Page 110 of Caper Crush
“What’s wrong?” William asks. I show him the message. I hug myself. Rain splatters my face. I take a deep breath.
“Let’s go meet Lena and Miju,” I say.
“Are you sure you’re up for it?” William asks. We hurry to the subway to go uptown to Times Square.
“I still want to find the paintings.”
Chapter twenty-eight
Wepauseattheentrance to the crowded bar, and William squeezes my hand.
“Let’s do this,” he says. I nod. I feel like I’ve been crying for hours, even though I haven’t. William assures me that I look fine.
People seated on high barstools chat around tall, dark, wooden tables. The bar is on one side, with shelves of glasses and alcohol bottles against exposed brick. The glass glints under the lights. Framed movie and play posters decorate the walls. I’ve been here with Uncle Tony. Show tunes play in the background.
I don’t spot Miju immediately, and we squeeze between two tables to get a better view of the interior. She’s in the very back with a few other people. Conversations buzz, laughter breaking out in one corner.
“I’ll get drinks,” William says. “What do you want?”
“White wine.”
I walk over to Miju, and she jumps up to hug me. We discuss the improved state of my foot.
She sways and then whispers loudly, “I’m a little drunk.”
Her friend says, “She’s a lot drunk. Miju can’t hold her liquor at all.”
“Erica, Andy, this is Miranda.” Miju gestures to me.
William joins us with our drinks. I slide onto a barstool by the table. The wooden seat is worn and smooth. My white wine is tart and fruity, refreshing.
“And you know William,” I say.
“William? But I thought you were engaged.” She looks at me. “Did you start dating after our last gig?”
I nod. “It turns out he wasn’t engaged.”
“That was just a joke,” William says. “Nice to see you again.”
“I can’t believe it. Both you and Lena hooked up with clients. What am I doing wrong? You’re so lucky.” She swivels around on her bar seat to gaze coquettishly at William. “Did Miranda tell you we were ogling you?”
“No.” He smiles at me. “She forgot to mention that.”
“He doesn’t need to know that,” I say. “Where is Lena?”
“She’s out with Edmund. She was meeting him after her show,” Miju says. She puts her hand on William’s arm. He moves his arm away, glancing at me.
I’m not jealous of Miju. She’s attractive, but I don’t see her as a threat. Kiyoko was a very specific threat. I’m not irrationally jealous. But then I focus on what she just said.
“Edmund?”
“Her boyfriend—the client she started dating.”
“His name is Edmund?” William asks. We look at each other. It couldn’t be our Edmund. He’s in love with Annabelle. But he did use their catering services, and he told me he was dating someone. Still, if he is dating Lena, then he has less of a motive for striking out at me.
“And is he as cute as William?” I pat William’s arm as he ducks his head.
“Well, it all depends on your type. Let me see if I have a picture of them.” Miju looks through the photos on her phone. “Here they are. He’s objectively good-looking, isn’t he?”
