Page 70 of The Love Bus

GONE

T ay rushed over to the elevator, took one look at me and, after a quick scan of the buzzing lobby, steered me away through a side door I hadn’t noticed before.

A bar.

Dark. Cool. Mercifully quiet.

She guided me to a tall table near the back, out of view of the casino sounds and impersonal lobby.

“Missus Grady just called downstairs,” Tay said.

“Which one?” My voice came out low and tight.

“The…young one. Oh, God, Luna. I didn’t know. I swear—I would never have given you that key if I’d known.”

I had not imagined it, then.

This wasn’t some nightmare I could wake up from.

I nodded. If I spoke again, I might come apart.

Tay hovered. “Do you want a drink? Do you want to leave? Anything. Just say the word.”

I shook my head. This was one problem Tay couldn’t fix.

Still, she walked to the bar, had a quiet word with the bartender, and returned with two shot glasses.

“I think you’re in shock. This will help.” She grimaced. “It can’t hurt, can it?”

Tequilla.

No salt. No lime.

I lifted the glass and downed it in one go—and then immediately coughed, the burn rising into my nose, my eyes.

I set the glass down and wiped my eyes. My fingers came away damp. They were probably just watering. From the tequila.

“I want to go home,” I said hoarsely.

Even though I wasn’t sure where home was anymore.

“Are you sure?”

I nodded.

I couldn’t look her in the eye. Because, as bad as the lobster incident had been, this was somehow even worse.

I had trusted everyone .

I’d thought I was safe here, separate from all of my stupid problems, from the judgmental opinions of people who didn’t even know me.

But really? I was just another joke for them to laugh over. Evelyn’s trainwreck daughter.

Tay exhaled like she’d been holding her breath for both of us. “Okay. Okay, then.”

She slid her laptop out of her bag, flipped it open, her fingers moving rapidly over the keys.

“I can get you on a flight at 4:30. It’s direct. I’ll call you an Uber now, okay? You’ll have time to get through security. If you’re sure…?”

“Yeah.”

She turned to her phone. Efficient. Quiet. Kind.

“Tay…” I managed.

She paused, looked at me.

I shook my head. I didn’t even know what I meant to say. Maybe just… thank you .

She nodded once, already understanding without me having to say another word.

And while the rest of Las Vegas was gearing up for a night of glitz and glam and flashing lights, Tay sat quietly beside me, booking my escape.