It started with a list, p.22
It Started with a List, page 22
“I say we try the table.” Kiki miraculously had a drink in hand.
The group split, Lazarus, Vee, and Dara heading for the slots, while Kiki and Jayden headed for the tables. Lazarus saw Dara and Jayden exchange looks before they split. He was going to get the full story from Jayden later.
They found an open row of slots and sat. An old woman sat in the slot next to him with an oxygen tank in one hand, a drink in the other. She alternated between feeding two slot machines. Lazarus nudged Vee and whispered, “How long do you think she’s going to last?”
Vee gasped and hit his shoulder. “That’s rude. That’s going to be you one day.”
“Oh, I plan to look this good till the grave.” Lazarus smirked.
“So, you’re going to die casket sharp, huh?”
Lazarus nodded and slid his money into the machine. “Totally, just make sure they don’t put funny makeup on me.”
“Who said I’m going to be planning your funeral when you’re ninety?” Vee watched his slot machine and laughed when it was a whammy.
Lazarus gave her a long look. He grabbed her chin and placed a peck on her lips. “You know we’re going to be together for life, Vee? Can’t get rid of me.”
The machine buzzed; she had won nothing. At that moment, Vee glanced over at him, her brown eyes wide and beguiling. He had to kiss her—to taste those sinful crimson lips. Lazarus dipped his head to do just that when Dara shouted, “Ew, get a room!”
Sliding his money into the slot, he pulled the lever. Now he realized why the slots were so addicting. He needed three lemons to win the jackpot. Sometimes he got one, and other times he got two. He came so close to winning, but the spinning stopped between the symbols. Lazarus wasn’t sure how much time passed. They put more and more money in and got squat back.
Dara got bored and left. Eventually, Vee threw in the towel and Lazarus tried to hang on. After the next five flops, he, too, gave up.
“I thought I would win big. Guess that was a lie, huh?” Vee said.
“Let’s keep hope alive.”
As they were leaving, the old lady leaned over, putting a penny in Lazarus’s machine. She pulled the lever and instantly the lights and sirens went off.
Lazarus’s mouth dropped open. “You gotta be kidding me.”
The old woman hollered as the pennies poured out onto the floor faster than she could catch.
“C’mon, let’s go.” Vee pulled him by his shirt.
“I can’t believe it!”
Jayden and the others were at the roulette table. Lazarus and Vee squeezed through the crowd to the table. To his left was an Elvis impersonator and the guy was obviously drunk. Elvis reached out a hand. “Hi, I’m Eddie.”
“Dammit.” Jayden threw his hands up as the dealer took his chips. Apparently, the stakes were high. Lazarus shook the impersonator’s hand. Kiki tried to calm Jayden down as she took a sip of her martini.
“I should have blown on the dice.” Kiki gripped her hair.
“You should have blown the dealer.” Dara downed the rest of her drink, flagging a server.
“New shooter!” the dealer said.
Kiki looked at Vee and Lazarus. Vassa moved out of the way before he could comprehend what was happening and Kiki forced him to the table. “I got a new shooter here!”
They shoved dice into his hand.
“What?” he asked.
Jayden kept his head on the table, his shoulders shaking slightly. Dara patted him on the back.
“Just roll! Don’t stop until we’re driving home in a new Escalade,” Kiki said.
To his left, Eddie the Elvis impersonator gave him a big thumbs up. Vassa even squeezed his arm. Lazarus tossed the dice carelessly, waiting to hear the bad news when the dealer said, “We have a winner!”
The entire table roared as Kiki shook the life outta him and screamed in his ear.
Vee leaned over his shoulder. “You did it!”
Kiki was on him. Licking her lips, her eyes ran over the table before she said to him, “Roll! Roll until we’re in a new tax bracket. Dara, are you seeing this?”
Jayden thumped his head on the table. Lazarus held the dice again and tossed it.
“Winner!”
Someone placed a drink in his hand and slapped him on the back. Eddie the impersonator sang and the surrounding crowd joined in.
