“You know, I’m not really his wife anymore.” Her voice was sad and I frowned for her. Andy never told us the details but I did remember an unopened certified letter dated about ten years ago remained unopened and pinned to his message board in the back office of Easton’s Pub collecting dust. A less than subtle reminder of the baggage my friend carried resting in between a thick pad of folded paper and less than two dollars’ worth of postage. I could have told her it remained unopened but some of this was beyond my helping.
I rested my hand on her shoulder petting her hair gently because that seemed like a comforting thing to do. “Sierra, I wouldn’t be so sure of that, just–come home. When you’re ready, come home.”
“Hurry up in there!” A bang on the door interrupted us and she looked frightened for a second before breathing deeply and calmly again.
“Keep your knickers on!” Sierra yelled back at the door, her eyes closed off from emotion once again.
I eased her off my lap and we stood in the silence of the room while the music pumped outside. “Please, Sierra.” It was the closest I came to begging.
“I’ll think about it.” She opened the door and I grabbed her hand one last time before she slipped out into the seedy hallway. By letting her go I was essentially signing off my friendship with Andy once he found out. I did the only thing that would ease my consciousness in the moment and grabbed for my wallet.
“Wait. Take this. Please.” She stood frozen in place as I opened my wallet and gave her the cash I had left. Something close to
seven hundred dollars wasn’t much, but if it got her out of here for a little while or helped her get home than it meant more to me than its monetary value ever would. That money amounted to one job back home, a few hours of inconvenience snaking a toilet or fixing a leaky faucet, and I wondered what it meant in her world.
“And here–my card. In case you need anything.” I handed her my card from Hart Construction Company detailing my cellphone number.
I grabbed her hand one last time. “I’m serious Sierra, anything.” At least she would have a way to reach someone from her old life if she decided to come home.
“Thanks. You really are a Saint, Damien.” Her smile was the first I’d seen since I’d known her. The way her lips creased upward with hope shot me in the gut. I wasn’t good at this hero shit and Sierra Oocho wasn’t my girl to save but maybe, just maybe I slayed one dragon tonight.
Awkward silence stretched out between us and I grabbed the back of my head rubbing my hand over my hair. “Yeah, maybe you could tell that to Kristen.”
She gave me a tender punch in the stomach. “Oh, I think she’s always known.” Sierra turned and then paused speaking again. “But maybe you should tell her you never hooked up with that Frenchie.” Sierra left as abruptly as she came in leaving me more puzzled than before.
I waited a good five minutes before leaving the room. No sense in having the guys think I’m one of those early ejaculators or some weird shit. When I peeked out into the hallway, the coast was clear of both Sierra–the ghost, and her companion–Catwoman.
“Look what the cat dragged in.” Chase looked moderately tipsy, Hunter was still texting on his phone back and forth and Whit was dancing by himself next to the bar like some collage age freak.
“So, who is ready to hit up the next place?” I asked, my glance darting around hoping like hell that Sierra was long gone.
“Why? Are the girls in Vegas?” Hunter glared at me from his phone, a typical frown making him magically appear cover model handsome in a perfectly rugged way that had girls ready to drop everything for him, except he only had eyes for one. He should actually be thanking me in my opinion, but hey, whatever.
“Surprise?” Hunter groaned at my reply that sounded weak and pithy but I was curious how Pebbles pulled this one off getting Taylor out here, we hadn’t discussed those details just the party itself. Maybe she thought this was a competition, but now I was eager to see her again in the perfect environment to sin.
“I’ll be surprised if Kristen can stay out of trouble this weekend.” He grumbled walking out to the curb. We follow the man of the hour out of the club and caught a taxi back to our hotel. The guys’ weekend was now officially a couples’ weekend. Chase seemed bummed and that made me happy for a change because that made two of us.
20
Kristen
“Buckle up bitches! Vegas baby!” I throw the bright blue Ford mustang convertible into drive and head toward the Bellagio.
“I can’t believe you actually did it.” Taylor said amused. Bright lights that never seem to fade into the desert pop in brilliant whites and reds, signs pulse with the city’s heartbeat and with the top down our hair blows wild in the wind.
“I can’t believe Lia found that awesome tattoo shop. It was like kismet.” My arms were wrapped in black plastic and I felt badass. Mostly sore, but badass. I couldn’t wait to see the twin wings healed and pretty with the black and violet outlining.
“That guy was awesome who did your shading.” Lia beamed and tugged her pants down to check out the tiny camera etched into her hip bone forever.
“I cannot believe you convinced me to come out here.” Taylor smiled wide looking relaxed and I winked at my best friend. What better way to send her off then to make sure she never forgets what it’s like to hang with her girls on this epic adventure. I’ve got the spa booked and fun mapped out for the weekend ahead.
“Once I told mom, she was completely on board with it and booked the spa for us. Told me she regretted not having a last hurrah herself and insisted we go.” I don’t know if time softened my mother or the demands of being a judge wore her down, but she was all too ready to toss me her credit card and who was I to say no to a free trip?
“This is amazing! Perfect night exposure for the camera.” Lia was in the backseat clicking away with her zoom lens looking dazed by all the bright lights.
“Where are we staying?” Taylor was busy texting on her phone and I drove past bright lights and sidewalks filled with nut jobs.
“Mom made me book a room at the Bellagio.” I pulled up to the curb and a valet jogged over to us ready to take our keys.