We head over to Alonso. Henn says, “Hey, man, I’m sorry, but my baby has a fever and I need to go home.”
“The last flight to LA has already left,” Alonso says. “Why don’t you go back first thing in the morning?”
Without hesitation, as Henn and Alonso continue talking, I grab my phone and start making arrangements.
“I’m gonna rent a car and drive,” Henn says. “This time of night should be smooth sailing. I’ll make it home in four and a half hours. Perfect timing for my wife to crash and for me to take over for her with Hazel.”
Henn turns to me, clearly intending to hug me goodbye. But I put up an index finger, asking him to hold on for a second. Quickly, I finalize what I’m doing on my phone, and then look up.
“No rental car required,” I say. “I just booked you a car and driver, so you can sleep on the way home. It’ll be at the front of the club in exactly fifteen minutes.”
“Oh my God, Reed. It didn’t even occur to me to do that! I’ll pay you back.”
“Don’t be stupid. Go get your suitcase from upstairs and meet me out front. I’ll wait outside for the car, in case it gets here before you’re out front.”
“You’re the best. Thanks, brother.”
With that, Henn heads toward the front exit of the club, looking like a man on a mission.
Alonso shakes his head as he watches Henn’s departing frame. “What the fuck has happened to all of us? Faraday couldn’t come to Vegas because his wife is in her third trimester and he won’t leave her, even for one night. Henn is running off to hold his sick baby, even though his wife is already there. Cory stayed home because his wife’s sister is about to have twins. Jake is standing over there, showing everyone a video of his baby’s first fucking steps. And you just now turned down a smoking hot actress with the most perfect tits I’ve ever seen because you have a girlfriend waiting for you at home? Seriously now, am I the only one whose balls are still attached to his body?”
“Fuck you,” I mutter. “You were always trash in college, and now you’ve grown up to be a Peter Pan asshole motherfucker. I never liked you, Alonso. Not even in college. Not even when I was high on blow. So, why am I here? Why am I hosting this birthday party for you?”
Alonso laughs heartily, apparently thinking I’m joking. But I’m not. Why am I wasting my precious time on this planet doing anything I don’t want to do? More to the point, why am I doing anything that takes me away from Georgina?
“I’m going outside to wait for Henn’s limo,” I toss out, and then stride toward the front door without waiting for Alonso’s reply.
Outside in the warm Las Vegas night, I bum a cigarette off the security guy out front, even though I don’t smoke. Just as I’m stubbing the cigarette out, Henn’s limo comes. Two minutes after that, Henn appears with his suitcase, looking frayed. I give my sweet best friend a bear hug and tell him to keep me posted. And then, I send Henn off into the night, on his white horse.
Deciding I’d rather have FaceTime sex with Georgina in my room than return to the excruciating birthday party, I begin crossing the street toward my hotel. But just as I’m heading into the lobby, my phone buzzes with a text from CeeCee that stops me dead in my tracks.
CeeCee: I saw on Instagram you’re in Vegas. Francois and I are here, too, for his friend’s birthday dinner tomorrow night. Let me know if you have time for a drink.
Me: I have time right now, as a matter of fact.
CeeCee: Perfect timing! We just got back to our room. Bellagio. Penthouse 8. See you soon, darling!
Chapter 28
Reed
Not surprisingly, given that CeeCee’s husband is a multi-billionaire, CeeCee’s penthouse at the Bellagio is the biggest, most luxurious hotel suite I’ve ever beheld. Which is saying a lot, considering how much I like to treat myself to the finer things in life.
At first, CeeCee, Francois, and I chat as a threesome while gazing at the neon view of The Strip below. But, after a while, Francois heads downstairs to meet some friends in the casino, leaving CeeCee and me to booze it up as a dynamic duo.
“Okay, darling,” CeeCee says when her husband is gone. “Tell me what’s going on with you. You’re not yourself tonight.”
“Yeah, I’ve got some blood in my boozestream.”
She laughs. “No, I’ve seen you drunk, plenty of times. There’s something bothering you. What’s wrong?”
I sigh. “I can’t stand being away from Georgina. She’s my disease and there’s no cure. I’m lovesick.”
CeeCee pats my arm. “What a glorious reason to be miserable.”
“How the hell do you and Francois live on different continents? Are you not in love with him? I won’t tell, if you’re not. Just tell me the truth.”
She bats my shoulder. “Don’t insult me. Of course, I’m in love with my darling Francois! I hate being away from him, every bit as much as you hate being away from Georgina. But I’ve got no choice, at least for now. I’m not ready to retire yet. Not even close. So, we make it work.”
I shove my empty glass at her. “Another one, bartendress. Help me numb the pain of my acute lovesickness.”
Chuckling, CeeCee gets up to refill my glass. “I don’t blame you for falling head over feet for Georgie. So have I. I knew she was going to knock my socks off this summer, the minute I met her. But she’s blown away even my highest expectations with everything she’s submitted to me. Especially that piece she wrote on Gates! Have you read it, Reed? It’s incredible.”
My chest swells with pride. “Yeah, I read every draft along the way. It’s amazing, isn’t it? I’m so proud of her.”
She hands me a drink and resumes her seat. “I made it a double.”
“Bless you, Saint CeeCee.”
“Did Georgina tell you? If she’s able to incorporate my final edits and turn in her final draft by tomorrow, we’ll be able to sneak it into the next issue of Dig a Little Deeper, just under the wire.”
“She told me. She’s beyond elated about it. Georgie’s been dreaming of getting published in Dig a Little Deeper for a long time.”
“Well, cheers to dreams coming true.”
We clink and drink.
“Does this mean you’re going to hire Georgina full-time at Dig a Little Deeper?”
“Of course, I am. But don’t you dare steal my thunder and tell her. When her internship is officially over in two weeks, I’m going to throw her a little surprise party at the office to tell her. I already told Margot to order a cake.”
I feel euphoric, like this victory for Georgie is my own. “She’ll love a party. She doesn’t have a mom, CeeCee. Little things like a party with a cake... the way you’ve taken her under your wing. That stuff means the world to her. More than you could possibly realize.”
“Aw, Reed. You look so smitten right now. Like you’re bursting with pride.”
“I am. This Gates article... It’s been so inspiring to watch her journey. When Georgina told her dad about Gates six weeks ago, she was so nervous and timid. And look at her now. She’s unstoppable. That article doesn’t pull any punches. It’s incredible.”