Lazarus continued to roll and roll. By this time, a crowd had gathered. He held the dice in front of Vee. “Blow?”
“Why are you smirking? Don’t get comfortable with this,” she told him before she blew. He laughed and let the dice go.
“Snake eyes!”
The entire table gasped.
“You cursed him!” Dara said to Vee.
“I didn’t curse him!”
“You did! Someone get security and get this woman from the table.” Kiki looked around the room.
Eddie sang “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.”
“Eddie, please.” Sweat was pouring from Lazarus’s brow. An older man had walked up. He looked like Pinky from Friday After Next, whiskey in one hand and a cane in the other. Three women surrounded him, all in varying stages of undress. Jayden blinked as he looked the girls up and down one by one. Dara hit him.
The older man ignored Lazarus to get a look at Vee. Clearing his throat loudly, he caught her attention and her eyes widened at him. The man licked his lips, bringing his pinky and thumb to his mouth. He licked them before pressing them to both of his eyebrows. “Hi.”
Lazarus stopped what he was doing and looked at the man.
“Hello?” Vee looked at the man and then back to the table.
“Roll the dice, Lazarus!” Kiki hit her fist on the table.
The man continued to talk to Vee. “How are you doing tonight?”
“I’m fine. Lazarus, roll.” Vee nudged him.
Lazarus tossed the dice and the dealer said, “Craps!”
The table booed. Jayden put his head back on the table with a groan.
“I’ve been checking you out for a while now, and I have to say. I like your style,” the old pimp said.
Vee lowered her eyebrows. “Thank you?”
“Nice hair too.”
She pressed closer to Lazarus. “I’m sorry, who are you?”
Lazarus frowned at the man.
“Toss the dice, man!” Jayden yelled.
“Call me Smooth Mike.”
“Smooth Mike? Is that your legal name?” Vee squinted.
“Cool ass name if it’s legal.” Dara eyed the man up and down.
Lazarus tossed the dice and the dealer said, “Craps!”
“Get your head in the game, man!” Jayden shouted in his ear.
“I just saw a nice young filly, and I thought I better go up to her. Add her to my stable.” Smooth Mike licked his lips.
Vassa pursed her lips. “Stable? Like a horse stable?”
Smooth Mike snapped his fingers and the girls surrounded him nodded.
Dara’s mouth fell open. “I don’t know how to respond to that.”
“I run a pleasant business with beautiful girls. I’m sure you could make some money.”
Lazarus felt it was time to step in. He tossed the dice and didn’t care how they landed. The dealer called out a winner as Lazarus looked the older man up and down. “She needs nothing.”
Smooth Mike looked Lazarus up and down in return. “So, you have a white man? Turned your back on the brothas?”
The entire group looked at Smooth Mike in shock.
“You’re out of line.” Lazarus took a step toward him.
Vassa frowned. “Completely.”
Smooth Mike shrugged. “I call it as it is. Not too late to come back to the light.”
“If this is your recruiting speech, it needs some work,” Vassa said.
The girls around Smooth Mike frowned. Just then, Eddie the Elvis impersonator sang “Can’t Help Falling in Love” at the top of his lungs.
“I’m her boyfriend. She’s fine.” Lazarus took another step toward the guy.
Lazarus had at least a good four or five inches on the guy, not to mention thirty or forty years fewer. Smooth Mike had a greasy jerry curl and a potbelly.
“You’re my boyfriend?” Vassa asked.
Jayden nudged Lazarus. “Your turn to roll.”
“Yes, I’m your boyfriend,” Lazarus told her.
Vee grinned at him, but it was short-lived because Smooth Mike cleared his throat.
“I’m not talking to you, young blood. I’m talking to your girl here.”
“I’m talking to you,” Lazarus said.
Jayden hit Lazarus on his shoulder. “Roll!”
Lazarus tossed the dice and the crowd went wild.
“Winner!”
Eddie the impersonator continued to sing.
