Page 32 of The Relationship Mechanic

“You don’t think she’s right, do you?”

Silence, uncomfortable and still, met her words. Vini didn’t say anything, and so Jessica waited. She had no idea what she would say if Vini agreed with Grace.

“No.”

The amount of relief Jessica felt from that one word should have given her pause. Instead, she smiled feeling lighter than before when Vini smiled back. She didn’t stop to think about how worried she was that Vini might have called for an end to this thing they had stumbled into. She hadn’t, and that was all that mattered. A knock at the door had them breaking gazes, and Jessica frowned when she looked over at it.

“Did you call for room service?”

“No,” Vini replied shaking her head. “I didn’t even know that was an option.”

“Of course it is. It’s your birthday.” Jessica walked to the door and peeked out of the peephole. “It’s Dani. I wonder what she wants.”

When Jessica opened the door, Dani sauntered in like she owned the place. She looked around for a moment, and Jessica and Vini exchanged looks.

“Dani, what do you want?”

“Can’t a girl come say hello to her baby sister?” Dani asked with a wide smile. Jessica didn’t trust that innocent expression for a second, and by the look on Vini’s face she didn’t either.

“If all you wanted was to say hi, you could’ve just sent me a text. So again I ask, what do you want?”

“You’re no fun.” Dani rolled her eyes before continuing. “I just wanted to come say hello and let you know that Ava and Grace are keeping to themselves tonight. They called me and told me Ava is probably not moving from the bed anytime soon.”

Jessica raised her eyebrows. “She was pretty sloshed.”

Dani laughed. “That is putting it mildly. Sis was passed out when I went by. I almost feel bad for Grace for having to take care of her, but then again, I told Ava to stop after the fourth mimosa, but she didn’t want to listen to me. Serves her right.”

Jessica snorted but kept most of her thoughts to herself regarding Ava and her drink tolerance. “So what’s the plan, then?”

“Well, I plan to meet up with a couple friends who I haven’t seen in a while. I don’t know what y’all plan to do, but whatever it is, enjoy.” Dani gave them a mock salute before turning back to the door. Jessica was going to let her go, but the niggling thoughts in the back of her mind had her reaching out.

“Wait,” Jessica said. Dani paused, her hand on the doorknob. “You know about Vini and me, don’t you?”

Dani turned with an arched brow. “Do I?”

“Cut the shit, Dani,” Vini said.

“You first, little sis.” Dani didn’t say anything more, but there was something there, a tension that Jessica could feel. When she glanced back at Vini, she knew she was missing something very important, but she couldn’t figure out what. It was the kind of wordless conversation that was unique to siblings, and Jessica was on the outside looking in. When Dani finally left, Jessica stared at the door trying to gather her thoughts.

“So that was interesting.”

Vini gave her a look. “Interestingisn’t exactly the word I would use.”

“True, but at least we know we have the night free. We can go wild.” Vini raised an eyebrow, and Jessica knew exactly where they should go. “In fact, let me make a call.”

“Should I be worried?” Vini asked. “I don’t know if I like the look of that smile you have on your face. I’m not trying to end up in jail.”

Jessica snorted before she grabbed her cell phone. “I’m not sure what you’re thinking of, but if handcuffs come into play at any time tonight, it won’t be because we’re being arrested, that’s for sure.” Vini’s wide-eyed expression set Jessica off into giggles.

Tonight was going to be one to remember. She would make sure of that.

Eighteen

Vini felt silly. She knew Jessica said she looked great before they left the hotel, and she wasn’t doubting the honesty of her words, but it didn’t make her feel any less like she was at a party she wasn’t invited to. She had put on the same tight black pants from the night before and this time paired them with a crimson blouse that she knew looked good against her dark brown skin. But compared to the other people here, she might as well have been wearing a potato sack.

The club Jessica had taken her to wasn’t one she had ever heard of even the few times she had gone to Atlanta. It was posh compared to the bars Vini normally frequented, with dark velvet walls and dim lighting. The room seemed to pulse with a deep, heady energy echoed by the moves of the people out on the crowded dance floor. From high in the booth they were in, she could see the mass of people shifting like some massive living creature. Occasionally the strobe lights would wash over them, and Vini could make out features of people, some occasionally locked in an embrace that was definitely not dancing.

“This place is really something.”

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