“Of course it’s what I thought. I don’t want to hurt your feelings, honey, but for God’s sake, when was the last time you had sex? You have had sex since you conceived Renie, haven’t you?”
“Of course I have.”
“Wait, I better clarify. You have had sex since Scott died, haven’t you?”
No response.
“Liv, that was twenty-one years ago!”
“Thank you for reminding me. It should be obvious why I didn’t invite him inside.”
Paige shook her head. “It’s about as far from obvious as it gets.” She started getting dressed. “No wonder you’re so grouchy.”
“Hey! Be nice. Just because someone isn’t having sex, doesn’t make them grouchy. After a while, you get used to it. It’s the idea of having sex again, and then not having it, that makes a person grouchy. And to be honest, I am very grouchy this morning.”
“Again, why didn’t you do something about it last night?”
“Argh—I told you why not. He’s this hot, younger guy who wants to have sex with me. How long do you think that’ll last when he finds out I’m a forty-year-old re-virgin?”
“Re-virgin? Is that a thing? I haven’t heard about that. Is that what it’s called?”
Liv buried her head back in the pillow. This was pointless. She couldn’t get through to Paige, so why bother? That was last night, she’d missed her chance. Even if she saw him tonight, he’d be busy with the show—where there’d be younger, hotter women to compete with.
Oh, God. What had she done? She’d missed her one chance to have sex since before Renie was born. What if she never had sex again? She’d die a shriveled up old lady who hadn’t gotten laid in sixty years. Maybe longer.
Liv jumped when the room phone rang. Who called on hotel phones anymore? Paige answered.
“Hello, yeah, good morning. Yep, she’s right here.”
“It’s him,” she mouthed.
“Huh?”
“It’s Ben,” she said out loud this time, her hand covering the receiver.
“Oh.”
“Here, take it.” Paige shoved the phone in her direction.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning, yourself. I slept longer than I wanted to. Actually, I didn’t sleep much at all, and it’s your fault. I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I drifted off around sunrise. I woke up and realized I missed my chance to have breakfast with you this morning.”
“You didn’t. Paige just woke me up too.”
“Liv, tell me—did you dream about me?”
Silence.
“Liv? Are you there?”
“Mmm hmm.”
“And? Tell me about your dreams.”
“Not a chance.”
“I’ll get it out of you during breakfast. Or lunch. It’s Vegas?you can get any meal you want, any time of day. How soon can you be ready?”