by Hunt, Jack
“So, you work as a tour guide?” she asked.
“Yeah, most days I take folks out to the Grand Canyon but I sometimes do runs to Area 51. It’s whatever they want.”
She nodded and smiled. “I always wondered what that was like.”
Knowing that she was lying about the restaurants he wondered what else she had lied about. Was her name even Erika? And why had she been so elusive about telling him what she did for a living?
“Ah there’s not much to it. Doesn’t pay too good but it beats being stuck behind a desk. I get out there in God’s country and there’s nothing better than seeing smiles on family’s faces. The nice part is I only deal with folks who are having a good time. What about you?”
The waiter returned and began mixing up a Caesar salad in a wooden bowl in front of them. He’d just expected them to bring it on a plate but no, they had to send a guy to create the dressing and give some long-winded speech. Once it was dished up and she tucked into it he waited for her to reply. She didn’t. She stuffed her face and began chomping on the romaine lettuce like a cow eating its cud. Not wishing for her to duck out of it, he asked again.
“So, what do you do for a living, Erika?”
She swallowed hard, dabbed the corner of her mouth and took another large gulp of her wine while eyeing him over the rim. He maintained eye contact to let her know that he wasn’t going to drop it until he got an answer. It wasn’t like he was asking her if she slept with a guy on the first date, or how much she earned.
Erika placed her drink down and stabbed another piece of lettuce then looked at him. “I work in…”
C’mon, think up your best lie, he thought.
“Advertising.”
“You do. What kind of advertising?”
She jammed the lettuce into her mouth almost immediately upon hearing the question. An attempt to not answer? More delays? He was beginning to think that everything she was telling him was a lie. Who cared what was truth if she wasn’t planning on seeing him again?
She never did give an answer. Maybe it was her smooth ability to change topic or the annoying waiter that kept coming over and asking how their meal was, but she ducked out of it and they spent the rest of the evening in small talk with him doing most of the talking as she seemed distracted.
As the evening came to a close, the waiter slipped the bill across the middle of the table. She looked at it and pulled out some makeup from her purse and began to touch up her lips. No doubt getting ready for her next date with Chad.
Tyler didn’t turn the bill over. He didn’t need to know the total. In his mind it would be expensive. She’d gone through four appetizers, three drinks, a large steak, small potatoes, veggies, and polished all that off with cheesecake. Even after all that he expected her to ask him to foot the bill for a cab home.
He contemplated going to the bathroom and ducking out. It would have been really easy. A quick chat with the waiter on the way to let him know she would be paying, and the rest would be history. He’d head home with a story to tell, and she’d finally know what it felt like to be the punch line.
But that wasn’t how it ended. Instead he decided to drop the truth on her, and go one better, making it clear that she hadn’t got to him.
“So, what are your plans tomorrow?” she asked while glancing around the room. It was obvious she didn’t give a crap. So, he thought he would catch her off guard. No one had probably done it before. He took the bill and motioned to the waiter to come over. He handed off his credit card, and said, “Take 15 percent for yourself, and would you mind paying the bill of the table behind us and the one ahead of us as well as ours? No need to tell them who paid. Let it be a surprise.”
“Of course, sir. Thank you. That’s very generous.”
He didn’t look forward to getting his statement. It was going to hurt, that was for sure. Without missing a beat, he turned back to her with a smile on his face. “Tomorrow? I’ll probably look for someone else on Tinder to take out. Someone who’s not in the habit of serial dating and taking advantage of men. Maybe we’ll date some more, and who knows… but you…” he turned his phone around. “I would have blocked you but you had already done that. But of course you’re used to doing that. I’m sure you’ll do it with Chad tonight, Michael on Saturday and Darren on Sunday, won’t you, Erika? Or is that even your name?” Tyler cocked his head to one side and waited for the response.
Her cheeks went a deep shade of red and she slipped her phone and makeup back into her bag, rose from the table and went to walk away. She took about ten steps before she turned around and came back. “My name is Erika and I wasn’t lying. Chad is my brother. And as for Michael and Darren, those are two people my friend has arranged dates with, not me. But I guess you didn’t dig far enough inside my phone to realize that.”
With that said she turned and walked to the entrance where she collected her jacket and exited into the evening. Tyler sat there finishing off his drink, mulling over what she said. He wasn’t sure whether to believe her or not. It didn’t matter now anyway. He didn’t want to hook up with a girl who hung around with friends that treated guys like that. Sure, guys might have done it to them but he wasn’t like that.
The waiter returned with his card. He signed off and thanked him. Tyler got up and smoothed out his wrinkled jacket and headed towards the exit. As he walked through the lobby, he noticed Erika had returned and was standing by the main counter talking to the restaurant employee. She glanced at him and turned away. He shrugged and walked out into the night trying to hail a cab. It was a terrible night but just the beginning of something far worse.
2
Minutes earlier
The nerve of the guy. Erika exited the restaurant and took a moment to text her friend and update her on the situation. Trish shot back a response almost immediately.
“Don’t worry, darlin’, you’ve just saved yourself a whole world of heartache. Even if he was good looking, a tour guide and capable of taking you up in a helicopter. There are plenty of ways to see this great city from above, and lots of men ready to take you out. You want me to pick you up for drinks?”