“She’s not available. There’s no need to talk to her.” Lazarus ignored the waitress who passed by with drinks. Vassa, on the other hand, flagged her down.
“Oh, so you’re already working her? Then let’s partner buddy.” Smooth Mike reached out to touch Vee.
At first, Lazarus and Smooth Mike were simply standing. Jayden snatched the dice from Lazarus. Kiki swayed as she downed the rest of Jayden’s drink. Lazarus hauled his hand back and lofted it toward Smooth Mike. Pain radiated in his hand as it collided with Smooth Mike’s face. The surrounding girls screamed and one launched herself at Lazarus. Vassa blocked her and she and the girl went over onto the table, making the crowd part.
“Oh, shit!” Jayden said.
Lazarus went to pull the girl off Vassa. Smooth Mike recovered and headed for Lazarus, punching him in the face.
It was a brawl.
The girls around Smooth Mike went for Lazarus and Vassa. Kiki, Jayden, and Dara dove in to help as Lazarus handled Smooth Mike. Eddie the impersonator began to sing “Jailhouse Rock” Lazarus hadn’t been in a fight since he was in middle school and that was when Billy O’Kelly stole his lunch. It had been sloppy joe day. Screams came from the crowd and dealer as they dove out of the way to avoid being trampled on. His heart pounded in his ears as he tussled on the floor with Smooth Mike, his jerry curl grease getting into his eye.
He heard his friends tussling, and blocked a hit from the pimp. A couple of phones flashed light on them, recording, and he prayed that no one important saw him online. Lazarus landed a few more punches on Mr. Smooth Mike when he heard the stampede of guards coming. He dropped Smooth Mike by his shirt.
“Guards!”
Everyone froze before Lazarus got up and said, “Run! Run!”
Grabbing Vee from the table, he ran to the door with the rest of the gang following them.
“Oh well, we’re going to jail for real this time!” Vee cried.
Lazarus pushed any and everyone out of his way. The doors were in sight, but guards came in, blocking the exit. He dipped to the side and Vee stumbled as he knocked into a server carrying drinks. He tossed back a “sorry!”
He had no intentions of sitting in a Las Vegas jail.
He found a door leading back to Fremont Street and powered ahead. The crowd exclaimed as they burst onto the street. He didn’t stop there. They ran and ran until they made it to a safe place down the street next to a drugstore. That’s when Vee placed her hands on her knees trying to breathe. “I’m not athletic enough for this crap.”
Lazarus looked behind them. “Where’s everyone else?”
“You don’t think…” Vee’s eyes widened.
Welcome to Vegas, indeed.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Kiki had managed to talk the police out of arresting them for disorderly conduct. Her attire probably had something to do with it, but they received a slap on the wrist and were sent on their way.
The brawl wore everyone out, and the gang opted to go back to the hotel to shower and sleep. Lazarus and Vassa decided on breakfast, but before they left the hotel, Vassa noticed a rack filled with brochures. She stuffed some into her purse.
They headed south down the strip to the Mirage. The smell of cigarettes drifted out of the casinos they passed. The fun never stopped. Older gamblers focused on their machines. They sat back and drew deeply on cigarettes as they played. Lazarus and Vassa went inside The Venetian for the Grand Canal Shoppes. A beautiful mural of a clear sky had been painted on the building’s ceiling. The clouds looked almost airbrushed and soft; she wanted to touch them.
Once seated with their orders placed, she watched the gondolas pass by filled with couples and families.
“Are you sure you don’t want to take a ride?” Lazarus asked.
“I want to talk about my list.” She waved the paper in his face.
“Not the brawl?”
“Let’s save that for the airplane ride back.” She took a sip of water. “I didn’t know you could fight.”
“I’m more of a lover but I defend when necessary.”
She grinned and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “It was nice… seeing you all manly. Tough and stuff.”
Lazarus raised his eyebrow. “Oh really?”
Clearing her throat, she had to look away from the provocative look Lazarus sent her. Instead, she reached into her purse for the list. “The list is almost done. I just have a few things left.”
