand to my throat, nearly gagging.

I was wearing Gina’s engagement present?

“You know he’ll get you something. That’s how these guys work. They’re all down and worried one day and riding high, flush with cash the next.”

“He better.” The toilet on the left flushed noisily. “I told him I want a rock for each month he made me wait around.”

Her friend laughed. “That’ll be one a hell of a gift, then.”

“No kiddin.’” Gina exited the stall and I heard the water come on at a sink. “I just wish he’d pay more attention to me when I’m here. He’s always so busy.”

The toilet flushed on the right, and her friend joined her at the sinks. “Well, I guess that’s the price you pay for marrying somebody like Enzo DiFiore. I still can’t believe he’s gonna go through with it.”

“For cryin’ out loud, Valerie, can you stop saying that?” Gina screeched. “What’s so goddamn hard about believing he’s gonna marry me like he promised?”

“Don’t have a kitten, Gina. All I meant was that he seemed so reluctant to actually say ‘I do’ before this week. Now all of a sudden it’s a rush job.”

“Rush job! I been waiting six months for this. I don’t know any other girl who had to wait so long. Daddy was getting as anxious as I was.”

“Well, I guess he came to his senses,” soothed Valerie.

“Yeah. Either that or someone showed him what would happen to his senses if he didn’t do the deed.” Gina giggled. “I think Daddy might have had a little man to man chat with him.”

Her friend gasped. “Really?”

“Yeah. Hey, gimme that lipstick.”

I waited in agony as they touched up their lips.

“Why does your father want you to get married so badly? Ouch!”