“I can’t. I promised I’d go out with Chad. He’s only in town for the evening.”
“All right, hon. Keep your chin up.”
“Trying.”
As soon as she disconnected, she slipped the phone into her bag and looked back inside the restaurant. She had a good mind to go in and chew him out some more. Going through her phone? Who the hell did that? She looked off to her left and figured she’d have to call a cab to pick her up. No sooner had the thought passed through her mind than she heard an engine, then felt a tug and before she knew it her handbag was gone — torn straight off her shoulder.
“Hey!” she yelled at the thieves who were on a green dirt bike. One was driving, and the person on the back had her bag. They looked back and stuck up a finger before disappearing into the busy crowd. She tried to get the attention of people around her but they just looked on bewildered, thinking she had mental problems. Erika gave chase for a couple of minutes but it was useless. She returned to the restaurant even more pissed than when she exited. She couldn’t believe that anyone would have the nerve to do that. Erika peered inside the steakhouse hoping to not see Tyler again. She didn’t have much choice but to go in and see if they would let her use a phone to call Trish. She trudged in scowling and angry. As soon as the woman at the counter saw her, her eyebrows shot up expecting the worst.
“Everything okay?”
“No. I just had my bag stolen and it has my phone in. Could I use your phone?”
“Of course.”
Right then as the greeter handed her the phone, Tyler came out and cut her a glance. Erika turned her back not wanting to engage with him. Quickly she dialed in the number and prayed that it would connect so she didn’t have to enter into an embarrassing conversation. No doubt he would see this as another lie, or an attempt to get what she wanted. Trish picked up.
“Trish. Thank God. Look, I’m in a bit of a bind here. Some asshole just swiped my bag and now I’m without my phone, money or means of getting back to the hotel. Do you think you can swing by and give me a lift?”
“Oh shit.”
“Oh shit, what?”
“Had it been five minutes ago, I would have said yes but I ended up grabbing a ride with Rachel and Kelly. I’m headed south to Kelly’s place.”
“Oh great.” Erika sighed. “This night is just getting worse by the minute.”
“I’m sorry, hon. Let me see if I can get her to swing back around.” Erika heard Trish put the phone against her body as the voices and music in the car became muffled. She turned to see if Tyler was lurking but thankfully he was gone. A few seconds later, Trish got back on. “Ugh. No can do. Kelly told Brianna that she would be swinging by to pick her up in a few minutes and with the way traffic has been today…”
“I get it. Don’t worry, I’ll…”
“You could always call—”
“I’m not calling him.”
“He would pick you up.”
“Yeah and probably have her with him. I’m not doing it.” She sighed and then Trish said she would call her later. After hanging up she thanked the greeter and ran a hand through her long hair. The thought of calling up her ex was nearly as bad as the idea of phoning her mother. Both would be embarrassing and she wouldn’t hear the end of it. No, she would rather trek through the city on foot.
“Anything else we can help you with, ma’am?” the lady asked behind her.
Erika turned and smiled. “Can I borrow your car?” she said jokingly. The woman let out a chuckle and was about to answer when the phone rang. The greeter snatched up the phone to quickly bury herself in her duty.
“Andiamo Steakhouse.”
Erika knew that was her cue. She trudged out into the humid evening, pissed off and frustrated. She weighed her options again. The journey to the hotel had been a twenty-minute car ride, on foot it would take her at least an hour and a half and that was if she double-timed it and knew her way. Having only lived in Las Vegas for the past year, she’d become accustomed to the main veins of the city but had always driven or been driven. She adjusted her tight black dress and was about to set off south for Las Vegas Boulevard when a familiar voice called out to her.
“Erika.”
She grimaced and turned to find Tyler leaning against the wall, one foot up on the brick, the other straight against the asphalt. He flicked a cigarette on the ground and blew gray smoke out the corner of his mouth before strolling over. A smoker? He’d said nothing on his profile about smoking. Had she known she wouldn’t have given him the time of day. Her ex was a smoker. It was like kissing an ashtray.
“Go away,” she said as she walked off into the crowd.
A few seconds later he fell in step. “I couldn’t help but overhear that—”
“Just as you couldn’t help look at my phone?” she said cutting him off and not looking at him. She didn’t slow for even a second. The hope was he would get the point and vanish like all the other guys she’d dated.
“I guess I deserve that.” They slipped through a loud crowd of college students and Erika felt a pang in her stomach for the old days. The days when life was easier. The days when she didn’t have to try and prove anything to anyone.
Tyler continued. “Look, I know we didn’t start off on the right foot. But I can assure you I didn’t intend for this night to go the way it has. In fact, I was really hoping—”
“That you would take me back to your place? Go for a nightcap? So you could have a wild story for your bros about how you got laid? Is that right? Please!” she said shaking her head and walking on. Tyler stopped and for a brief second, she thought she was free of him but no, just like an annoying fly he came up alongside her again.
“You know, it’s not exactly like you helped yourself. Why did you block me?”
“What?”
