Page 164 of Boyfriend of the Hour

I sighed. “He did, but I don’t want to take advantage of him. But don’t worry, Ki, I’ll find time to get my nails done.”

“You better. Because these were trashed. I can’t have you messing with my canvas.”

Rochelle snickered. “So he’s good with you working for Kyle?”

I shifted uneasily on my folding chair. “He’s…all right with it.”

I didn’t know how to answer that question. Nathan had insisted that he had no interest in telling me what to do, so Iwasn’t sure if the feeling that it wasn’t okay was coming from him or just from me.

“That’s how you know he’s a good one, then,” Rochelle said. “Like my Carmine. What did he say about Shawn?” She shook her head. “I swear to God, I wanted to kill him myself when I saw him walk in.”

“That asshole showed up?” Kiara’s brows lifted. Like any good stylist, she’d heard all of my relationship drama over the years, including bits and pieces about Shawn Vamos.

I cringed and sucked in a breath. “Wellll…”

“Rolling with some gangsters, too,” Rochelle added, only to receive a dirty look from me. “What? It’s the truth.”

“I didn’t realize this was ‘air Joni’s dirty laundry’ time,” I retorted as Kiara switched to my other hand.

“You’re getting your nails done, baby,” Kiara said. “What do you think we do?”

All of us chuckled, but Rochelle sobered immediately. “Seriously, though. Don’t you think your man would want to know if Shawn comes by?”

I shrugged. “It was a one-time thing. Shawn lost so much money, I doubt he’ll show his face there again anyway. You know how much he hates being embarrassed, and I don’t think Kyle will want a loser like him poisoning the well.”

Before either of them could reply, my phone buzzed on the table.

“Speak of the devil.” I leaned over and answered on speaker. “Hey, Kyle.”

“Joni, honey, how are ya?”

“Fine, you?”

“Good, honey, real good. Listen, I gotta say, you were a hit with the boys this week. Home run on your first night.”

I made a face at Rochelle, who gave a silent laugh. “Thanks.”

“So much, you know, that I got a call today from Ares Antoni himself.”

“Who?” I mouthed the same word at Rochelle, whose eyes bugged out as she started making hand gestures at the phone. Clearly, someone worth knowing.

“Ah, you don’t know him?” Even Kyle seemed confused.

I shook my head when both Kiara and Rochelle seemed to want to know the same thing. “No, I don’t. Should I?”

“Maybe. He seemed to know you, kiddo. His dad is Lis Antoni. Older guy at your table last week. Big man, silver hair, don’t take shit from no one. His kid was there too. Looks sort of like him, but younger, brown hair, no gut.”

I vaguely remembered someone looking that way. Lis must’ve been the one with the paisley tie that Shawn was fawning all over half the night and Carrick freaked out about. His son must have been the quieter one at the table who never even looked my way.

“Anyway, Lis and his boys are looking to host their own party in a few weeks. It’s on his yacht—huge fuckin’ thing that’s practically a cruise ship. Asked for you and a couple of other girls by name. Good money, kid. All you need is a weekend.”

Rochelle was already nodding and mouthing “DO IT” in the loudest silent way she could.

“I don’t know…” I said. “I don’t mind doing your nights, Kyle, but my ex-boyfriend was at that table, and it got weird. I don’t think I should serve his tables anymore, and spending a weekend on a boat sounds sus.”

“I get that, kiddo. I really do. But, ah, Lis Antoni isn’t really the kind you say no to, if you catch my drift.”

Something prickled at the back of my neck. “Um.”