Rev Me Up

by Kylie Gilmore

He returned to her side and handed her the drink. Lily did the shot, sucking on the lime. She kissed him aggressively, giving him tongue, and though he knew her aggression was just because she was drunk, he couldn’t help but return it.

  “Thank you,” she slurred, her eyes hazy with alcohol and lust. It was a good thing he was with her, that was for sure.

  “When was the last time you saw your mom?” he asked.

  She stiffened; then she gave him a small smile. “My mom likes fancy teas and lunch dates. When she can fit me in. Aren’t I lucky?”

  His brows drew together. Fancy teas didn’t exactly sound like a Vegas showgirl. Maybe he’d been way off base.

  They stayed for an hour and a half more, and Nico made sure Lily didn’t have any more shots. Five was plenty for the night as evidenced by the frequent dirty dancing she did against his leg despite the fact that no one in the audience was dancing. He’d been forced to stand for the dirty dancing when she nearly knocked his chair over while attempting a lap dance. The show finally finished.

  “Time to face the music,” Lily sang before rushing the stage.

  “Wait up,” he called.

  A security guard stopped her before she could get on stage.

  “Taylor!” Lily called, jumping up and down and waving. “Taylor!”

  The red-haired woman turned. “Lily? What’re you doing here?” She waved the security guard off and Lily bounded on stage.

  “Can we talk?” Lily asked loudly.

  Nico turned to the guard. “I’m with her.” He crossed to Lily’s side.

  “Hello, handsome,” the woman purred at him.

  “Mom, this is my boyfriend Nico,” Lily said, throwing her arm around him.

  “I told you not to call me that,” her mom said, looking around to make sure no one had overheard. “I’m barely hanging onto my job as it is. Come on to the girls’ dressing room so I can change.”

  Nico tried to imagine the dignified George Spencer married to this woman and couldn’t. One look at Lily next to her mom and the resemblances were astonishingly clear—the hair, the electric blue eyes, the fair skin, even the plump lips with the bow at the top. Though her mom wasn’t as tall.

  “Aren’t the other women in there changing?” Nico asked.

  “They don’t mind being watched,” her mom said before sashaying off, all feathers and sequins, and no love at all. His confusion over Lily’s strange antics tonight vanished. He’d been lucky enough to have a kind, loving mom, who, unfortunately, died, but then he’d been extra lucky to have a kind, loving stepmom a few years later. Lily had definitely gotten the short end of the stick.

  ~ ~ ~

  Lily was drunk, but not drunk enough to be numb. Seeing her biological mom always did a number on her. The mom who took her to fancy teas was her stepmom, the only mom she’d ever known until she was eighteen and her dad finally told her the truth about her mom. It explained a helluva lot. Why she was forever disappointing her dad, for one thing. Why her stepmom had always been so cool and distant with her. She was the result of an affair that her stepmom put up with only because of her dad’s money. Lily was the living proof that her dad had strayed. Lily had persevered with her stepmom, Mona, because Mona was home a lot more than her dad. Mona had fit her in when it was convenient. Now her stepmom preferred to stay at their summer home in Newport, Rhode Island, year round.

  The dressing room was full of scantily clad beautiful women, including her mom, who was now pulling on a halter top with no bra and not bothering to turn her back for privacy. It wouldn’t have mattered. The room was wall-to-wall mirror. The harshness of the environment with its glaring exposed light bulbs surrounding the mirrors, the counter strewn with makeup and cigarette butts, the dirty linoleum floor, and, most of all, the reality of her mom, was sobering Lily up fast. She’d lost the giddy feeling from the tequila and instead felt extraordinarily tired.

  She’d pulled Nico in with her, needing backup. She glanced over to find him staring at a point on the far wall away from the women. She could’ve hugged him for that. So she did, wrapping her arms around his waist.

  He wrapped his arms around her in a warm embrace. She wished she could just stay like that, safe in his arms, but she had something important to ask her mom, and it couldn’t wait.

  She pulled away and turned to her mom. “Taylor, can we go someplace more private?”

