by J. P. Comeau
I turned to Karina. “You want to go hit up the--?”
She threw back her drink. “Let me go get myself and Zane another one of these. Then I’ll come to find you. Okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah, yeah. Okay. Sounds good.”
She patted me on the shoulder, and I sighed. I knew I wouldn’t see either of them for the rest of the evening. So, with a fresh drink in my hand, I started roaming around the casino. I made a small stop at the blackjack table. I exchanged some money for coins and tried my hand at the slot machines. Roulette called to me for much longer than I had anticipated. And the more I drank, the more money I blew.
At least I was around people while I blew it, though.
“Come on, come on. Just one more cherry.”
I watched the slot machine like a drunken hawk. I threw back my third--no, fourth?--drink and slid the glass off to the side. I heard one of the waitresses quickly exchange it, but I was too entranced as I watched the spindles in the slot machine roll about.
“Come on, come on, come on, come on… holy shit, yes!”
A third cherry lined up in a row, and my machine started lighting up. It ring-a-ding-dinged like a beautiful chorus of angels as I threw my fists into the air.
“I won! I won! I won five hundred bucks!”
I whipped around, ready to hug the necks of my girls. But, the only people that surrounded me were strangers. Men and women of all different ethnicities and ages smiled with me as if they’d known me for years. And I didn’t like it. Where the hell was Kelly and Karina? I thought this was my birthday. Weren’t they supposed to be with me on a day like this?
“I need a drink,” I murmured.
I took my winning stub to the cash window and got five hundred bucks counted out into my hand. And it was a good thing, too, because I’d almost run out of money. Five hundred bucks meant I could play a great deal more slots. Or, I could slip myself into a few poker games and end the night on high-end cocktails and a good time.
I sucked at poker.
“Come to mama,” I said with a grin.
I shoved my money into my purse and rushed over to the bar. I wanted to get one last drink order in before they switched their menu to the much more expensive drinks. Casinos always did that as their clientele got drunker. They capitalized on the drunken decisions and mistakes people made in this place. Not me, though. I wouldn’t make one mistake tonight. I’d enjoy myself, blow the money I’d been given, and go back to my lonely apartment with lots of memories.
And no friends.
In the midst of feeling sorry for myself, I ran right into something solid and sturdy. I stumbled backward before I felt a pair of hands grip my waist, steadying me on my feet. I threw on the charm before I even got my bearings. A slow smile crept across my face as I gripped the massive arms of the person trying to make sure I didn’t fall to the floor.
“My my, I didn’t realize where I was rushing off to. I’m so sorry, Mister…?”
“You good, Roxy?”
The second Clint’s voice fell against my ears, I pulled away. My back fell against a decorative pole behind me as I gazed up into his face. I was at a loss for words. The all-black suit he donned brought out the piercing, worried stare of his eyes. But, when my gaze fell down his rigid form, my jaw hit the floor.
“Holy shit, I’m so sorry,” I said breathlessly.
Clint looked down. “Oh. That.”
I looked around for some napkins. “I didn’t even know I had picked up that new drink. I’m so sorry, Clint. I’ll pay for the dry-cleaning, and--.”
“It’s fine, Roxy. I just wanted to make sure you were all right.”
I found some napkins. “Aha! Here. Let me just--.”
“Roxy.”
I reached out for his suit. “This will get some of it off, at least.”
His hand wrapped around my wrist. “Look at me when I’m speaking with you.”
I wrenched away from his grip. “You’re only my boss on workdays, and while I’m clocked in. You don’t get to address me like that during off time. Got it?”
“Well, it’s not off-time for me.”
“It is for me, Clint. So, why don’t you try that statement again.”
My stare found his, and I saw frustration behind his eyes. Which only made me more frustrated.
“I don’t even know why you’re here anyway. If you don’t want to be here, you can leave. You have the birthday girl’s permission,” I said.
“Did you not hear me tell you that it’s not off-time for me?” he asked.
I slipped around him. “You’re never on off-time. You’re a workaholic, just like the rest of your family.”
“Hey!” he bellowed.
I whipped around. “I don’t give a shit what you think you’re doing here. And I don’t know where you get off jumping in front of me like that. I didn’t need your help, or your intervention, or your expertise. So, why don’t you just keep patrolling around here like the security man you are and leave me the hell alone, yeah?”
He blinked. “Happy birthday, Roxy.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah. I would’ve rather stayed home with a pizza.”
Then, I turned on my heels and made my way to the bar.
I was ready for the night to be over so I could go home and salvage what was left of my one special day a year.
4
Clint
I took a long pull from my beer before I dangled the glass bottle from between my fingertips. I swirled the last of it around, watching the television mindlessly as it scrolled through commercials to get back to my show. With my tie loosened and the buttons on my shirt undone, I spread my legs wide. I was trying to let my body breathe a little bit after a long day of work.
“We offer opportunity and promise.”
I groaned as my head fell back with the commercial that came on.
“We offer you family and purpose.”
I snickered as I downed the last of my beer.
“And with our impeccable track record, we offer you the chance to become one of our nation’s finest.”
