Page 30 of Gambler's Fallacy

Havoc responds almost immediately.

The event manager? Yeah, she’s cool.

I hesitate, then reply.

Does she have kids?

Yeah, two kids, a son and a daughter. College aged.

College. If they’re in college…

That doesn’t mean they weresafegrowing up. That doesn’t mean they’re any less fucked up than I am. I swallow hard.

Okay.

I don’t know what else to ask, and I don’t want to explain the question, so I text again before he can reply.

Are you having a good day?

Driving around town for Caleb. Why does he have so much dry cleaning?

I snort, then respond.

Because he likes to fuck when he’s still wearing his suits.

Linda is watching me, and it makes my skin crawl. I don’t like being the focus of her attention at all, so I quickly add a quick text.

Gotta go.

I reluctantly make my way over to Linda, and I know I’m radiating all of the wariness I feel. “Sorry,” I mumble.

“It’s fine,” Linda says in a neutral tone. “Caleb told me you might need to text a bit.” She glances at her wristwatch, which has a digital display. “Oh, Duncan is here. Should we go see what he needs for the show?”

I perk up at the mention, and the smile on my lips is genuine for the first time this morning. “Yeah,” I say, not bothering to hide my eagerness.

Her own smile seems as sincere. “Right this way.”

I follow her into the queens’ dressing room, and I bolt for Duncan as soon as I see him. He’s still wearing street clothes, which is always jarring. I’m more used to seeing him as the fabulous Della Mortay.

I have the bizarre urge to hug him, though, something I barely resist.

He grins at me, though.

“Hey girl!” Duncan greets. “I was told you’re today’s gofer.”

“Hey you,” I tell him, and I do step closer — not enough to get into his personal space, but enough to hopefully convey that he makes mecomfortablein a way that so few people do.

I wonder what it would be like to seduce him, to see if it could turn into something more, but I dismiss the thought.

I don’t want to disappoint Caleb, Vortex, and Havoc again.

“Don’t think I’ll be gentle just because I like you,” Duncan says with a wink. Then he turns his attention to Linda. “Run me through the schedule. I want to practice my part of the routine, and… oh, there’s Georgie. Seven, can you let Georgie know she needs to mend the sequined dress? Charlotta ripped it last night, and she wasn’t even on!”

I nod to Duncan, and even though anxiety nips at me at the thought of talking to someone I’ve barely even met, I say, “One sec.” Isteel myself and head over to the man Duncan had indicated, letting him know about the request.

My voice doesn’t even shake, somehow.

I don’t know what it is about Duncan’s presence that has me more at ease, but I’m not going to complain about it. The fact that Duncan seems to trust Linda so implicitly has me confused, though, and I spend the rest of the morning as I go from one person to the next inwardly brooding.

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