Trifecta (19 page)

"It's feels great just to be in a bed." Jason unzipped her dress.
 

The cool air on her exposed skin warmed when he trailed his lips across her back.
 

"I'm just relieved we're all here." Russell found her lips once more.

Slow soft touches and caresses designed to reconnect rather than arouse made it easy to lose herself.

"Give me a few and I'll order some room service.  I'm dying."  Jason slipped his hands inside her dress and hugged her close.

"I'll do it, I'm getting up."  Russell leaned back on the pillows.  "We need to take care of Lauren."

"Yes, we need to make sure she is fed, watered and doesn't feel the need to run to any more medical professionals."  Jason's laugh vibrated through her, jolting out of her dream.
 

"Wait."  Her chest tightened at her realization and she sat up.

"Laurie?"  Jason didn't as much say her name as he yawned it.

She got on her knees and faced them. Until this second she never even considered what they went through today.  Every question focused on her needs.  She only gobbled up what they gave her and in return fired a quick apology, not taking time to notice if it landed anywhere in their vicinity.
 

Now she actually took them in. There they lay on the bed both appearing as if they walked through the desert to get from Los Angeles to Vegas and all she did was let them tend her, dry her tears and carry her to the bed.

At some point today Jason must have been in the studio and no doubt was planning on staying there with his paint splattered t-shirt and ripped jeans.  She knew that shirt well, and ran one fingernail across his chest playing connect the dots with the droplets a moment before assessing her other man.

Russell also didn't bother changing out of his work attire. She reached forward and grabbed his tie, twisting it through her fingers.

“I was waiting for you.”  Russell pushed himself up on his elbows.

Of course, she knew that, he waited every night, but somewhere along the way she forget about Russell's ties and Jason's bangs and everything else, deciding instead to be a spoiled child who threw a temper tantrum the moment her favorite toys were taken away.

"What's wrong?"  Now Jason sat up.

"Nothing."  She gave Jason a soft kiss on the lips and pushed him back, climbing over him and getting out of the bed.  "Don't move.  I have to do a couple of things.  Just lay down."

Without protesting, they both slumped back among the pillows.  She rushed into the bathroom and headed straight for the sink, turning on the water and staring at her own worst enemy in the mirror.

Tonight she almost lost everything, her best friends, her family, and her loves, just because she wanted it all.

She tossed a couple of washcloths under the hot water and then shimmied out of her mess of a dress before heading over to the closet.

Yes, she had plenty of clothes with her.  The two men in the other room came to her without bothering to take a toothbrush. 

She slipped on the robe she brought with her, corralled the robes that came with the room and returned to the sink to retrieve the hot towels.  Before she returned to them, she needed to answer the questions, or at least the one big question.
 

One last time she gazed into the mirror.    "What are we doing?"

Eight years ago these men took her in, allowed her into their amazing friendship and became her family.  Now they were willing to sacrifice everything to share her and she better make damn sure of what she wanted before she walked out there again.

With the robes and the washcloths, she headed out.
 

One last time she would be selfish, but would make sure she did no damage.

They gave her a gift, one she wouldn't squander. 

Yes, this time was a present from them to her.  Something temporary, like a box of chocolate truffles or a beautiful bouquet of red roses.  Like those decadent offerings she would accept this her whole heart, stop second-guessing and never look back.  In return for this bit of magic she would make sure she gave them a something as well.

She returned to find them in the same position and went to Jason first, setting a robe by his feet, taking off his shoes and wiping his face down with the washcloth.  There were three in this relationship, or whatever this was, and she needed to do her part.

"Thank you." He pursed his lips for a kiss.

She gave him a quick peck and went to her other weary traveler, repeating her actions, but making sure to remove Russell's tie.

"I love when you take care of me."  He squeezed her hand.

"Come here."  Jason patted the middle of the bed.  "We kept your spot for you."

"I'm on my way." She made one last pit stop and opened the mini bar, taking two bottles of water and some nuts and cheese and crawled in between them with her stash. 

"I love my spot."  Never again would she take this for granted.

"This is where you belong."  Russell pulled her down. 

"Yes."  She closed her eyes wishing it could be forever and reminding herself to enjoy the gift.

Chapter Eighteen

"Didn't Vegas use to be cheap?"  Jason tossed his credit card across the counter. 

"Yes, I think at one time it was home of the fifty cent breakfast and dollar shrimp cocktail."  Lauren leaned back on the counter.  She needed the support.  Her legs didn't want to hold her up. They may as well be made out of elastic bands, they certainly managed to contort themselves enough last night, and today they were weak in protest. 

After they ate mini bar treats and fell asleep, they woke up two hours later recharged and ready to really use the hotel bed.  True to her word, she would make the most of every second and appreciate this for as long as it lasted.  "Now it's the capitol of the ten dollar water and the six dollar bagel."  The three of them managed to drink at least thirty dollars in liquid before they fell asleep staring at the strip lights from the hotel window.