I chuckled. “Finest, my ass.”
The Navy commercial faded into the background as I glanced over at the mantle above my electric fireplace. I stared at the picture of my best friend and me, our arms slung around one another while we smiled in the middle of the desert. I’d gone through SEAL training with that man. I’d been at his side as he ushered not one, but two little girls into this world. I stood up as the best man at his wedding. I gave a toast so personal and so put together that it moved the man to tears. A man I’d seen strangle enemies on their own turf with his bare fucking hands.
“Damn it, Bryce.”
I tossed my beer bottle onto the couch and rubbed my hands down my face. I bent forward, bowing my head, and whispered a small prayer up to a God I stopped believing in a long time ago. My hands shook as my memories pulled me back. No longer did I hear the sounds of the television. I did hear the explosions, though.
“Riley! Get your ass in here! Now!”
“Hold on! Mike’s out there. We can’t leave Mike behind!”
“I’ve got Mike, you asshole. Get back here!”
I drew in a deep breath and sat myself up. I clenched my hands between my thighs, forcing them to stop shaking. Then I stood from the couch and walked over to the television, slamming the heel of my hand against the power button. And when it fell silent, the only sounds I heard were the sounds of Vegas outside my window.
“This city’s too loud,” I murmured.
I looked back over at the mantle and sighed. I’d never been prone to missing people, but damn it, I missed my best friend. I turned away from the picture and snatched the empty beer bottle up from the couch as Bryce’s voice sounded in my mind.
You better recycle that thing, Stone.
I chuckled as I tossed the glass bottle into my green recycling bin. Bryce had always been earth-conscious. For him, it was his way of atoning for the sins we carried out as or
ders from our superiors. And it made me wonder if his contributions were enough to keep him from burning.
Like I thought we all would for some of the shit we’d done.
I heard my phone ding from my bedroom, and I never thought I’d be so happy to hear that sound. I charged out of my living room and headed straight into my bedroom, where I snatched my phone up from my bedside table. My bed frame creaked with anguish as I sat on the edge of my mattress. But, when I saw I had a text from Zane, every part of me went on alert.
Until I opened the message and saw what it really was about.
Zane: You’re missing a great birthday party, man. We’re still here if you want to come down.
I chuckled and shook my head before I closed out the message. I knew Roxy’s birthday was today, but I wasn’t sure if I was welcome at the party. I mean, I was her boss, for crying out loud. And they were at a casino. With drinks, and flashing lights, and anything else to mesmerize people into doing shit they didn’t normally do. I couldn't take that kind of chance with my first-ever full-time employee. I had to keep some boundaries with her.
But, when the deafening silence of my place swallowed me whole, I started undressing.
“Couldn’t hurt to stop by for a bit,” I murmured.
After exchanging one suit for another, I looked around my apartment. There were no pictures on the wall—no decorations in the corners. No flowers were sitting on my non-existent kitchen table. All I had were my clothes, which were still in bags; some dishes, which were still in boxes; and my television, which was still missing my video game console and my soundbar.
Yeah. I need to get out.
I gathered my things and headed out the door with anticipation filling my bones. I didn’t have to stay long, either. Just long enough to see how things were unfolding and make sure everyone was having a good--but safe--evening. After all, if Roxy didn’t want me there? If she got mad at my presence? I could always tell her I was working for the night. It was a holiday weekend for everyone else, but not for me.
So, with that in mind, I drove my bored ass to the casino.
I wasn’t far away from it, though. The studio apartment I had was downtown, less than a block away from The Strip. I could’ve walked there, had I chosen a different outfit. But, I didn’t want to sweat through my damn suit before I got there. That wasn’t a very appealing look, no matter what a man looked like. Besides, if I sweated through my suit, I wouldn't have a chance to use the ‘I’m working’ excuse of Roxy gave me any sort of guff for being there.
I parked in the very full parking lot and made my way inside. And while the waitresses tried shoving food and alcohol menus in my face, I simply waved them off. I wasn’t here to eat, or party, or drink. I was here to mingle, to see Roxy, and to try and get out a bit.
All I had been doing since I moved back here was work.
It didn’t take me long to spot her since her voice constantly rose above the crowd. Roxy had a big mouth on her, or so I was coming to find out. But, for me? That only added to how beautiful she was on a regular basis. She wasn’t a push-over, like most women. She stood up for what she wanted, even if she was a bit of a spoiled brat. I admired that in her. Her go-getter-take-no-shit attitude was exactly why I hired her to be my front desk secretary, and the first face people saw when they walked into my building.
But, it didn’t take long for her to throw back way too much to drink.
I watched her like a hawk as I slowly walked around the room. She jumped from roulette tables to blackjack to slot machines and back again. She had a wad of cash I knew wasn’t hers, but the real question was who the hell gave her that kind of money?
Did another man give her that?
The idea made me grind my teeth together.
I saw her leaning very close to a slot machine, and it almost made me rush over to her. It looked like she was about to fall out of her seat until the lights started flashing on top of the damn thing. My eyebrows rose as Roxy threw her fists into the air. She pumped them and hopped up, rejoicing and hopping around.