  Her mom pulled on some leggings and slipped her feet into high-heeled sandals. “Yeah, let’s go. I need a smoke.” She grabbed her purse. “Follow me.”

  They followed her out past the half-naked women, who took the time to give Nico an appraising up-and-down look, to the sidewalk. It was dark and the garish lights from the front of the club didn’t quite reach them. There was only one light shining down from the side of the building. Her mom stood under the light and lit up her cigarette. “Smoke?” She offered the pack to them both, and they declined.

  “To what do I owe this visit?” her mom said, letting the smoke leak out sideways from her mouth.

  “I’ll wait over there,” Nico said, pointing a distance away in front of the club.

  Lily grabbed his hand. “Stay.”

  He stayed.

  “How are you, Mom?” Lily asked.

  “Taylor. Call me Taylor.”

  Nico squeezed her hand.

  “Taylor,” Lily said.

  Her mom gave her a small fake smile and took a long drag on her cigarette. “Fine. How nice of you to visit.” There was no enthusiasm in her voice. Only a flat, jaded tone.

  Lily took a deep breath. “Last time we spoke you mentioned you had another daughter. Where is she? How do I contact her?” Her mom had been drunk on their last phone call or she never would’ve let that slip.

  “You a lawyer now?” her mom asked.

  “Yes, I graduated. As soon as I pass the bar exam, it’ll be official.”

  Her mom narrowed her eyes and took another long drag. “Big money now, huh? I’m proud of you, Lily. You turned out just like your dad wanted you to be.”

  Hardly, Lily thought. Her stepmom couldn’t have kids and what her dad wanted most of all was a son to carry on the Spencer name. Taylor had been her father’s mistress. She’d lied about her age, telling Lily’s dad she was twenty-three when she’d only been eighteen, and had purposely gotten pregnant, hoping her dad would leave his wife for her. She’d planned to show up, hugely pregnant with the heir he’d always wanted, and win her place in the wealthy Spencer family. It turned out the ultrasound technician had incorrectly identified Lily as a boy. But that disappointment wasn’t apparent until she was born. Taylor handed her over as a newborn to Lily’s dad with no explanation other than a deal was a deal.

  Because Lily was part of a contract between her parents. A result of Taylor’s plan gone awry. Her dad had unexpectedly stopped by Taylor’s condo (that he’d paid for) in Vegas while playing at a charity golf tournament. He’d been surprised to find his mistress six months pregnant, but he wouldn’t marry her. Taylor threatened to give the baby boy, the Spencer heir, up for adoption. Her dad wanted his heir and got everything down in writing. He would raise the child with his wife, and Taylor would be compensated for her part in carrying on the Spencer dynasty to the tune of twenty grand a year until the heir was eighteen. And no contact between mother and son.

  Taylor could’ve gotten a lot more money out of it. Her dad could’ve afforded it, but to Taylor, who’d been living in poverty before she met Lily’s dad, the deal had been extraordinary. She’d agreed and had seemed content with her decision until Lily reached eighteen and the money dried up. Taylor wanted contact with her long-lost child, which was the only reason her dad ever told her about her mom. Taylor had right away started milking Lily for money instead. But Lily didn’t care. Her mom was the key to understanding her whole screwed-up existence, and she’d gotten the full story piecemeal straight from her mom’s mouth over the years. Her dad refused to speak of it, like it was all beneath him. But now there was anothe
r piece to the story, a sister, and Lily wanted that relationship more than anything in the world.

  Nico’s sharp voice cut through her memories. “You know what, Taylor? She turned out great.”

  Her mom smirked at Nico. He stiffened.

  “I’ve never asked for anything from you,” Lily said. “I just want to meet my sister. I didn’t even know I had one until our last conversation.”

  “I don’t remember saying that,” her mom said. “I was drunk. Probably rambling on about a lot of things that weren’t true.”

  “This was very specific. You said she was mad at you for giving her up. That she didn’t understand like I did. Taylor, please, a name, a phone number, anything.”

  Her mom stubbed out her cigarette with her sandal, grinding it into the sidewalk. “What’s it worth to you?”

  “You want her to pay to meet her own sister?” Nico barked.

