“What is going on here?” a voice behind us demands.
I’m definitely drunk now, but I’m still focused on my objective, which is to get Savannah drunk and then get her to spill how she got her hands on the adoption paperwork.
I think. That was the plan, right? Whiskey is clouding my intentions, and I’m really not sure anymore.
Travis has been by to check on me a few times, but he knows my plan so mostly he’s leaving me alone.
But that voice…
I spin around to face Brandi.
Fucking fuck.
I’m already playing nice with one psycho from my past. Now I have to do this with another one?
What fresh hell is this?
What sort of monster was I in a previous life to have to endure this punishment in this one?
“Are we all friends again?” she asks, circling her finger in the air between my ex-wife and me.
No. That’s a big, flashing, fuck hell to the no. “We’re getting there,” I say instead, circling my arm around Savannah’s waist and drawing her into my side.
Brandi laughs. “Can I join in on the fun? I’ve always wanted a threesome with a married couple.”
“Of course you can,” Savannah slurs, and she’s probably at the exact right point where I can start to snag information out of her but now Brandi is here, ruining the moment.
I give Brandi a look that clearly says not to mention Coax in front of Savannah, but she seems a little drunk herself, so I’m not sure the message gets through. And I’m not sure Savannah doesn’t already know about it anyway.
“Did you just get here?” I ask, and she nods.
“I had a performance tonight, but Victor invited me to come by after,” she says.
“Oh?” Savannah asks. “How do you know Victor?”
Brandi winks at me. “We’re old friends.” Thankfully she leaves it at that, so she must’ve gotten the meaning of my secret look.
But knowing Savannah, it won’t be long until she knows about the club and the fact that I’m a member…if she doesn’t already know. Then somehow she’ll figure out a way to snag a membership for herself, and it just feels like no place is sacred anymore. I just want to get the hell away from her, but she keeps turning up.
“You’re missing your third,” I say dryly.
Brandi laughs. “Tiff’s back in Iowa. She took down the JustFans and decided to lay low awhile so your girl doesn’t press stalking charges.” She rolls her eyes. “That Tiffany girl is not subtle, I’ll give you that.”
“Why’d she agree to do it?” I ask.
“She wants Tessa’s life. But, then, don’t we all? The perfect, dreamy man, the happy ending.” She smiles a little wickedly. “But not so happy for her now, am I right?”
I feel a little sick at the way she’s talking about Tessa, so I grab another drink to get away from them for a minute.
We dance as a threesome for a bit, and then I excuse myself to the restroom—mostly because I need a breather from these two women. It’s hard keeping up the act even with the amount of whiskey I’ve had tonight.
“You doing okay, man?” Travis asks, grabbing my arm on the way to the restroom. He’s still with Jade, the girl Victor reserved for me earlier, and I’m not sure where the other one went…nor can I recall her name.
“I’m okay,” I say, glancing at the woman by his side. “Just heading to the john.”
“Let me know when you’re ready to get out of here.” He makes eyes at me that tell me he doesn’t want to spend the night with Jade, and I nod.
“Soon. Just need a few more minutes with my ex-wife,” I say.
He nods, and I head to the restroom. I slide my phone out of my pocket on the way and see I have a new text from Janet.
My brows dip as I glance at the clock. The text came in a couple hours ago, but even then it had to be after eleven in Iowa.
My heart leaps up into my throat.
Janet: Just wanted to let you know Tessa is in the ER. She fainted earlier but seems to be doing fine now.
“What the fuck?” I murmur as fear races down my spine. She fainted? Is she okay? Is the baby okay?
It’s nearing midnight here, which means it’s getting close to two in the morning there. But she never wrote back to tell me Tessa’s fine, or they’re on their way home, or anything. Just that she’s in the ER and our baby might be in danger and oh my God what the fuck am I doing here in Las Vegas while she’s in Iowa suffering without me?
My immediate reaction is that I need to get the fuck out of here and on a plane so I can be by her side. It’s not a rational thought, particularly given the fact that there are no flights out until morning and I’m too drunk to drive anyway, but protecting my girl and our baby is my first instinct.
My girl.
And our baby.
I dial Janet, but it goes to voicemail.
I dial Tessa next, and I’m shocked when she answers. “Hey.”
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“I’m fine. We’re on our way home,” she says.
“Oh, thank God. Your mom’s text scared the shit out of me,” I say. “The baby’s okay?”
“Yes. I guess I just stood up too fast and low blood pressure can be common in the third trimester. We’re fine. Heading home to get some rest.” She sounds exhausted, and I’m sure she is after a stint in the ER.
“Okay. I’ll check in on you tomorrow.” I love you. I feel like I should say it. I want to say it.
I do. I love her so goddamn much that it hurts, and it’s that love that has broken me twice now.
Am I such a masochist that I’d subject myself to the possibility a third time?
Or is the third time the charm?
I’m not sure, but I do know I need to carry out the plan I started tonight.
Maybe if I can take care of one problem, I’ll have a clearer head to tackle the next.