“I got everything done you asked me to do plus about a hundred other things I know you’d never think of. So nothin,’ I don’t guess.”
“I’ve never done this before, asshole.”
He sets the newspaper down. “And I have?”
“No, but you are better at this than me. You get this shit.”
He laughs and sits up. “Well, I intend to take credit for all this after the fact.”
“The hell you are!”
“I am. Without Kari and me, you’d be fucked.”
“What else is new?” I mutter, standing up and refilling my cup. “The pink notes were a good call by you. I’ll give you credit for that.”
“Did she get them yet?”
I smile. “Yeah, Kari texted me that she’s got two so far.”
“Hey, we do need to pick up a few things today. Wanna get dressed and then we can get it out of the way?”
I take a deep breath, feeling the excitement start to creep in. I’ve been trying to fight it, keep it at bay, so I stay in control. But the closer we get, the harder it is not to feel antsy. It reminds me of lying in bed on Christmas Eve when I was a little boy. Just knowing that in a matter of a few hours, my dreams will come true. The anticipation is almost too much.
“Getting nervous?” Max smirks.
I consider his question. It’s a fair one. I’m anxious as fuck, but I have zero second thoughts. Not one. Not an inkling of one.
“You know what? I’m not. I’m not at all, actually.”
He chuckles and stands, swiping his black cap off the couch and putting it on backwards. “My life just gets more bizarre.”
“Why’s that?”
“I feel like I’m in some alternate reality or some shit.”
“Alternate reality? Nah, that’s just too much History Channel on your part, that’s what that is. Now go get your shit together and I’ll meet you in the hallway in thirty.”
Max watches me, smirking. I know he’s gonna say something to try to piss me off. I see it coming.
“What if this doesn’t work?” he asks.
“Fuck you.”
“No,” he says, grinning. “What if this whole thing plays out and it doesn’t go your way?”
“Did you forget who you’re talking to, asshole? Everything goes my way.”
JADA
The white robe is ridiculously soft against my skin. It smells vaguely like lavender and feels like a cloud wrapped around me. I cinch it around my waist, my body humming in a state that has to be total relaxation.
The masseuse, a one hundred and twenty percent gay man, had the hands of an angel. My body is purring and I’m glad I ended up coming with Kari after all.
My sister comes into the room, a white robe like mine clothing her body, her dark hair in a messy knot.
“That was the best massage I’ve ever had,” she purrs dreamily. “I could just lie down and fall asleep and wake up a month from now.”
“Let’s do that,” I say. “I bet the guys are out golfing or something. Let’s just go back to the room now and sleep.”
For a brief moment, her eyes go wide. “No. I . . Um . . .”
The door opens and Shera comes in. She’s a pretty blonde, probably our age, and has a notebook in her hand. “I hope you liked your massage, ladies,” Shera smiles. “Can we get you anything else today?”
“No, I think that’s it,” I smile. “I’m ready for a nap.”
Shea laughs. “Everyone says that.” She runs her finger down the notebook in front of her, scanning the pages. “What brings you ladies to Vegas? Do you live here or are you visiting?”
“Visiting,” Kari says. “We leave tomorrow evening. My sister is getting married soon, so we have some planning to do.”
“You’re engaged?” Shera’s eyes light up and she drops the notebook to her side. “I’m such a romantic! Ah! What do you have in mind for your wedding day? Are you doing something big and beautiful or small and intimate?”
“I have no idea. Pink flowers. That’s all I got.”
Her jaw drops. “That’s it? No hair? No makeup? No dress?”
“She found a dress. Finally,” Kari says sarcastically. “I can’t believe she’s my sister. The girl has no vision. None.”
The notebook is back in front of Shera’s face, the pages turning. “If you girls don’t have anything to do today, my favorite stylist in our wedding department is available for the next couple of hours. We could play around, give you some ideas. It would be fun!”
“Oh, no. You don’t have to—”
“Yes. Yes, she does!” Kari squeals. “Can we do that?”
“Kari . . .”
“Cane said to keep you happy!”
“This makes you happy.”
She rolls her eyes. “It’ll make you happy, too, getting all fussed over. Come on, Jada. Please.” She bats her eyelashes at me and I laugh.
“Are you sure, Shera?”
“Absolutely!”
JADA
“You are beautiful dah-ling,” Pierre swoons, tapping my lips with a gloss. “You make this so easy!”
“Oh, stop it,” I giggle.