“You blocked me on Tinder before our date was even over. Before I had even had a chance.”
“Actually, I blocked you because I thought you were going to be a no-show and message me a bunch of excuses. I did it before you showed up.”
“Fair enough. But what about…”
She’d had enough. Erika stopped in her tracks, turned and jabbed a finger against his chest. “Look, I don’t need to explain myself to you. The fact is I was still there when you showed up late.”
“I told you why I was late.”
“And I’m meant to believe you?”
“Yeah, just like you want me to believe you don’t serial date men.”
“I don’t want you to believe anything. I want you to disappear. Leave me alone,” she said as she walked away. Now anyone with a lick of sense would have taken the hint and written off the night as a bad date. Not him. No, he was persistent.
“How are you going to get home?”
“Walk.”
“To where?”
“None of your business.”
“Erika, look, you don’t have any money or a phone. Let me call a cab for you. We can share the ride.”
“Uh, no,” she said glancing back. “But thanks.” A flicker of a smile appeared on his face as if he thought it was some kind of game.
“I’ll drop you off wherever you want. I promise I won’t say another word.”
“Nope.”
The heat and humidity of the summer was almost too much. She could feel beads of sweat rolling down to the small of her back and she’d only been walking a few minutes. The thought of hiking for over an hour in high heels was already giving her mental blisters. There was no way she was going to take off her shoes. The grime of Las Vegas was gross. Besides the few places she had visited, overall, she found the city had a tacky feel to it, making her feel used and always in need of a shower.
“Man, you are stubborn.”
She stopped and turned around and glared at him. He was standing a few feet from her with one hand on his hip, and the other wiping sweat from his brow.
“All right,” she said walking back.
“All right, what?”
“Hail a cab. But this isn’t an invitation for a nightcap.”
He grinned. “I didn’t say it was.”
“And this doesn’t mean that anything has changed between us.”
“I didn’t expect it would,” he said turning and raising a hand to try and get the attention of a cabbie. They walked down Carson Avenue for a good five minutes before he managed to flag one down. After it swerved over to the sidewalk, Tyler opened the back door and gestured for her to get in. She slipped by him without making eye contact and he hopped in after her. Inside it smelled like an Indian restaurant. The cabbie was holding a half-eaten donair sandwich with one hand and he had the other on the wheel.
“Where you heading?” The driver asked.
Erika leaned forward. “Lyons Grand Vacations at the Flamingo.”
The driver gave a thumbs-up, tossed his sandwich on the passenger seat and hit the button to start the meter. He cranked up the volume for a local radio station and rolled out into the clogged-up streets.
Tyler nodded thoughtfully. “Hold on a minute. You said you are in advertising. What are you doing staying at the Lyons? You meeting Chad there?”
“No, I live there.”
He chuckled and glanced at her as if trying to gauge if she was telling the truth. That’s when the penny dropped. “Erica Lyons. Lyons Grand Vacations. You own the chain?”
“No, my mother does but if she had her way, I would be spending every waking hour there.”
“But you told me you were in advertising.”
“I am. Hotel advertising.”
Tyler nodded. “Advertising your mother’s chain of hotels and restaurants. Right. Got it. Why didn’t you just say that?”
Lyons was a large chain that was in forty different countries. Her parents had started out with one hotel back in their early twenties and over the course of
their life branched out into franchising. Since the 1990s business had exploded and they were now a household name synonymous with elegance and clientele with deep pockets. Of course, they had another chain of hotels that catered to families and those who didn’t have a taste for the finer things in life, but those didn’t produce anywhere near the income the Lyons chain did. In Vegas alone, there were eight hotels.
“Would you have paid for the meal if I had?”
His eyes widened and his jaw went slack. “So that’s why.”
“No, that’s not why.”
Tyler laughed. “Of course it is. You feel self-entitled. Mommy has been paying for everything since you were born and you don’t expect anything less from guys you date, except…” he trailed off raising a finger to his lips. Before he could finish his thought, Erika interrupted him.
“You are such an asshole. I don’t even know why I agreed to go out with you.”
Tyler shifted in his seat to face her but she wouldn’t look at him. “Okay then, while we are on the topic, why did you?”
“Uh, how much further?” she asked the driver trying to avoid answering.
“Erika, don’t dodge the question. Why?”
“Because I thought you were different.”
“Really? In what way?”
“I…” she trailed off and looked out the window.
“C’mon. Why did you agree to go out with me? You must have known from what I told you about my work that I wasn’t exactly Lyons material.”
She scoffed. “Please. Give me a break.”
“Oh, so you’re in the habit of dating guys who probably make less money in one year than you make in one month. Hell, one week!”
“Money. It’s always about money. That’s why I didn’t say anything. I wanted to see if someone would like me for me not for my family ties.”
“And you think Daddy would be real pleased if you bring someone like me home?”
She turned and looked at him and Tyler must have assumed she was analyzing his clothing as he was quick to continue. “Yeah, that’s right. This suit. It’s the only one I own. And did you know I wore this to my grandmother’s funeral? Yep. Same one.” He smiled and sniffed his armpit as if finding satisfaction in telling her that he hadn’t put in any effort for the date.
