Page 49 of Revelry

“I don’t know, Cooper, why did your ex leave you?” I cringe the second the words leave my mouth. That was a low blow, but damn, something in those questions cut me right to the core. When it becomes apparent that he’s not going to answer me I say, “Okay well, I’m glad we had this chat, but I’m tired. So if you just called to be a dick, then thanks but no thanks. I already have one of those on the nightstand, and the best thing about BOB is that he doesn’t talk when all I wanna do is roll over and sleep.”

“I think I love you,” Coop says, and I ignore the pang in my chest and the weird flippy thing that my stomach is doing because he’s drunk, and more than likely responding to the idea of me getting myself off. “You’re a really fucking cool chick, Ali.”

“Yep, that’s what they tell me. Good night, Cooper.”

“Wait … don’t hang up. I need you.”

I wait a beat for him to say something afterwards.Anything. But just when the flippy feeling inside my stomach starts up again he says, “I need you to come get me. I’m drunk and there are fangirls here. They all want something from me. These women want to sleep with me, Ali.”

“Imagine that,” I say. Jealousy and anger both rip right through me. It was so nice of him to call, point out how alone I am in the city of sin, tug at my stupid fucking heart strings, and then remind me that every woman he meets wants to bang his brains out. “Goodnight, Cooper.”

“Please?” he begs, and he sounds so damn lost.

“I’m in bed, butt munch.”

I feel like an arsehole, because I know he wouldn’t refuse me if the situation were reversed. Call me a sucker, but I can’t listen to him down the other end of the line, sounding so lost and so alone. He’s surrounded by so much admiration, yet he doesn’t seem to want any part of it. I’m not sure Cooper was really designed for a life in the public eye. He’s far too sensitive. The really fucked up part is that someone should be here managing this. Taint needs a manager. Coop had told me their last manager had been a heinous bitch. They’d fired her, but they hadn’t yet hired anyone else. At the very least their AR—also a heinous bitch, but more commonly known as Vanessa—should be here waiting in the wings behind every concert, watching every move, and making sure the boys don’t screw themselves over with the media. Instead, she’s back in Sydney, probably sucking Guidelli’s dick while they sip Dom Pérignon and wipe their mouths with napkins made of hundred-dollar bills.

I let out a resigned sigh. “Where are you?”

“I don’t know.”

“Damn it, Coop, how the hell am I supposed to know where to find you if you don’t even know where the hell you are?”

“Wait a second, I’m getting up.” He pauses for a moment and then says, “I’m at the green place.”

“The green place?” I ask confused, then I walk over to the floor-to-ceiling windows and I see it. “You mean the MGM?”

“Yes!” he shouts. “That’s where I am. I left the high rollers’ room with Zed and then we got separated.”

“The high rollers? Christ, Cooper. Please tell me you didn’t lose a tonne of money.”

“I lost a grand on the wheel, and that was enough for me. Zed made fifty thousand dollars though. If he ever tries to convince you to play strip poker, bow out gracefully. The dude’s a machine.”

“I don’t see myself ever playing strip poker with Zed, but thanks for the tip,”

“Would you play strip poker with me?”

I shake my head and pull on the jeans I wore earlier and a Ramones shirt, no bra, and then I shove my feet into my Cons. My hair is a mess, so I throw it on top of my head and secure it with a hotel pen shoved through the bun like a chopstick. “I don’t play poker. I’d lose.”

“I see no problem with this.”

“I don’t play games I can’t win, Coop.”

“Is that a threat, Ali-cat? ’Cause it’s a fucking sexy one.”

Jesus. How much did he drink?

“So you’re in a bar off the high rollers’ room?”

“Technically,” he states loudly, and I can just imagine the way his face looks when he says it. “I’m in a toilet, in the bar, off the players’ room at the MGM.”

“Okay, do me a favour and stay there? I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

“I’m hiding out from groupies, Ali-Cat. I’m not going anywhere.” I’m just about to hang up the phone when I hear the door swing open in the background. Cooper mutters, “Oh shit.”

A female’s voice purrs, “There you are. I wondered where you disappeared to.”

“Yeah, I’m here … you know, gastro,” Coop replies.

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