Because the Night (The Night Songs Collection) Read Online Free PDF Page A

you long. So you didn’t come here to see Immortal Dilemma?”
    My breath caught in my throat. I didn’t think this was the time to tell him about my connection to Tristan. “Well, we checked it out last night, actually.”
    Blade shook his head in disgust. “Don’t waste your time on that crap.”
    “Are you in a band?” Immortal Dilemma was obviously a sore subject.
    “No, I used to be. But unless you’re Immortal Dilemma, or Fire Dancer, there is very little money to be made. And those hours don’t mix well with actually having a job, so I hang out and see bands sometimes, but that’s it.” His smile faded into a thin, tight line.
    “What do you play?”
    “Drums,” Blade looked off in the distance. “What about you? All I really know about you is you have a fake ID.”
    “That’s not good, that I start with deception.” I grinned. “The real me: I just finished high school. I work at my mom’s restaurant on Martha’s Vineyard. And I’m still trying to figure out the rest out.”
    “What are you thinking?’
    I shrugged and glanced around at the milling crowds, the bright lights, and the energy around us. “I don’t know. I kind of like it here, to tell you the truth.”
    “Really? You just seem so un-Vegas. And believe me, I am not complaining when I say that.” He smiled warmly, his eyes meeting mine. “I wouldn’t mind seeing more of you.”
    “Well, let’s see what happens.” Could I really stay here? My family would freak.
    My cell phone demanded my attention from my bag. Keisha checking in on me.
    “Your friends looking for you?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Why don’t I drive you back to the hotel so you can join up with them? I don’t want them to think I took off with you.”
    “Sure.” I couldn’t help being a little disappointed, but I told Keisha I’d meet up with her by midnight and it was eleven thirty.
    We cleaned up our cards and headed back to the Venetian.
    “Do you like living here?” I asked him as we walked hand in hand.
    He thought about it for a minute before he answered. “It grows on you. It’s never like home, wherever home is, but I made it my own. It’s my home now.”
    Somehow, his answer made me feel sad for him. I didn’t know what to say.
    Blade picked up on this. He continued. “That doesn’t mean it’s bad. It’s actually a lot of fun to live here. But do I want to be here forever? I don’t know.”
    We reached the parking garage and Blade pulled his keys out of the pocket of his jeans. He walked up to a beautifully restored, fire engine red vintage Mustang, unlocked the passenger’s side door, and held it open.
    I stood there with my mouth gaping open.
    “Aren’t you going to get in?” He cocked his head, looking confused. “Is it that shocking I opened your door for you?”
    “I just think someone’s going to be really pissed when he comes out and finds out we stole his car.”
    “Callie, it’s my car.”
    “Wow, this is quite a ride.” I slid across the leather seat and Blade closed the door once I was settled.
    He got in the driver’s side and turned over the ignition. It growled just as I expected it to.
    “Did you fix this up yourself?” I asked.
    “I did. This is Molly, by the way. She’s a ’68. She was in okay shape when I found her, but I got her pageant ready.”
    “You certainly did.” Everything in the car was perfect. The chrome sparkled. Even at middle age, Molly practically had that new car smell. “She’s beautiful.”
    “Thanks.”
    When we reached the hotel, he pulled into the semi circle in front of the lobby then jumped out to open my door.
    “Does the door not work from the inside?”
    “I’m trying to be a gentleman. Is this a women’s lib thing?” He said it with such sincerity I couldn’t help but laugh. He held out his hand to help me out.
    “No, it’s fine.” My mother’s blood would boil if she heard me say that. Women’s lib was her thing. He held my hand a bit longer than was necessary