"So, what do you think?"  Jason took his receipt and turned around to give her the view. 

She raised her eyebrows.  Those were about the only muscles on her that weren't spent.  Jason was now donning a new pair of black jeans, a black t-shirt and a black vest.  "Perfect." Any other man could buy the same pieces and they would never look like him.   No one had his edge.  "You have a tag come here." 

He approached.  "Please detag me." 

She reached around the back of his collar, pulled the tag off and was rewarded with a light kiss on the lips.  Out of the corner of her eye she caught the sales lady watching them.

"Detag me too."  Russell came out of the dressing room adjusting the sleeve of his new burgundy button down and dark blue jeans.   Both men decided that if they were going to spend the day with her that they needed a change of clothes.

             
She held her hands out, and Russell came right for her.   Unlike Jason who was put together by his lack of being put together.  Russell was always put together because he was together. While Jason whirled around the store picking out what he wanted and trying it on to stellar results, Russell thought and planned and took several things with him to try on.

"Am I now fit to go walking through Las Vegas with you?"  He looked down at himself while she pulled the label off the back of his pants.

"Absolutely."  She ran her hand along his waist as she turned him.  Something was missing.  "Russell."

"Lauren," he whispered.

Maybe he didn't want her touching him like this, and she jerked her hands away.

He caught her hands and wrapped them around his waist.  "I have something to tell you."

She licked her lips and tilted her face up to him, once more getting a glimpse of the lady at the counter.  The sales person had her arms crossed and stared at them.  "What is it?"

He bent down to her ear.  "I'm going commando."

Well, now she knew what was missing.  What was also missing was his apprehension about showing her any attention in public.  "Thank you for explaining."  Her gaze traveled down to the front of his pants. 

"Stop looking there."  He took hold of her chin. 

"Why?"

"Cause the three of us will never make it out of our hotel room, and then it would have been a waste to buy these clothes."

"Well, I know how you hate to waste." 

"Yes, so I won't waste this opportunity."  He guided her mouth to his and gave her quite more than a peck.

Heat generated right in her middle.  Not from the kiss, per se, but from the fact that Russell kissed her in the middle of store right after Jason kissed her.

Now the saleslady was practically lying on the counter.

"Here are the clothes you came in with."  A salesman came from the back carrying a huge bag.  He looked at Jason, Russell and then her and broke out into a wide smile.

"I'll take that."  Jason slung the bag over her shoulder and grabbed her hand.  "I think it’s time we vamoose." 

Russell straightened up and claimed her other hand.  "Let's go and just have a day to ourselves."

In unison both men squeezed her hands, and she took a breath and turned back to the lady as they walked out.

The saleslady gave her a thumb up.

She smiled.  This was the first time they were out as a…well, as them.  They walked through the casino and through the hotel. Some people gave them naughty glances, or pointed, but for the most part they walked together as a unit.  As it should be.  No matter what, she kept her head high, it was possible she could run into someone she knew, but this was what she wanted when she walked out of the bathroom last night and slid in bed between them. 

"Are you sure you don't have to go the show?"  Russell asked before they went outside.  "Or have anymore account meetings?"

"I already did my job."
              She stumbled at the non-mention of Dr. Dalton.  Upon her return to Beverly Hills she would have to deal with this fiasco. What happened here wouldn't stay here.

***

"A Cadillac?"  Lauren jumped up from the seat at the valet station and clapped at the bright red boat.  "Is this new?"

"Well it's from 1959, but it's new to the dealership."  Jason took Lauren's hand and led her to the car.  "We can all fit in the front seat."
 

She kissed him and repeated her action with Russell.

Jason gave the valet some cash while Russell coordinated loading Lauren's luggage and shopping bags.  Since the blow up Friday night, Russell had been nothing but the attentive third of their trio.   Never skipping a beat when it came to some PDA with Lauren.  Yes, they got a few looks, but mostly from jealous women or admiring men.  He could have lived without the men gawking at her.

Yesterday was the first day he would have called them actually together.  Out in public for the first time, they spent their time shopping, gambling, going to restaurants and even though they both offered to take Lauren to a show or a club, they ended up back in bed.  It was them but amplified, exactly what he thought would happen.
 

He slid into the driver's seat.  Lauren took the middle and Russell slammed the trunk and got in beside her.
 

"I need to thank your parents for sending someone to get my car."  She grinned at him, using her teeth and everything.

He shook his head.  In their haste to get to Vegas, not only did they not pack, but they also didn't account for the fact that they would have two cars.  Luck, or in this case, his parents, stepped in and arranged for a vintage car to be delivered to a customer.  In exchange the driver would bring back Lauren's car.

"All right.  In five hours we should be back in L.A."  Russell pointed forward and put his arm around Lauren. "We're ready."

He left the car in park and strummed his fingers on the steering wheel.  After countless road trips with the two of them he knew they were still far away from actual take off, this was all part of the launch sequence.

