“That’s it? Did you tell her?”
“Mrs. Schweis? No. Not yet.”
“Madison, you have to tell her!”
Slumping, I stare out the windshield at a warehouse door as party-goers happily make their way inside, oblivious to the fact that I’m in a moral dilemma. “I’m worried about the kids.”
“You should be!”
“Not like that.” I hold her look. “I told you, remember, that they’ve had a string of nannies.”
“And now we know why!”
“He didn’t try this for eight months. That’s how long I’ve been working for them. Maybe I’m the first one he did this to? Perhaps it was just an impulse, that he was having a rough day? Is that possible?”
Denise grabs the steering wheel and cocks her head. “Or maybe he pulled this shit earlier with them. This time he was waiting until you had enough time to bond with those poor kids. That is one fucked-up man. He’s in a position of power. You’re his employee. What a scumbag!”
“I know. Thankfully I don’t see him often. He works late.”
“Oh, I bet he does. Works who is the question. What a piece of shit.” She zips her bag. “You ready?” Her glance darts to my boring grey slacks and white blouse. “You’re killing me with this outfit. What are you, a dowdy receptionist from the ‘90s?”
“You really think I’m going to dress cute when I go to work?”
Cocking an eyebrow she gets out of the car and I follow, doors automatically shutting behind us. We hear the locks click into place as she reminds me, “You never dressed up before that fucker made his move, so don’t give me that excuse.” She stops walking and digs around in her bag. “Do you have lipstick?” Before I can answer she mutters, “Of course you don’t. Here. This shade might be a little dark for your coloring but who gives a fuck. You’ll be striking.”
“You mean I’ll get eyeballed for imitating a clown.”
She hands it over. “Oh, yeah, lipstick is just like putting a ball on your nose.”
“I meant because I don’t have anything else on. Never mind.” Leaning forward to the compact mirror she holds up, I slide magenta around for a minute, lean back for a better look, surprised. “Not bad. See, my problem is I never know which color to buy. Then I waste a ton of money on fuchsia, coral, and nude that looks like death.”
“Keep it,” she says with finality, throwing the mirror in her clutch and heading for the door.
Tucking the gift in my pocket next to my keys and credit card, since I didn’t bring a purse, I follow my stylish friend into the first party we’ve been to since the fire. She is dressed to impress and the bouncer seems to approve. We slow down but he doesn’t care about I.D.s.
I hurry in and whisper to Denise, “If he knew about my fight with Marla maybe we wouldn’t have been welcomed so easily.”
She laughs and looks for someone charging a cover fee. But there’s nobody manning the inside. We turn a corner and freeze at the sight of a party like none we’ve ever been to of Billy’s. There are cages hanging from the ceiling with sexy dancers writhing in them. Flashing lights slicing the darkness to bits in time to a hot beat. There’s a stage that’s packed, a dance floor on the lower level, too.
“Wow!” Denise grins. “What the hell happened?”
“I don’t know! This is crazy. And no door charge?”
We start moving in, our heads swiveling to check out a stage where it seems anyone can dance if they find room to. Looping music on his computer to our right on another elevated platform, I recognize the same DJ Billy always has. And not only has he risen to another level, he’s working on three computers now, not one, hypnotic head bobbing as he moves between them with concentrated bliss.
Denise grabs my hand and guides me to the back. “You smell meatballs?”
Inhaling I nod and we walk faster until we arrive at an enormous counter add-on steaming with four crock pots. Billy is manning them solo, chatting up the crowd. His eyes brighten upon sight of Denise and he shouts, “Look who finally decided she wants my balls!”
She laughs, joy in her eyes, so happy to see him. “Billy Cooper, what the hell have you done? Look at this place!”
“Pretty cool, huh? You know what I realized? People need to have fun! After that fire, I wasn’t going to do anymore parties, but Nicholas and Matt convinced me. Then they blew up! My parties aren’t fluff, Denise, they matter! Life is fucking hard, right? We all need a break, a place to let all that shit disappear for a few blessed hours.”
She waves yellow fingernails. “Alright, fine, you convinced me. Give me your balls, Billy.”
His eyes widen before he jumps into action like she’ll change her mind if he takes too long. Planting a cup-o-meatballs in her waiting hand, he bows to make the gesture more poignant. “M’lady.”
She giggles, “Oh stop!”
He glances behind me to shout, “Nicholas! You’re my witness! Denise finally wants my balls!”
I look over my shoulder and lock eyes with Nicholas Cocker. In all black, sleek as hell, he’s standing with three people, Matthew and two beautiful women. My heart thuds in my chest, and I nod a greeting. Nothing big, just a slight dipping of my head before I avert my eyes and wish I’d worn something else.
Denise moans as she chews.
Billy’s hoping for the best.
She swallows, her voice a little breathy, “That’s delicious.”
“I’ve got two more better than those.”
Her eyes spring to life as she reaches over the counter to swat at him. He dodges it, laughing, before he asks, “Want one, too, Addison?”
“It’s Madison,” Nicholas corrects him from right behind me.
My heart kicks my ribs as I turn around. “Hi.”
There’s a question in those long-lashed eyes as he searches me like he’s seeing my soul. “Didn’t expect to see ya here, Maddie.” The people