  “Fuck you,” her mom said, turning on her heel and walking away.

  Lily put a hand on Nico’s arm. “It’s okay,” she told him. And then to her mom she called, “How much do you need?”

  Taylor stopped and turned. “Three thousand. I’m behind on rent.”

  Lily nodded and pulled fifteen hundred in cash she still had left from her gambling winnings out of her purse and handed it over. “I’ll transfer the rest to your account.”

  Taylor smiled, a feral smile. “Thanks, Lily, I could always count on you. I’ll be in touch when the money clears.” She walked off into the night on tottering heels.

  Nico pulled her in for a hug. “Are you okay?”

  She looked up at him. “I’m great. I just got a sister.”

  “You shouldn’t have to bribe your own mother—”

  She kissed him because she needed him just then. The solid strength of his body, the warmth of his touch. He slid his hand into her hair and kissed her in a tender way that somehow conveyed love.

  She pulled back, choked up. “Let’s have some fun, okay? I need some good memories of Vegas.”

  He slung an arm over her shoulders, and they headed back to the Strip. “Your wish is my command.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Nico woke on the floor of a huge hotel suite with a naked Lily wearing a small wedding veil sprawled on top of him. His head was pounding. This wasn’t the room they’d checked into earlier. Bits and pieces of the night came back to him. Drinking, blackjack, Lily running and dancing by the fountain in front of the Bellagio until the security guard pulled her away, giggling like crazy. He did not get married. He’d never do that. He stared at the small white veil on her head and could think of no reasonable explanation.

  “Lil.” He shook her shoulders a little. “Wake up.”

  She tried to roll to her side and slipped right off him onto the floor. She landed on her back and let out a small snore. He stared at a butterfly tattoo under her belly button that hadn’t been there before. Fuck. What had they done? He looked down at himself and found a matching imprint on his stomach, but faded. He scrubbed at it. Oh, thank God, it was one of those temporary tattoos. He was still wearing a condom. And the scary thing was he didn’t even remember doing it. He got rid of that and returned to where Lily was sleeping on the floor.

  “Lil.” He gave her a nudge. “Wake up.” She smiled in her sleep. He pulled her up to a sitting position, and she wrapped her arms around him and fell asleep on his chest. The woman slept like the dead. He gave up. He scooped her up and put her in the king-size canopied bed that seemed to be missing the blankets. He found them on the floor on the other side along with their clothes and a strip of condoms. He tucked the sheet and blanket over her and set the condoms on the nightstand.

  Okay, okay. They probably just had a little fun last night. He pulled on his briefs and shorts and headed to the bathroom. Quickie weddings in Vegas could be undone quickly. They probably had quickie divorces too. Still, he felt jittery and sick. He peed like a racehorse, washed his hands, and then scrubbed at the butterfly on his stomach, managing to get it off. After he brushed his teeth with the complimentary toothbrush and toothpaste conveniently left in a basket on the counter, he called room service and ordered coffee and toast for both of them.

  And then he waited, staring at his bride sleeping the morning away, her red hair bunched up in a tangle topped by the veil. Her lush mouth open slightly. Her shoulder was exposed, the skin perfect and smooth. The reason for her upset last night came back to him then clearly. Her mercenary mom only looking for money. She’d probably dropped the hint about a sister just to get more money out of Lily. Who knew if such a person even existed? And Lily, just accepting that was all she could expect from the woman. It physically hurt him to know that. Lily was such a good person inside and out with an exuberant, unsullied enjoyment of life. How could she have come from that woman? Or even her dad, who he knew to be a hard-ass. Maybe her dad was different in private with his daughter. He hoped so.

  Room service arrived a short while later, and Lily jolted awake at the sharp knock on the door. “Who is it?” she asked, jackknifing up in bed. The sheet and blanket fell off her, and he rushed to cover her before the room-service guy could get an eyeful of beautiful breasts.

  “Hey,” he said gently, pushing her back down and covering her with the sheet and blanket. “It’s room service. Keep covered for a minute.”

  She moaned. “I don’t feel good.”

  He left her side to let room service in when Lily leaped out of bed and raced to the bathroom, giving the room-service guy a nice streaking show.