Lauren opened her purse and stuck her head inside, no doubt checking for the hundredth time that she had everything.  He watched her take out her phone and then put it back, find a lip gloss, and locate a pack of gum.  Lauren never chewed gum, but she always had some.  "Do you want any gum?"

“Do I need gum?”  Russell held his hand out. 

Okay this was a deviation from the normal gum question.  The gum question had not come up yet since they became a trouple.  Normally Russell smacked his lips together and held his hand out.
 

“Let me check.”  Lauren leaned over and gave him a kiss, finishing with sucking on his lower lip.  “You’re delicious.”
 

Well, normally after Russell took the gum then he would get a piece also.  However, this wasn’t the piece he was after and he tapped her.
 

She turned around to him and held up the gum package.

He shook his head and raised his eyebrows.

“Oh.”  She licked her lips and leaned in, giving him a matching kiss to Russell’s complete with a little tongue twirl and a lip suck.  “Delicious as well.”

“You’re delectable.”  He gave her an extra peck and stopped.  They did need to drive home, and then they could continue their taste test.  He glanced over at the Valet, the young dude gave him a wink.  Yeah, he knew it was hot.

“Well, now I really want to get home.”  Russell tapped the dashboard.

No, not quite yet.  The gum exchange may have taken them for a bit of a turn, but there were still a few more parts to their ritual.  He put his hands at ten and two to pretend like he was going to drive forward and give it about another second before she realized she was thirsty.  While he could have said something on the way out, he needed to get a second alone.

“Uh oh.”  Lauren continued to dig through her purse.

“What’s wrong?”  Russell put his head in her bag with her.

“I think we forgot drinks.”  She lifted her head and pouted.
 

He kept his mouth shut.  Now he only needed to have Russell offer to get them and mention what would inevitably happen with too much liquid to get them both out of the car.

“If we drink too much then we’ll have to stop on the way.”  Russell frowned.

For a man who hated to stop on a road trip, Russell was the first one to call a time out.

Lauren bit her lip.  “Russell.”  Her tone was that of a child who needed to admit they ate the entire jar of cookies.

“Oh man, we haven’t even moved an inch.  We are totally off schedule.”  He opened the car door.  “I may as well get the drinks.”

“You’re chariot will wait here.”  Jason turned off the car and both Russell and Lauren left.  He wasn’t sure what schedule they were on except having to get home at some point today, but Russell loved to plan.  Of course, now he had what he wanted, at least five minutes of alone time, and he dug his phone out of his pocket and did something he was sure both his bedmates would be proud of, and checked his email.

He scrolled through the ads, the jokes his mother left him, and past the safety articles his father forwarded to find one from Steve and the one he waited for.

Not ready to face the real email, he opened the email from Steve.

This was a group email.  Steve knew how to market himself.  Gone were the days where an artist’s work spoke for itself, now they had to become social media experts.

His jaw tightened as he scanned the email describing his excellent showing and inviting him to his next event.  Steve was moving up in the world, out of the galleries in the valley and right into Hollywood.  After all the particulars, Steve included quotes from the reviews of his last show. 

He pressed his lips together.  If Lauren were here, she would read it with Russell and tell him not to worry about, but it was time he faced it.
 

It was time he faced a lot of things.
 

He skimmed the raving reviews and focused on the last one.
 

On short notice, Steve turned out a sophisticated and timely showing.  His is a true talent built on what he loves – Catherine Dumar.

He started the car and turned on the air conditioning.  Unlike automobiles of today, the noise took over the car, and he only wished it would silence his thoughts.  No, he wasn't vain enough to think Catherine the Terrible was thinking of him when she wrote that review, but she may as well aimed a dagger right at his chest.

With a quick glance around to make sure he was still alone, he took a breath clicked the email he both waited for and loathed.

Jason,

I'm glad you decided to take my suggestion and take some contract work.  Here is your first assignment.  You will find all the particulars in the attached document.  You will do wonderful.  Call me if you have any questions, and please email me back confirmation that you got this.

                                         
Bette

He wanted to trash the email.  Pretend he didn't receive it and never do any art for hire.  He wondered what Catherine Dumar would say about the book cover, or what her review would be if he showed her what he was really sketching lately.

His thumb hovered over the delete button. 

The car door opened.

"Did you miss us?"  Lauren stuck her head in the car and held out a bottle of water for him.

"Absolutely."  He took the water and Lauren got inside.

"Here."  Russell sat down with a bag from the hotel gift shop and tossed a candy bar at him. 

"Gracias."  He should have seen the candy bar coming.
 

"Don't say we don't take care of you."  Russell slammed the door.  "Let's get this show on the road.  Time to make things happen."

Yes, time to make things happen.

He put his foot on the brake, but before putting the car in gear, he tapped a quick message on his phone.
 

Got the assignment, I will have it to you by the deadline.  Jason.

"Let's go."  He hit send and put the car in gear.