She was touting the fact that she’d just one five hundred big ones.
The sight made me grin. Though, I also wondered where everyone else was. I hadn’t spotted Brenden, or Zane, or their girls since I walked into this damn place over an hour ago. That made me angry. This was Roxy’s birthday, and she was rejoicing her win alone?
You’re not alone, Roxy. I’m here.
I watched her rip her winning ticket stub away from the machine before she pushed through the crowd of random onlookers. She stumbled on her feet as she made a beeline for the bar, and I knew she couldn't drink anymore. She had to slow down. She needed water, not another vodka tonic, or whatever the hell she’d been sucking down.
But, as I tried to approach her, she swayed in my direction.
Before running smack dab into my body.
Shit!
I watched her arms flail backward as her body started falling to the floor. And that sure as hell wasn’t happening. On reflex, I reached out, gripping her waist with my hands. I pulled her close to me, helping her to steady herself on her feet when I felt something wet bleeding through my shirt. I gazed down at the wet spot before I saw Roxy’s empty glass in her hand. But, the grip she had on my arm pulled me from my trance quickly. I liked how she clung to me, how her delicate hands gripped my muscles.
“My my, I didn’t realize where I was rushing off to. I’m so sorry, Mister…?”
I blinked. “You good, Roxy?”
The second my voice sounded, she pulled away from me. I watched her carefully as her back fell against a pole that stood behind her as her eyes slowly worked their way up to my face. Even in her drunken state, she was a very pretty girl. The outfit she donned for the evening made my fingertips tingle. I wondered what her shirt might look like on my bedroom floor, and the second that thought rolled through my mind, I knew I’d made a mistake coming here.
She’s your employee, and you’re here working—nothing else.
“Holy shit, I’m so sorry,” Roxy said breathlessly.
I looked down at the wet spot on my shirt. “Oh. That.”
She started looking around. “I didn’t even know I had picked up that new drink. I’m so sorry, Clint. I’ll pay for the dry-cleaning, and--.”
“It’s fine, Roxy. I just wanted to make sure you were all right.”
She turned around with napkins in her hand. “Aha! Here. Let me just--.”
I sighed. “Roxy.”
She reached out for my suit. “This will get some of it off, at least.”
I wrapped my hand around her wrist. “Look at me when I’m speaking with you.”
She’s not on the clock right now, cool your jets.
She pulled away from me. “You’re only my boss on workdays, and while I’m clocked in. You don’t get to address me like that during off time. Got it?”
I shrugged. “Well, it’s not off-time for me.”
“It is for me, Clint. So, why don’t you try that statement again.”
I didn’t know what to say to come back from this awkward encounter. So, I simply stared down into her frustrated gaze.
“I don’t even know why you’re here anyway,” she said. “If you don’t want to be here, you can leave. You have the birthday girl’s permission.”
I blinked. “Did you not hear me tell you that it’s not off-time for me?”
She slipped around me. “You’re never on off-time. You’re a workaholic, just like the rest of your family.”
Why did you press that button? “Hey!”
She whipped around. “I don’t give a shit what you think you’re doing here. And I don’t know where you get off jumping in front of me like that. I didn’t need your help, or your intervention, or your expertise. So, why don’t you just keep patrolling around here like the security man you are and leave me the hell alone, yeah?”
My stomach sank. “Happy birthday, Roxy.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yea
h. I would’ve rather stayed home with a pizza.”
Then, she turned on her heels and headed back for the bar.
Her words hung heavily in my mind, though, because she had a point. Not once had I seen Kelly or Karina since I came to the casino, and they beat me here by an entire hour. And if they weren’t keeping an eye on Roxy, then who the hell was? I turned around, looking out over the sea of heads that bobbed as people wasted their money on pointless machines. I tried to spot Brenden or Zane. I tried to see where the hell those four had gotten off to.
I didn’t see them, though, either.
“Just go, all right!?” Roxy yelled.
I didn’t even bother turning around to face her.
“Sure thing,” I said.
I made my way for the front doors and headed back out into the parking lot. I don’t know what kind of time Zane was having, but it sure as hell wasn’t the kind of time Roxy was having. And if she didn’t want me here, then I certainly wouldn’t rain on her parade anymore than it had been rained on. Part of me felt bad for her, though.
It was her birthday, and her friends weren’t even at her side.
At least I can tell Zane I got out…
5
Roxy
“May I have your attention, please? Will Roxy Crown, the birthday girl, please report to the dining hall? I repeat, will Roxy Crown--the birthday girl--please report to the dining hall.”
I snickered. “Great.”
I threw back drink number, oh I don’t know before I found my way into the dining hall. I saw Kelly snuggling up to Brenden with his arm draped around her. I saw Karina, with her head lying effortlessly on Zane’s shoulder. And when I entered the room, they didn’t even stand to greet me. Brenden waved at me, and Zane smiled at me. But, my two ‘best friends’ didn’t even budge.
So, I sat down at the head of the table and got right to it.
“I want to know who invited my boss?”
That got everyone’s attention. And soon, they were all looking at me.
