year-round never hurt anyone.
I tell them about Rosy and how the date went all to hell. They explain what they would do if they were me and I listen. I even pretend I’ll take their advice and call her as soon as I’m back in the city. I won’t, though. I cancelled the second date and haven’t spoken to her since. Try as I might, I can’t bring myself to fuck anyone else yet. What if it feels different? Worse, what if I’ll compare women to Lainey for the rest of my life? I have nothing but love for Lainey, but now I realize I might hate her, too.
“We have Dax’s bachelor party this weekend in the city. Can we stay at your palace by the sea?” Steve asks. He’s back at the bar, rummaging through my mixers.
“What? Like together? Have a romantic weekend together?” I ask jokingly. Maverick gets up and checks his phone. His screen saver is a picture of his wife, Windsor, and their kids sitting on her lap. The kids have his smile and Windsor, in all of her brunette glory, is stunning. I can’t blame him. If she were mine, I’d want her all the time, too.
Steve punches my arm without spilling his new drink—a Manhattan. “No. We’ll bring the families. Of course. Morg will love that place. I saw photos online when you bought it. Wasn’t the seller dude a Sheik or something? Did you sell code formulated out of your left nut for it?”
“I think he was part hostage negotiator. He didn’t budge on the asking price at all. Happily for him, I wanted it badly enough. So, like go to the bars and then head home to them at the end of the night?” What is this madness?
“Exactly,” Maverick says, smiling like a fool. “I like to have my cake and eat it out, too.”
“God, you’re so fucking witty,” Steve mutters. “What do you think?”
I nod. “Sure, sure, of course. You know I don’t mind at all. I’ll give you the codes and the keys before you leave. I’ll let security know you’ll be there. I have them patrol every so often to keep it on the up and up.”
“So teenaged rat bastards don’t throw eggs at your ten-thousand-dollar door?” Steve asks, cackling loudly at his own joke. It’s also a joke that his wife, Morganna, made almost verbatim.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. It’s Molly. “Exactly,” I tell him, lying, before answering the call. I hold my finger up to let them know I’ll be quick and head for my office. They’re wrapped up in a conversation about pop culture and how kids don’t have respect for their elders anymore.
I close the thick wooden door. “What’s up, Molly?” This office reminds me of Dax and his bloody nose. Redecorating needs to go on my to-do list. Lainey will have to help me with that. Oh, shucks.
Molly prattles on about how she wants Horse to have time off so they can go on vacation. It’s what she starts her conversation with, so I know she wants me to remember it. I tell her most important first and the rest can come next.
She surprises me, though. “The guys say they’re ready when you are for operation cooler shark.” I obviously did not give this moniker to the operation that will kill V. I approved it, though. Sounds like the Is are dotted and the Ts are crossed.
“Why didn’t you say that first?”
“Because, well, you have enough on your mind and cooler shark needs to be done before I can take a vacation with Horse, anyways. One in the same, really.”
“When are they thinking?” Even if they say they’re waiting on me I know the timeline is already in place. Professionals are always professionals. Time is precious and the most integral part of a successful mission. A minute the wrong way is enough time to destroy all chances of success. It may even mean your life taken instead of the bad guys’.
“Sunday.” My heart skips a beat. It’s soon. I’m ready. I’ve been ready. I hear the drips of stale water in the back of my mind. I don’t count them anymore. They’re always there waiting, though—background noise that reminds me of what I’ve become and what I’ll never be again.
Molly confirms that everything is scheduled, set up, and ready to go. I won’t be able to sleep until this is over and done with. I hang up the phone, but I’m not ready