CHAPTER 21
TILLIE
The next morning, I was eating breakfast at the buffet when I saw Daniel, the asshole from the MGM the other night. The one Richie had so gallantly punched out for me. Only, this time, he wasn’t alone. And by the looks of the affection the woman was giving him, I was pretty sure it was his wife.
He spotted me right away, but it was too late for him to leave, as we were seated near each other already. I ate my breakfast in silence, shooting daggers his way with my eyes the whole time.
His wife looked nice enough, and honestly, I felt bad for her, being saddled with a man like him. She was young and pretty and had a sunny smile that lit up her entire face. Still, I knew before I walked out of that restaurant, that I would be the one to darken it.
I paid my bill and stood up slowly before walking over to their table.
“Hello, Daniel,” I said, coolly, smiling at the black eye he was sporting.
His wife looked up at me in surprise, then glanced over at her husband.
“Aren’t you going to introduce us, Daniel?” I asked.
“Um,” he stuttered. “No, I’m not.”
“Daniel!” she admonished him, shaking her head. She held out her hand and I shook it politely. “I’m sorry, my name is Sara, I’m Daniel’s wife. And you are?”
“I’m Tillie,” I said.
“How do you know Daniel?”
“I met him at the bar the other night at the MGM.”
“That’s where we’re staying,” she said, that smile still there if only for another second.
“I know,” I replied. “He told me you were asleep.”
She looked over at him with confusion. He looked away, his face turning bright red as he avoided her eyes.
“Apparently, he was taking advantage of you having over-indulged to hit on me. When I refused, he was quite rude.”
“What?” she asked, with wide eyes.
“Tell her what you did, Daniel,” I said. “Go on.”
He glared up at me finally, his body beginning to tremble in silent anger.
“Cat’s got his tongue, I guess,” I shrugged. “When I objected to his advances, mainly because he’d already told me he was married, but also because he’s a creep and I could tell right away, not to mention that horrendous tan, he became quite hostile. He roughly grabbed my arm and decided he was going to carry me off like a caveman to god-knows-where to do whatever he pleased.”
“What!” she cried, her face pale, her eyes shooting back to him accusingly.
“Luckily, a nice gentleman stepped in and didn’t let that happen. Daniel here ended up with a fist to the eye and a visit with the floor of the bar.”
“Daniel, you told me you were mugged!” she cried.
“I guess he lied,” I said, shrugging. “Anyway, it doesn’t matter, right, Daniel? What was it you said to me? ‘What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas?’”
He jumped up from the table, closing the distance between us, his face inches from mine.
“You bitch!” he growled. All heads turned our way. I lifted my chin proudly and smiled.
“If telling your wife the truth about what an asshole you are makes me a bitch, then I’m a colossal bitch!” I said. With disgust, I raked my eyes over his body and peered into his eyes again.
“You’re fucking pathetic,” I said, seething.
With a click of my heel, I turned to walk out, only to see that the entire restaurant was watching our exchange. With a proud smile, I walked out to the sound of slow growing applause.
***
After a full day of shopping and more roulette, which I was quickly becoming fond of because I’d won twice as much as the day before, I made it back to my hotel in time to get ready for my date with Richie.
First, I called Mario.
“Tillie!” he cried as he answered, making me smile right away. “How’s Vegas, darling?’
“It’s actually been quite an adventure,” I said. “Did you get the flowers I sent you?”
“I did! They’re absolutely divine, you know roses are my favorite! Tell me everything, I want to hear it all. How was skydiving?”
“Oh, I didn’t do that,” I said. “I’ve opted for the more low-key adventures.”
“Fine, fine,” he said.
“I did make a friend, though,” I said. “In fact, I have a date tonight.”
“A date?” he asked, the surprise registering in his voice. “That’s fantastic! What’s he like?”
“He’s um…well, Mario, frankly, he’s a male stripper.”
His laughter bubbled up through the phone.
“That’s rich! I love it! He must be totally hot!”
“Indeed he is,” I said. “But more than that, he’s a gentleman.”
“Is he now?” he asked. “Did you sleep with him?”
“No!” I replied, laughing. “Of course not!”
“I’ll ask you again tomorrow,” he said. “And Tillie! Remember, it’s just like riding a horse, or falling off a bicycle, or whatever that damned saying is. You never forget how to do it, you just gotta get back on the stud.”
I laughed loudly, grateful to hear his voice, but honestly, grateful for his advice, because I’d been wondering exactly how easily all of this was going to go down. It’d been so long since I’d been on that ‘horse’, so to speak, that I wasn’t sure I still knew how to ride.
“Now, Tillie, tell me, did you go to the spa?”
“Yes, the other day, when I first arrived,” I replied.
“That’s not what I’m asking.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I think you should get a Brazilian.”
“A what?”
“A Brazilian. A wax. Just — you know — to neaten things up a bit downtown.”
My eyes widened when I realized he was talking about pubic hair.
“Oh, dear, I hadn’t even thought of that.”
“No worries!” he said. “It only hurts for a little while.”
“It’s too late, he’s picking me up in an hour.”
“Oh, damn!” he said. “Okay, call down to the front desk and ask for a pair of scissors and a razor. You can’t just go into this all wild and willy-nilly!”
“Jesus, Mario, it’s not like there’s a forest down there or anything!”
“I’ve seen pictures of bushes, honey. I know what women deal with.”
“I think I’ll be fine, Mario,” I said, laughing. “I doubt that sex is on the menu anyway.”
“Oh, honey, sex is always on the menu!”
“If you say so,” I laughed. “How are the boys?”
“The boys? Well, they’re shaved clean, just like the rest of me.”
“I’m talking about my cats, Mario! Jesus! How are Milo and Leo?” I asked, rolling my eyes.
“Oh, those boys! Well, those two are some of the hairiest pussies I’ve ever seen!”
He roared with laughter and I couldn’t help but join in.
I might not have a bunch of friends, but Mario’s presence in my life was definitely going to bring some much needed color to it.
“I guess that means they’re doing okay?”
“They’re fine!” he insisted. “Go have fun on your date, Tillie!”
“I’ll try, Mario,” I said. “Listen, I never would have done this without you pushing me. So thank you.”
“It is my pleasure, darlin’! Now, grab that stripper by the balls and hang on tight, baby! You deserve this!”
I hung up with a smile on my face.
He’s right.
I do deserve this.
And I was going to do everything, short of literally taking Richie by the balls, to enjoy it fully.