  Nico shrugged and gave him a tip. “Thanks. Sorry about that.”

  “Just a typical morning in Vegas for me,” the guy said and then left.

  The water was running in the bathroom, but he could still hear Lily retching. Better to get it out, he figured.

  He sipped coffee and hoped like hell Lily had Advil or something like it in her suitcase. He looked around. It wasn’t here. Their stuff must be in the first hotel room they’d checked into. Were they even in the same hotel? He heard her brushing her teeth. And then she stumbled from the bathroom and stood there naked in her veil, blue eyes wide.

  “Did I get a tattoo?” she asked. “Twice?”

  She turned and there on the dip in her lower back just above her curvy ass in big block letters was one word—Nico.

  He leaped up and rubbed at his name. Oh, thank God. Another fake tattoo. If that had been real, every man she ever got naked with would see his name and—

  “I’m afraid you did,” he said. “It looks good, though.”

  “It says Nico!” she hollered, then winced. Her hangover headache was probably much worse than his.

  “Cool.”

  “Where’s yours?”

  He shrugged and turned his back to show her. She burst out laughing. “Yours says Lily.”

  “What?” He craned his neck to see over his shoulder. He couldn’t see it. He headed to the bathroom and there it was, matching tattoos. At least he knew his was fake. “Huh.”

  “That’s it? Huh? You’re not upset to have my name permanently etched on your skin?”

  “They did a good job. You got any Advil?”

  She flounced out of the bathroom, making her breasts bounce. Shockingly, he wanted her. Headache and all. She located her purse and shook some pills out for him then washed a couple down for herself.

  “I can’t believe you let me get two tattoos,” she said.

  He wrapped his arms around her. “I like it.”

  She pulled away. “Ugh. This is awful.” She snagged a white robe from the closet, slipped it on and sat at the small table where the coffee and toast were.

  “Are we really married?” he asked, closing his eyes as he braced for the answer.

  “What’s wrong?” she snapped. “A tattoo is okay telling everyone you’re mine, but a piece of paper saying so isn’t?”

  He opened his eyes. “Please tell me we’re not married.”

  She threw a piece of toast at him. He ducked. She looked
at her left hand and held it up to him. “Gold band. Where’s yours?”

  He checked. “I don’t have one.”

  She dropped her head in her hands and the veil fell forward. “This doesn’t make sense.”

  He shoved his hands in his pockets and met hard metal. He produced a gold band from his pocket. “Uh, Lily.”

  She lifted her head and stared at his ring. “Why weren’t you wearing it and I was?”

  He tried it on and it didn’t fit. “Mine’s too small.”

  “Mine’s too big,” she said, sliding it off. She gestured for his, they traded, and they both fit perfectly. “I think we are married,” she said quietly.

  His jaw dropped. That sucked. He was really shackled. And his family had missed it. He started pacing back and forth. He had to undo this, but he didn’t want to hurt her feelings. He tried to remember the wedding and couldn’t. Maybe it didn’t really happen. Maybe they just dressed the part. He clung to that desperate line of thinking.

  “Do you remember the wedding?” he asked.

  “No.” She took off the veil and set it on the table.

  “Okay, okay, we would’ve needed a witness, right? Who was the witness?” His voice was rising, and he forced it to a level tone. “There would be a license. We need to check! There’s no need to panic yet.”

  She eyed him. “I’m not panicking. You are.”

  “You seriously want to be married to me?” he hollered. She winced, and he lowered his voice. He had to make her understand why this was never going to work. “The guy who fixes your dad’s cars? I have nothing to offer you, and I sure as hell don’t want to be married.”

  She scowled and stared at the veil. “Why not?”

  He did not want to get into the whole mess with his ex. “Lil, you and I are from two different worlds. We both went into this with our eyes wide open. You don’t want my kind of life, and I don’t kid myself that I’d ever belong with the country-club set you come from.”

  She was quiet.

  “After we shower and get rid of these hangovers,” he said, “we’ll retrace our steps and undo whatever needs undoing.”

  She finally met his eyes. “My dad wanted me to marry Trevor.”