Lost in Las Vegas (5 page)

“Have you done this before?” she asked Taylor as they were soaking in the hot tub following their facials and waiting for their pedicure/manicure appointments.

“Oh, sure, haven’t you?”

“No . . .”

“So, you like it?”

“It’s nicer than I expected.”

“Everyone needs to be spoiled sometimes,” said Taylor. “Even tough girls like you.”

“You think I’m a tough girl?” DJ wasn’t sure whether to be insulted or flattered.

“Well, you’re the girl who jumps in front of SUVs to rescue kids. Then you do sports, swimming with a broken leg. I’d say you’re pretty tough.”

DJ sighed and leaned back into the tub. “Or maybe it’s all an act.”

“We’re all actors . . . and the world is our stage.”

“Is that Shakespeare?”

“Something like that.”

By the end of the afternoon, DJ and Taylor emerged from Yobushi’s feeling refreshed and beautiful. Not only did they have facials, pedicures, and manicures, but styled hair and makeup as well.

“I’ll have to give Yobushi two thumbs-up,” said DJ as she started her car. “Thanks for treating me, Taylor.”

“You’re welcome.”

DJ glanced over at Taylor. She looked even more beautiful than usual, but she also had a sly little smile.

“Hopefully this wasn’t meant to be some kind of bribe.”

“No, of course not.”

“If you were worried about me squealing to my grandmother about — ”

“No, not at all. Even if you did, I can take care of myself. You know that.”

“Yeah.”

“Maybe I just wanted to be nice . . . to keep you off balance.”

“Why do you want to keep me off balance?”

“I was just kidding.”

“Oh.”

“And, just for the record, Taylor Mitchell doesn’t allow any guy — no matter how much money he puts out — coerce her into having sex with him.”

“Unless vodka is involved.”

Taylor threw back her head and laughed. “Oh, DJ, one of these days, girlfriend, one of these days . . .”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean one of these days you’ll figure things out.”

DJ wanted to question this. DJ would figure things out? How about Taylor? If anyone was mixed up, it was Taylor. But no one could tell Taylor anything. Taylor knew it all already.

“And another thing, DJ . . .”

Hopefully this wasn’t going to be sex advice.

“I do respect you for not having sex with Conner. I mean, if that’s your choice, that’s cool. But just don’t go around forcing your morals and values on everyone else, okay?”

“Okay.” The truth was DJ didn’t want to force anything on anyone. But didn’t she have the right to express an opinion? And to be fair, wasn’t that what Eliza and Taylor did most of the time?

“You know what,” she said to Taylor. “I just want to have fun tonight.”

“Cool,” said Taylor. “Me too.”

DJ knew that their definitions of
fun
were as different as night and day. Although DJ did not get that, she decided not to think about it right now. Right now, she was feeling good. And tonight was going to be good. But before she stepped out with Conner in a few hours, she would check her email to see if Haley had responded yet. It was odd not to hear from her. Usually she wrote right back. DJ tried to convince herself this was not her problem. She was not responsible for Haley’s emotional health.

“Do you know where the guys are taking us to dinner?” asked DJ as she exited the freeway into Crescent Cove.

“I do,” said Taylor.

“Where?”

“If I told you, I’d have to kill you.”

“Yeah, right.”

“Well, it would spell trouble.”

“What are you talking about?”

“It’s supposed to be a surprise.”

“I know, but how is it that you know? I thought it was something that Harry had cooked up.”

“Yes . . . you’re almost right.”

“Huh?”

Taylor laughed.

“Are you saying that Harry told you something?”

“I’m not saying anything, sweetie.”

“So Harry told you where we’re having dinner, but Eliza doesn’t know?”

Taylor didn’t answer, but DJ could tell by her smile that was the case.

“Why would Harry tell you and not her?”

“Maybe some girls can’t be trusted with secrets.”

“Why is it a secret?” demanded DJ. “What is going on anyway?”