“What are those things?”
“Have an epic spring break—”
“That’s in progress.” Lazarus thanked the server who refilled their glasses.
Vassa twisted her lips. “That’s debatable. I’ve thrown up and run from security twice in three days.”
Lazarus chuckled. “The next one?”
“It’s getting close for me to hear back from my graduate school applications. I know I’m getting into all of them but after completing this list with you… I dunno, I wanna keep having fun.”
The server appeared with their food.
“I got you addicted to the wild side?” he asked with a grin.
She sucked her teeth. “I have to admit, it’s fun. I guess… Would you want to keep doing this? Having as much fun as we can until graduation? Within reason of course, you’re still on probation.”
Lazarus nodded and raised his glass. “To modified bucket lists and fun.”
Vassa grinned before she amended her list:
Vassa’s Extraordinary Senior Send-Off
1.Get totally wasted and regret nothing.
2.See all the tourist spots in San Francisco.
3.Have an epic last Spring Break (In Progress!!)
4.Do something completely wild.
5.Sneak into a party or event uninvited and pretend to be someone else.
6.Go on a date.
7.Get into graduate school
8.JUST HAVE FUN!
Vassa dragged Lazarus down to see the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign. Of course, he put the bunny ears behind her head, but it was an excellent picture. Rarely did she post pictures on social media pages anymore, but she posted that one with the hashtag: #bestvegastripeva
They were walking back into the lobby of the hotel as Jayden, Kiki, and Dara appeared.
“There you both are.” Dara linked her arm with Vassa’s. They didn’t look too much worse for wear except for the dark circles under their eyes. “Kiki wants to go to a couple of boutiques we saw last night.”
Vassa looked at Lazarus before Jayden motioned for him to follow. “I’m hungry. Let’s go find something.”
For the next several hours, she was dragged back down the strip from store to store. They were almost back at the hotel when a guy in plain clothes and a backpack claiming to be a club promoter stopped them. Vassa was going to tell him no thanks when he offered free entry into a club. Dara nor Vassa could answer before Kiki said yes.
“This is to Origin, one of the best clubs here.” Kiki passed the flyer to Dara.
“How do you know it’s a real club and not something sinister? Like drug trafficking?” Vassa asked as Dara passed the flyer for her to inspect. Dammit, her mother had gotten in her brain.
Kiki rolled her eyes. “You’re too paranoid, live a little.”
That night, they gathered all primped and pampered in the boys’ room to begin their routine pre-gaming. Vassa decided not to overdo it like the nights before, opting for the cocktail in the can Lazarus bought for her.
This time Kiki gave the toast for the evening. “To a night we’ll never remember.”
“I thought Lazarus said that already.” Dara grinned evilly.
Vassa shrugged. “It still feels appropriate for tonight.”
Everyone was excited when they arrived at the Origin. Vassa had never been to a club, and she wasn’t really sure what to expect in the slightest. The inside was electric. Cast in red light, it was both sinister and sexy. The place fed off the techno music and fast dancing. Vassa winced at the damp shoulders and bodies that brushed against her as they pushed through the dance floor. She couldn’t even see the floor beneath them.
Jayden led them to the bar. Her opinion of clubs was dwindling as it was too loud to hear herself think. She let out a sigh of relief when she could sit and began trying to catch the attention of the bartender.
“Not too bad, is it?” Lazarus shouted in Vassa’s ear.
Wincing, she nodded.
“What do I want? There’s a drink I’ve never heard of,” Kiki shouted as her eyes roamed the bottles.
Dara leaned across Jayden to speak to Kiki. “Something light. You had shots already!”
“What are you thinking of getting?” she leaned over and said in Lazarus’s ear.
He rubbed his chin in thought, lips pursed. Over his shoulder on the other side of the bar, she noticed some girls eying him like there weren’t a hundred other guys in the place. A burning sensation started in her chest. They ordered their drinks. Glancing at those girls, she saw they were still looking, and Vassa sucked in a breath. Ignore them…
