Getting Some

If Stella could get her groove back on the sun-drenched beaches of Jamaica, why can’t we?

By the next week, I have everything all planned. I’ve booked a surprise getaway to Las Vegas at the beautiful Venetian Hotel. I’ve splurged, but I figure my friends and sister are worth it. And considering my house just sold for over $800,000, I can afford the expense, which I charged to my credit card until my cash comes in.

My sister isn’t working, and neither is Claudia, so I know they can leave with only a moment’s notice, but I had to call Lishelle’s television station and secretly book her some time off. Thankfully, her station manager agreed, stating that Lishelle could use some R&R. And Lishelle won’t be able to give me any excuses about why she can’t go.

I’m excited. Not only did I book the trip to Vegas for this Thursday, two days from now, I got us tickets for the Thunder from Down Under our first night there—a popular touring show from Australia featuring the hottest male strippers. It’ll be a fun way to start the trip, to help us let loose. I’ve got a few other ideas in mind as well—some sinful ideas along the line of “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” In a way, I can’t believe the scandalous ideas I’ve come up with, considering I grew up as a prude, but those days are behind me.

I wasn’t kidding when I told Lishelle and Claudia that they need a palate cleanser to get over Glenn and Adam. They need to get laid. And I can’t think of a better place than Las Vegas to help make that happen.

I’m beaming as I hold the telephone receiver to my ear.

“Hello?” my sister says.

“Sam, hi.”

“Annelise?”

“Yes, it’s me.”

“You sound incredibly happy. Of course. Dom.”

“And you sound…like you need a break.”

“I had a break in Costa Rica. I came home feeling worse.”

“How does Las Vegas sound?”

“Like an expense I can’t afford right now. I’ve got a bit of savings in the bank but until I find another job, I’ve got to be frugal with my money.”

“You don’t have to worry about the money. I’m paying.”

“Like you can afford that.”

I take a moment to fill Samera in on the great news that I’ll get even more money than I expected from the house. “See, so you have no excuses.”

Samera hesitates before saying, “I don’t think I’d be much fun.”

“You’re going,” I inform her. “I’ve already booked your flight.”

“Annie!”

“I did. I had a feeling I’d have to. Non-refundable. So, you can’t say no.”

Samera moans. “Annie, you shouldn’t have.”

“But I did. Hey, you’re the one who insisted on going to Costa Rica with me. Said we needed to bond as sisters. That trip was the best thing we ever did. Vegas…we’ll bond even more.”

“You sure know how to drive a hard bargain.”

“We leave bright and early on Thursday.”

“Thursday!” Samera exclaims.

“Actually, we don’t have an early-morning flight. We’re booked on Delta, scheduled to leave at close to 1:00 p.m. We’ll arrive in Vegas around two in the afternoon—”

“This Thursday?” Samera interjects. “As in two days from now?”

“That’s the date. July twenty-sixth.”

“You’re serious about this.”

“Absolutely. Start packing!”

Next I call Claudia, who resists the idea at first, until I tell her that the trip is paid for—and that Lishelle is going, too. I don’t mention that my sister is also going, because the truth is, Claudia doesn’t know her well, and I don’t want to give her a reason to turn me down. After about five minutes of arm twisting, Claudia agrees to the impromptu getaway, though she sounds somewhat reluctant.

I expect the most resistance from Lishelle, and when I call her at the station, she cuts my suggestion off midsentence.

“I can’t. Gotta work.”

“Actually, you don’t have to—”

“You know I always work weekdays. I can’t book off Thursday and Friday last minute. I’m free Saturday and Sunday, which would barely give me time to fly to Vegas and back.”

“Lishelle?”

“Yes?”

“You didn’t let me finish. You don’t have to go to work because I booked you off from Thursday to Sunday.”

“What?”

“Okay, I’ll be clearer. You don’t have to go in on Thursday. And your next day at work will be Monday—July thirtieth.”

“How—”

“I spoke with Linda Tennant last week because I didn’t want you to have any excuse to say no. Plus, I wanted this to be a surprise.”

“And Linda said yes?” Lishelle asks, her tone saying she’s surprised.

“She did. And quite frankly, she sounded relieved that I was taking you away somewhere. According to her, you’ve been moping around, not at all like your usual self.”

“Moping around?”

“Her words.”

“I ought to smack her. But, if she says I can go, then fuck, I’m outta here.”

“Oh, Lishelle. We’re gonna have a blast,” I tell her, relieved that she’s down with the idea of getting away. “Sin City, watch out!”