Page 46 of Inked Beasts

My body feels heavy as I style my hair. I’m weighed down by reality, fully aware that I’ve been avoiding it.

The thought keeps nagging at me that what the four of us are doing could be deeply troubling to Kai and Thorn’s parents, and I couldn’t live with myself knowing I’ve disrupted the tight bonds the family shares. Maybe the situation is already causing problems, and that’s what had Kai upset yesterday.

I’ll have a talk with him as soon as I can, but today is my mom’s last day in town, and she and I are going shopping, our annual Black Friday tradition, Vegas style this year at the shops at Caesar’s Palace.

I pick her up at her room, we have breakfast in the café, and then I drive us over to the Strip. I’m relieved that my mom seems to be in a good mood, untroubled by our conversation yesterday.

Even though, thankfully, she isn’t bringing up my men today, it doesn’t matter, because my head is constantly filled with thoughts of them. I should be getting in a festive mood with all the winter holiday decorations that surround us, including a huge Christmas tree in the Forum Shops, but all of it leaves me cold.

And as the day goes on, the two of us shouldering through the crowds and not finding any bargains at all, I find myself thinking that it’s probably time to start making exit plans, not just from the crowded mall with all of its artificial opulence, but from the town itself.

I’ve been having fun here, but everyone knows that a visit to fantasyland doesn’t last forever.

* * *

On Saturday, after sending my mom off on an early flight, I decide to go into the office. Clare isn’t expecting me, but it’s not uncommon to come in on Saturdays in my line of work, and I’m happy to keep busy.

There are a couple of new inquiries to respond to and other emails to answer, and while I attend to all of that, in the back of my mind, I start to think about who would replace me when I leave.

Another one of the meeting staff, while not a weddings specialist, knows quite a bit and filled in before I was hired. She’d be the most likely person, and on a nearby pad, I jot down some items I’d like to cover with her before I make any formal announcements. When I decide to go, I don’t want to leave Clare in the lurch.

Mid-morning, Ava calls. “What are you up to? Want to go to lunch today?”

She and I have been having lunch together about once a week, and I hung out with her and a group of her friends once for a movie night. It’s been really nice reconnecting with her, and it makes me realize that I was so caught up with Scott and his family and my job, I hadn’t taken the time to develop many meaningful friendships in Atlanta. I have Hillary there, but we barely got together once a month. We’ve probably talked more since I came back to Vegas than we did when I was in Atlanta.

“I’ve been working today,” I tell Ava, “but a lunch break would be lovely.”

Ava doesn’t care much for cooking, but she is a foodie, and she’s been introducing me to Las Vegas’s culinary delights week by week. Early on, I suggested we eat at Thorn’s restaurant, and we did, but of course, she had already eaten there twice before. She’s watched every one of his cooking videos.

“Do you like Thai food?”

“I do, though I haven’t tried much beyond spring rolls and chicken pad thai.”

She laughs, and I can imagine her rolling her eyes at my unadventurous palate. “I’ll hook you up. I need something spicy after my family’s bland Thanksgiving dinner. So many starches, so little flavor.”

Now I’m the one laughing as we make plans to meet in an hour at the restaurant she names.

Ninety minutes later, my mouth is on fire and I’m waving for the waiter so I can request a refill on my water. The item Ava suggested that I order for myself is delicious, but now that I’ve sampled her spicy basil chicken, I don’t think I’m going to be able to taste the rest of my food.

“I warned you,” she says, looking both sympathetic and amused.

I pointlessly fan my open mouth with my hand. “You did, but you’re shoveling in forkfuls of the stuff. I figured, how bad could it be?”

She watches as I gratefully acknowledge my newly-filled glass of water and then proceed to down more than half of it. “Speaking of hot and spicy,” she says, casually loading her fork with more noodles, “how are your boyfriends doing?”

“Why do you insist on calling them that?”

“Why do you insist on pretending that they’re not?”

I shake my head as I push my plate forward an inch. Thankfully, there wasn’t much left to eat. “We’re friends, Ava. Thorn takes me for rides on his bike. I go to galleries with Kai. Did you know he’s big into art collecting?”

She lifts her brows and shakes her head, waiting for me to continue.

“He owns several pieces from a couple of local artists, and he’s always on the lookout for new talent he can support.”

“Fascinating,” she says blandly.

“Gage has taken me on hikes. We were out just last weekend.”

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