Page 57 of Gambler's Conceit
Seven’s good mood drops, and for a moment, I think it’s because I’ve called him a friend. But when he inches back so that he’s partially behind me, I realize it’s about her, not me. I blink, surprised. Linda is easygoing, and I don’t think she’s particularly intimidating, but I realize I’ve never seen him around women.
And if what Caleb thinks of him is true…
“Hey,” Seven mumbles, pulling me back out of my thoughts.
“She’s the stage manager,” I explain, hoping that will help. “The queens’ wrangler.”
Linda’s smile turns gentler, and she laughs softly. “That’s right. If not for me, these queens would be tripping over their heels on the way to the stage.”
“Fuck off, I would not!” one of the queens shouts.
“Seven’s really excited to meet the queens,” I say, amused by the exchange. I take a step back so I can take Seven’s arm in mine again, squeezing it.
Seven nods, still eyeing Linda warily but not trying to get back behind me again.
Linda nods and looks around. “Della Mortay is on last tonight, so you can go bother her. She might even give you a few beauty tips, Vortex.”
Seven manages a smile, albeit a small one. “He does need them,” he mumbles.
“I see why the queens tell you to fuck off,” I tell her dryly, flipping her off. “I’m only surprised that’s not the only thing they say to you.” I turn to Seven, trying to be as gentle as possible while teasing him, “And you. You shouldn’t be encouraging her.”
“Della!” Linda shouts across the room. “Fans for you! If you sign something, it’d better not be skin!”
Della Mortay looks up from applying lipstick. “I told you to use the full name!Della Mortay! And I’ll sign whatever I want!”
“I didn’t bring anything for her to sign,” Seven says, sounding dismayed.
“It’s fine,” I tell him. “I’m sure Linda has a piece of paper or something?”
“Of course,” Linda tells him. She grabs a show flyer from a nearby table and hands it to Seven.
He takes it from her, acting like a wary cat, but he doesn’t snatch it gracelessly from her. She hands him a pen, and he takes that, too.
“There we go,” I say. “You want to go meet some people?”
Seven flashes a look at me that’s pure panic, like he thinks I’m going to abandon him.
“I’ll be right here,” I reassure him. “They won’t bite.”
“Yeah,” one of the others chimes in. “We’d smear our lipstick, and that would be a pity.” She crooks one long-nailed finger at Seven. “C’mere, babe. Let me sign that for you. Do you wanna watch me put on my mug?”
“Careful,” a bald, pale-skinned queen warns from closer to the back. “It’ll take three hours, and she’ll still be ugly.”
Seven carefully approaches one of the queens, which means I can turn my attention to Linda. She’s watching Seven keenly, though.
“What’s up with him?” she whispers.
I take a deep breath, debating whether to tell her the truth. She’s safe; I know that much. She won’t share it or gossip, and she might be a potential friend and ally for Seven—and fuck knows he needs those. “He’s Caleb’s new… boyfriend.” I grimace. “Under his protection.” She’s probably only met Caleb a handfulof times, so I clarify, “That’s not always a good thing. He gets intense. And Seven isn’t really the monogamous type.”
It’s a jumble of information, and I’m not sure any of it really makes sense.
“He’s been hurt,” I continue. “Badly.” I watch him as he smiles at Della, getting more animated as she coaxes him out of his shell, then turn back to Linda with a sigh. “He’s moody, and with good reason. I was hoping he could make some friends here.”
Linda nods. “Sure. If he can follow orders, I don’t mind having him around. And I’ll tell the queens to keep an eye out for him if they’re out in the casino.”
“He’s not allowed to leave,” I say grimly. “It’s dangerous. So, if he tries to make a run for it, please try to convince him to come to me. Or something. I don’t know.”
I can tell Linda wants to ask more about that, but Della Mortay suddenly shouts, “Vortex! Wherewereyou hiding this sweet little minx?”