“Don’t get all hot and bothered,” said Taylor. “It’s no big deal.”

“Well, what’s going on?”

“Can I trust you to keep your mouth closed?”

“It depends.”

“Okay, here’s the deal. Harry’s parents paid for a very nice catered dinner for all twelve of us at their beach house. The limo will take us there and then to the dance.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. It’ll be lots better than the local restaurants, which will be packed.”

“That actually sounds kind of nice.”

“Yes. I thought so.”

“Why didn’t he tell Eliza?”

“I told you, he wanted it to be a surprise.”

“Oh . . .” DJ considered this. “Then why did he tell you?”

“He wanted some menu suggestions, and he knew I was a girl who
could
keep her mouth shut.”

“Until now.”

“You know how to keep your mouth shut too, DJ.”

“Thanks . . . I think.”

“Anyway, it should be a great meal. Harry’s mom set it all up.”

As DJ pulled into the driveway, she thought that at least the evening would start out nicely. What happened later on, after the dance ended, was anyone’s guess. But at least she knew that she and Conner wouldn’t be involved.

“Well, look at y’all,” said Eliza. “Don’t you look
pretty
!”

“Thanks,” said DJ, and Taylor just smiled in a cool sort of way.

“So was it really Yobushi, DJ?” asked Eliza.

“It really was.”

“And was it nice?”

“Oh, nice doesn’t really describe it. Wonderful. Delightful.” DJ sighed. “It was like a little slice of heaven.”

Eliza blinked. “Well, sounds like you liked it.”

“And now we have just enough time for a little nap,” called Taylor from the stairs.

“Sounds good to me,” said DJ.

But before she put her feet up, she checked her email. Still not a word from Haley. DJ decided to write her again. This time she didn’t take as much care. But she didn’t say anything untrue.

Hi, Haley. Did you get my last email? It looks like it went through. But I haven’t heard from you. Is everything okay? I can’t imagine that you’d quit speaking to me because I’m going out with Conner. It’s just a dance. It’s not like we’re engaged. Anyway, I really do care about you, and I hope you’re okay. Please, write back. I’m praying for you to get well, Haley. But I know it won’t help you for me to pretend that Conner and I don’t like each other. So, if you need to, please talk to someone about this, okay?

Love, DJ

Suddenly, DJ didn’t feel quite so happy about the evening ahead. Oh, she knew it was silly to obsess over Haley’s feelings. It’s not like they made any sense. Not to a normal person. Still, it would’ve been a lot easier if Haley had written back. Even a brief, “Hey, it’s okay . . . no problem . . . don’t worry” would’ve been greatly welcome. As it was, DJ couldn’t help but imagine Haley having a total meltdown over this. DJ wondered if she should call Haley’s parents and tell them what was up. Or was that being codependent? Taylor would probably say, “Duh.”

DJ glanced over to where Taylor was peacefully sleeping, flat on her back with her thick dark curls carefully arranged so as not to mess up her do. DJ wasn’t even sure she could sleep like that. Maybe she couldn’t sleep at all now.

So she just prayed. She prayed for Haley to be okay. She prayed for her housemates — and the evening ahead. She prayed that God would keep them safe and help them all to make wise choices.

5

AFTER A CHAOTIC HOUR OR TWO,
all six girls, with five bathrooms between them, were eventually dressed to the nines. Eliza finally got to see what everyone else was wearing, and she made the predictable comments.

“Oh, Rhiannon,” she said sweetly, “what an adorable gown. I almost wouldn’t guess that you made it yourself.” Then she turned to Casey. “No surprises here, Madonna. But it’s Christmas not Halloween.”

Casey smirked with her head held high as she clumped down the stairs with Rhiannon trailing gracefully behind her.

DJ frowned at Eliza, but continued to stand tall. Taylor had just given her a mini lecture about not slumping. “That dress deserves some posture,” Taylor had said as she helped put the finishing touches on DJ’s makeup.

