Page 39 of Cunning Lies
“You going to let me buy you a drink, Mrs. Watanabe?” I ask.
“Sure,” she says, flattening her palms along her skirt. “Champagne, please.”
The bartender hands us our drinks, and Tomo and Cherry stand on the other side of us. Cherry smacks Vi in the back.
“You survived this asshat for a whole night,” she says. “A world record.”
Vi sits up straighter, her cheeks slightly red. “Survived?”
“I figured his music could put anyone to death,” Cherry says. She laughs, and I do too.
“No appreciation for the classics,” Tomo says in a mocking voice.
“At least my music has a melody,” I taunt. All of us laugh, but Vi looks between us awkwardly. She’s not sure what to make of us.
“I’ll be honest, classic rock isn’t myfavoritemusic,” Vi says.
“Psh,” I say. “You’ll learn.”
Cherry leans her elbows on the bar next to Vi. “What’s your favorite genre, then?”
Vi shrinks into herself. “I like pop?”
“Eh!” Cherry shouts, smacking the countertop. “Where are my fucking metal heads?”
We laugh and the bartender automatically brings Cherry and Tomo their drinks. Vi is red-cheeked, and I wonder if it has to do with Cherry. She can be intimidating and snarky, but once she warms up to you, she’s aprotectivesmart ass.
“Where’s Mama?” I ask. Neither Tomo nor Gracie are my biological parents, but I still call Gracie ‘Mama.’ It fits.
“Penthouse,” Tomo says, pointing upward.
“You missed pierogies,” Cherry adds.
I grunt. “When?”
“Couple of nights before the wedding.”
I shake my head, pretending I’m pissed, but I was probably screwing around.
“Soon. I’ll bring my wife,” I say, squeezing Vi’s hip. She tenses, but then relaxes into me.
“She’ll like that,” Tomo says.
Something catches Tomo’s eye, and Cherry straightens, finding her spot next to Tomo. I spin around to find Jay, my uncle-in-law, saddling up next to his niece. I put on my best charm, ready to see what I can get out of his mouth. Two of our soldiers approach Tomo and Cherry, probably discussing what to do about the uncle. But I step forward.
Leave it to me.
“Hey, big man,” I say. He’s shorter than me, but he laughs all the same. We shake hands. “You been doing all right?”
“Good as ever,” Jay says.
I motion at the bartender, and Jay gives his order. “You playing?” I ask.
Jay wipes a hand across his mouth. “Nah. I was just hoping to see my little girl. Figured she’d be here.” He forces a smile, like it hurts him to do so. “How’s married life?”
It’s been about twenty-four hours since we made it official, and this is typically where I forget their names. But Vi?Vivian Marie Petrus?Even after marriage and fucking her out there on the balcony, and I can’t stop thinking about her blue eyes. All washed up and inquisitive. They boil my insides.
I need those eyes on me again.
