With a nod that’s all too-knowing, she says, “Is it Sin?”
Considering she is an agent of Rafe’s, whether he knows it or not, I don’t offer anything on that subject. With a smile I hope indicates I’m done talking about this, I say, “Thanks for checking on me, Virginia.”
She nods once, accepting her dismissal. “Anytime.” Then, without another word, she backs out of the bathroom.
19
Rafe
After a rough start to the night, things get even worse when I take Laurel to the casino and Gio is hanging out there with his girlfriend, Carla. As soon as I see them, I almost turn around and tell Laurel never mind, let’s just walk the strip, but he spots me and waves, and then it’s too late.
To say Laurel is unimpressed by his flagrant adultery is an understatement. To say she is unimpressed with my casual acceptance of it is an even bigger understatement.
This night was supposed to bring us closer together, but I think it’s driving us apart. Laurel already told me her main issue with me is that she doesn’t think she can trust me, and I am clearly not helping her do that.
I have to get out from under all this and allay her suspicions. I can’t do that with the truth, since even Sin accused me of being shady as fuck, but I do have an idea. I’m not sure if it’s a good idea, but it’s all I’ve got right now. It’s not what Sin wanted—or what I wanted—but I need a viable bail-out if I want Laurel to like me again.
So, I text Sin. I fill him in on what just happened at the restaurant, and tell him I need him to do me a big-ass favor.
I get us away from Gio and Carla as fast as possible, check in with the casino manager, and then tell Laurel we’re on to our next planned stop—one of the clubs I like to go to. Even on nights she likes me, she isn’t thrilled about going to my clubs, but despite her lack of enthusiasm, she nods her agreement. Now she’s probably just eager to stay out as late as possible so she doesn’t have to spend much time alone with me in the hotel room afterward.
The club is busy and loud, but we head right in. I wrap an arm around Laurel’s waist to keep her close, but her expression doesn’t change. She possesses the bored beauty of a model. Never much liked that when I went out with the three models I did date, but I’m pretty sure Laurel gives zero fucks about my opinion of her facial expressions.
Since I’m watching her so closely, I get to see the exact moment her gaze lands on Sin. She stops walking though, so I guess I couldn’t have missed it. If the world beneath her feet opened up and swallowed her, I don’t think she would notice. I didn’t intend the pain I see immediately transform her features and I have to look away from it.
I look where she’s looking and see Sin seated at a table across from Marlena. They’re off in a corner booth, and he’s sipping a beer as Marlena talks animatedly.
“Aw, shit,” I mutter, raking a hand through my hair, playing at obliviousness.
Laurel can’t seem to breathe properly, but my voice tugs her out of the bubble of horror she seems to be living in. “What is going on?”
“I didn’t know they were coming here. I’m sorry.”
“What the hell are you talking about? Why….?”
Sighing, I drape an arm across her shoulders and steer her away, back toward the VIP section. “I didn’t want you to see that unless it turned into something, I’m sorry.”
Shrugging my arm off, she looks at me, demanding an explanation. “See what? What the fuck is going on?”
“Marlena isn’t for me. I met her and thought she seemed like someone Sin would like. Since he’s clearly ready
to get back into the dating pool and it will be easier for everyone once you move on, he let me set him up.”
“They’re on a date?”
Considering she thought I wanted to fuck Marlena an hour ago, you might think she would look relieved. Judging by the look on her face, I think she would strip my clothes off and thrust my naked body at Marlena in a split second if it would get her away from Sin.
I wasn’t entirely confident this would work, but she definitely believes it. I guess Sin is so damned appealing to her, she finds it easy to believe Marlena would go for him. I was a little less confident she would buy Sin going for any woman, period, but Laurel doesn’t know that Sin. She doesn’t think of him as the perpetually single, as being completely disinterested in dating. To me, it is utterly ridiculous that Sin would go out with a beautiful woman I suggested he go out with, but Laurel fell into his bed the same night she met him, so she clearly doesn’t see him the way I do. All she can see right now is that Marlena is romantically linked to a man she likes, but it isn’t me.
Poor Marlena. Laurel is going to be throwing flaming darts at her picture before I’m done here. Actually, judging by the hateful look on Laurel’s face as she looks back at their table, she might just throw flaming darts at her.
“We can leave if you want to,” I offer.
“We should go sit with them,” she says.
I freeze, unprepared for that suggestion. “Uh, what?”
“Is this a first date? First dates are awkward. We should go sit with them, keep them company, see how it goes. Maybe it’s going terribly and they need help.”