“And you . . .” Eliza scrutinized DJ now. “Well, the dress is obviously off the rack, but not bad.”

“Not bad?”
Taylor stepped forward and looked Eliza in the eyes. “DJ looks like a million bucks, and you know it. Why can’t you just admit it?”

“And you, Taylor . . .” Eliza smiled slyly. “You will definitely stand out in the crowd.”

Taylor held her head even higher. “Thank you, Princess Eliza. I will take that as a compliment.” Then she linked arms with DJ, and they walked down the stairs. But about halfway down the stairs they overheard Eliza loudly whispering to Kriti.

“But if Taylor shows her fangs tonight, she might be mistaken for Vampira.” As if on cue, Kriti laughed.

“Welcome to Eliza-lot,” said DJ in a quiet voice.

Taylor threw back her head and laughed.

Then to everyone’s surprise, Grandmother and the general met them downstairs and led them into the dining room where there was a tempting spread of appetizers.

“What is this?” asked DJ.

“General Harding insisted we see you girls off in style tonight,” said Grandmother. “He even asked his cook to put together the hors d’oeuvres.”

“And I shall play photographer,” said the general as he focused his camera on DJ and Taylor. “Smile, beauties!” They smiled and he snapped.

“Very nice!” DJ smiled as she put a mini crab cake on her plate next to a deviled egg. Thanks to the general’s cook, there was no low fat or low carbs going on here.

The general shot dozens of photos. Some posed, some candid. And when the guys arrived, things got even crazier — and louder. The guys looked as pleased to see the “treat” table as they were to see the girls. And the general soon began shooting photos of couples in the living room.

“Wow, DJ,” Conner said as they waited to pose in front of the big fireplace. “You look incredible. Really awesome.”

DJ smiled. “Thanks. Taylor was my fashion consultant.”

Conner laughed. “As long as she’s not your life consultant.” They both turned to watch Taylor and Seth in front of the fireplace, hamming it up and even throwing in a kissing pose for the general.

“Yeah, right.”

Soon the appetizers were picked over, the photos were shot, and it was time to go. The guys helped the girls with their coats and wraps and then escorted them out to where a white stretch Hummer was waiting.

“So where are you taking us?” chirped Eliza after they were all seated in the roomy limo.

“It’s a surprise,” said Harry with a twinkle in his eye.

DJ and Taylor exchanged glances, but apparently Eliza was watching.

“Hey, do you guys know where we’re going?”

Taylor gave her the blankest of blank looks. DJ did her best to imitate, and then she turned to Conner and winked.

Of course, it wasn’t long before they all figured it out, and soon they were piling out of the limo and into the well-lit beach house where fabulous seafood smells met them at the door. Candles were everywhere, and music was playing.

“Oh, Harry!” exclaimed Eliza. “You’re a magician.”

“You mean his mom is a magician,” corrected Garrison.

Then Harry held up a cooler. “But my mom is not responsible for this.”

“What’s that?” asked Conner.

Harry put the cooler on the island in the kitchen. “Step up to the bar, folks.”

DJ glanced at Conner, and he just frowned. Then she looked around the kitchen to see if any adults were around. Everything looked ready to go — the table was beautifully set for twelve, there were warming dishes and salads and breads all ready to serve. But no grown-ups.

“So your mom put this whole thing together and just left?” asked DJ.

Harry tossed DJ a questioning glance. “Is there a problem?”

DJ just shrugged. “Not with the food. It looks fantastic.”

“Want to help put things on the table?” he asked.

“Sure,” said DJ stiffly.

So DJ, Conner, Rhiannon, and Bradford put the serving dishes on the table. But once everything was set up — and even after DJ rang a fork on a glass as dinner bell, announcing “Dinner is served” — the others continued to cluster around the “bar.” Casey kind of floated back and forth between the two different groups, but it seemed that Garrison still had his old pull and influence on her. Not for the first time, DJ wished that Casey had a different boyfriend. A nondrinking and respectful kind of boyfriend.