Page 85 of Maybe Some Other Time

“I always wanted a secret clubhouse.” Gretchen pulled again. “No boys allowed. That way, I could flirt with all the girls without them getting in the way.”

“I like the way you think.” Thelma rubbed the knee beneath her palm. “That was always my favorite part. All the girls without the stinky boys.”

“For only five bucks.”

Thelma laughed to imagine it.Five bucks to a few little girls in the Depression?Unfathomable.

As nice as it was to cuddle—in public, no less, which Thelma would never get over—in front of flashing lights and loud, catchy music, they eventually had to find something else to do. After all, they were in Las Vegas, a place full of possibilities.Like running into your probably-maybe girlfriend when you both happen to be here for different reasons.

They linked arms and held hands as they walked over to the Paris, which Thelma insisted on seeing after beholding the fake Eiffel Tower for herself. While yes, the Bellagio fountains were a testament to man’s engineering prowess and quite the show, she could live without theboomsand the loud music playing over her thoughts. But one thing nobody could understate was the infatuation for Paris she had brought with her from the 1950s.

“I’ve always wanted to go to Paris,” she said as they stood at the base of the tower inside the casino. “It always seemed so romantic in the movies. LikeFunny Face.”

“Another Audrey Hepburn movie.”

“Oh, so you know?”

“Let’s just say I went down a bit of a rabbit hole after the last time you were over. I didn’t realize that the Hepburn feud was so… intense.”

“You make it sound like they disliked each other!”

“Do you think they even knew each other?”

Thelma shrugged. “Katharine was good at captivating the heart and chewing a scene, but Audrey really did know how to augment thescenery.”

“That I can agree with.”

Gretchen seemed lost in thought as they both gazed up at the underside of the tower. “So?” Thelma asked. “Did you watch it?”

“Watch what?”

“Funny Face.” Thelma would never forget going to see it with Sandy in 1957.She never shut up about how old Fred Astaire was.“What did you think?”

“That Fred Astaire was way too old for Audrey Hepburn.”

“You soundjustlike someone that I used to know.”

“Let me guess… Sandy?”

Thelma shrugged against Gretchen’s arm. “I recently watchedCharade.With Cary Grant. I loved his little comments about their age difference. Mr. Grant was a real class act. I’ve always had a crush on him, and not just because he got with Katharine in so many movies.”

“I haven’t seen that one yet.”

“Maybe next time, then, huh?”

“Sure.” They turned around, Gretchen’s grip still on Thelma’s waist. “By the way, do you have dinner plans?”

“I’m all yours this evening.”

“Really? But I thought it was Megan’s birthday weekend.”

Thelmatsked.“She’s here with Emma. I just felt like I was in the way of their two-year-long love. Do you know they’re not even talking about marriage yet?”

“Uh… well, they are in college. And they’re pretty young.”

I’m outclassed again.“I can’t imagine dating someone for two years and not discussing the prospect of marriage. It’s legal now, isn’t it?”

“What? Two homos together?”