Janie had chosen to stay outside for the time being. Lenny was still missing in action. So Amy and I moved along the hallway and I started to feel very apprehensive. What was I going to say to Thierry?
How could I convince him that we were supposed to be together? I wondered if anybody had a pair of those silver handcuffs Janie had mentioned on them.
“Maybe I’ll just wait out here,” Amy said when we got to the second door that led into the club itself.
“No, I’m going to buy you a birthday drink. Just a quick one.” I opened the door. It was quiet inside.
Very quiet.
“Okay.” Amy nodded and brushed past me into the club.
Five-four-three-two-one.
“SURPRISE!” A dozen vamps—most I recognized, a few I didn’t—came out of the woodwork. Not literally, because that would have been very strange. Figuratively. They swarmed around Amy giving her hugs and kisses and birthday wishes, wearing silly hats that looked very out of place on their vampire heads. George was nearby and he blew on a birthday buzzer thing, making the streamers fly out in all directions. He looked at me and rolled his eyes.
“What . . . what’s going on?” Amy asked, stunned.
“Amy, my angel,” Barry approached her. “It’s a surprise party. Happy birthday!”
“A . . . a surprise party?” she said. “For me?”
“Of course.”
She started smiling. “But why, and when . . . and how?”
“Because I love you, I’ve been planning it for weeks, and there is nohow . Just enjoy it. I’m sorry you thought I was up to no good. I wasn’t. I was just being secretive about this. I wanted you to have a birthday party you’d always remember.” He eyed her with trepidation at her reaction.
“So you’re . . . you’re not cheating on me?”
“Of course not, my silly Amy.”
She blinked back tears. “I’m so sorry.” She leaned over to hug him hard. “I’m such an idiot.”
“No you’re not. You’re beautiful. And wonderful.”
“I love you, snooky.”
“I love you too.” He kissed her, then pulled away. “What on earth have you done to your hair?”
She straightened up and tentatively touched her fuchsia locks. “Do you hate it?”
“No, it’s you. I love it.”
She smiled widely and leaned over to embrace him again. He looked over her shoulder at me and shot me a very dirty look that clearly blamed me for what she’d done to her hair. I shrugged at him. Didn’t matter. I was fighting off the big lump in my throat from their little scene. They were so different from each other, but they would work things out between them. Theywanted to.
George came over to stand next to me. “That was so sweet I think I need a shot of insulin.”
“Yeah, me, too.”
“Want a hat?”
“I think I’ll pass. Hey, George,” I turned to look at him. “Did you hear that Thierry sold the club?”
He nodded and looked away. “I just heard. Haven won’t be around for much longer. I guess I’m going to have to look for another job. Maybe it’s a sign. I should expand my horizons wider than being a waiter. What do you think I could do?”
I frowned. “Well, I know Precious Illusions is always looking for new dancers.”
He smiled. “It’s like we have the same brain. A brain of brilliance.”
I swallowed. “Where is Thierry right now?”
“Around. Probably holed up in his office as usual. I tried to get him to wear a hat too, but he was all ‘get that hat away from me right now or else.’ Total club-selling party pooper.”
“I . . . I need to talk to him.” I looked around, feeling tense. Janie had told me I should fight for him. I’d fight for him.
George frowned. “You look upset. Is everything okay?”
“No, everything’s not okay. I . . . just need to talk to him.”
He nodded, then rubbed my shoulder. “I’m here for you, gorgeous. Whenever you need to talk.”
“Thanks, George.”
“But you’re still moving out of my place soon, right?”
I managed to laugh at that. “You don’t want me to be your roommate anymore?”
“I love you as much as I could possibly love somebody with breasts, but I need my space.”
“What about Barkley?”
He nodded over at the bar. Barkley waved at me. He was dressed in George’s clothes, a very metrosexual outfit of a tight white shirt and tight brown leather pants. He looked pretty damn good for somebody I’d recently taken on leashed walks. He was drinking from a highball glass. Well, maybe lapping was a better description.
I frowned. “He’s very . . .doglike , isn’t he?”
“He was looking at my leg a little funny earlier.”
I raised an eyebrow at him. “Well, you said your love life was sucking lately.”
“He only had eyes for my leg. Unfortunately.”
“You’ll find somebody, don’t worry. Who could resist an amazing guy like you?”
He smiled. “Right back at you, babe.”
“I’m an amazing guy?”