Page 75 of The Suitcase Swap

‘Yourabuela?’

‘Yeah,’ Manny said. ‘That’s her over there by the Jell-O shots.’

‘I didn’t know people drank at bingo. Or had disco balls.’ Mike came to a stop, pushing the heels of his hands against his eyes. ‘Manny, I didn’t get a lot of sleep, and right now there’s a lot going on here all at once.’

‘I feel for ya, buddy, but I don’t have time to acclimate you. Doors open in twenty minutes and bingo players are fucking feral. Let me hand you off to Sophie. She’s been brought up to speed already.’

Sophie was in the kitchen, helping Tom and Marisa as they finished setting up the kitchen.

‘Nachos,’ Tom said when he caught Mike’s questioning expression. ‘Everyone gets a boat of nachos with their entrance fee. Helps create a base for the drinks.’

Marisa filled a plastic container with sour cream. ‘There’s something about buying Jell-O shots from seniors. People go overboard. It would be a really bad idea not to offer at leastsomefood.’

To Mike, the kitchen seemed like a microcosm of the barely controlled chaos in the larger room he’d just left, only a fraction more manageable. There was simply too much to absorb. He turned to Sophie. ‘Just tell me what to do, and I’ll do it. Should I stay back here and help?’

Marisa jumped in, not giving Sophie a chance to answer. ‘Oh no, you’re not going to be wasted back here. We’re going to use the power of your accent.’

Mike blinked. ‘Pardon?’

Tom smirked at him as he tied on his apron. ‘She means she wants you to work the room. People buy a pack of bingo sheets when they come in, but they can buy smaller, quick-round games during the evening, too. Marisa wants you to go out there and charm people into spending money.’

‘Yes,’ Marisa said. ‘Trust me. It’ll work. TV has trained us to think anyone with a British accent is either a super-villain or intelligent and charming, like Benedict Cumberbatch.’ She shooed him with her hands. ‘So go out there andcharm. Channel your inner David Tennant.’

‘He’s Scottish.’

Marisa scrunched up her face in confusion. ‘Isn’t that part of Great Britain?’

‘Yes,’ Mike said.

‘So doesn’t that make them British?’

Mike waggled his hand back and forth.

‘They probably think of themselves as Scottish first,’ Tom said helpfully. ‘There’s a lot of complicated history there.’

‘Fine,’ Marisa said. ‘Channel your inner James McAvoy.’

Mike shook his head. ‘Also Scottish.’

Marisa huffed. ‘Cillian Murphy?’

‘Irish,’ Mike said, a bit apologetically.

‘Is there anyoneinEngland?’ She frowned. ‘Hugh Jackman?’

Tom snorted. ‘He’s Australian.’

Marisa threw her hands in the air. ‘Daniel Craig? But not James Bond Daniel Craig, more Benoit Blanc – but without the Southern accent. Go be folksy and handsome.’

Mike looked helplessly at Tom, who raised his hands in surrender. ‘Don’t look at me.’

When that didn’t work, Mike turned to Marisa. ‘You do know your fiancé is also British?’

‘I am aware, yes,’ Marisa said. ‘But he’s on nacho duty. I made a promise after last time.’

Mike wheeled round to face Tom. ‘What doesthatmean?’

Tom threw him a pitying look as he transferred grated cheese into a plastic container. ‘It means watch out for table five. I’ve never been hit on so much in my life. Especially watch out for Dolores. She’s been known to get handsy. If she does, tell Manny and he’ll handle it. She’s been warned.’

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