Page 27 of Don't Bet On It
“I’m just curious. This wasn’t even on my radar.”
“It’s a curious turn of events,” Marjory agreed. “Kyla put the request in herself.”
I had spoken to Kyla a grand total of three times in my life. Those conversations had included comments about the weather, a question about where a fellow dealer might be, and an admonishment about loitering in the hallway with Tallulah.
Tallulah. It came back to her. Or maybe Zach and Rex. She’d put me on their radar, after all. They could all be in on it together. Perhaps Zach was playing a game. Maybe he was trying to get me to quit so he wouldn’t have to fire me. Was that possible? It was more than possible. It was probable. They were definitely all in on it together. So how did this new gig play into that? The only thing I could come up with was that they wanted the pressure to get to me. Because I’d explained I was more into art than business, they assumed I would crumble under the pressure.
Well, I would show them.
“I’m excited.” I flashed a fake smile for Marjory’s benefit. “I guess it doesn’t matter how I got the upgrade, just that I do a good job at it.”
“That is the most important thing,” Marjory agreed. “You report there tomorrow. Your shift starts at five o’clock.”
Did she think I would balk at a night shift? I’d been trying to get a night shift for months. That would allow me to visit various galleries and work in my at-home studio during the day.
“Great.” I allowed my smile to broaden. “I’m looking forward to it.” I stood, then hesitated. “Is the uniform different?” I tried to remember what I knew about the high rollers section of my father’s casino.
“It is not,” she replied. “The uniform is the same. Report to Kyla when you arrive.”
“I’ve got it.” I hoped I came across as sincere. “I’m looking forward to it.”
I CHANGED MY CLOTHES IN THE EMPLOYEEbathroom and then went looking for Tallulah. I was willing to play the game—I didn’t have a choice—but I needed to know exactly why she was messing with me. She had to have a reason.
She wasn’t in the high rollers lounge when I checked there. I didn’t know any of the other staff well enough to ask about her. On a hunch, I headed toward the bars. I knew she liked to throw a few back in the sports bars before heading home. I didn’t find her. I did find Rex and Zach.
“Hey.” Zach offered up a friendly smile. “Just getting off shift?”
I hesitated. The smart thing would be to make small talk. I wouldn’t ask about Tallulah at all. I would be friendly and then make my escape.
Then something else occurred to me.
“I thought I would get a drink,” I replied. “I’m tired but not quite ready to go home.”
“Sit.” Zach inclined his head. He had a reserved spot in every sports bar, as far as I could tell. This one was his favorite. He flitted around and visited a bar with Rex at least once a week, from what I’d been able to ascertain.
“Thanks.” I had to work overtime to keep my demeanor calm. “What are you guys up to?” We were just three guys, three former high school acquaintances, having a beer. There was nothing weird about this arrangement.
“Killing time,” Rex replied. “My fiancée is out with her sisters. I get bored when it’s just me.”
“What about Chloe?” I was genuinely curious.
“Oh, she’s with my future mother-in-law.” Rex made a face. “She likes to take her to the spa and spoil her.”
I opened my mouth, prepared to breeze right past that comment, and then I frowned. “Wait. She takes a baby to the spa?”
Zach laughed. It was his mother, after all. “She gets her little nails buffed and what little hair she has conditioned. It’s a very weird setup.”
“And Ruby is okay with that?” I was honestly flummoxed.
“Ruby thinks it’s funny,” Rex replied. “I don’t particularly want to instill those expectations for my daughter. Ruby says I need to get over it, though.”
“Huh.” I honestly had no idea what to say about it. “That is…”
“It’s weird,” Zach volunteered when I didn’t finish. “You can say it. The whole thing is weird. There’s no way I’m letting my daughter go to the spa until she’s sixteen.”
Rex rolled his eyes. “You don’t get a say in it, my man. The women, it’s a conspiracy.” He lowered his voice. “They overrule you.”
“They can’t overrule you,” Zach argued. “As parents, you have a fifty-fifty say in things. That’s the way it goes.”
