But things got really disturbing when Mr. Marine pulled Mags up onto the stage, sat her in a chair, and humped her face. Allie grabbed her phone and, laughing, sent a picture to Trevor.

Her phone immediately vibrated. Waving to Pix, she slid out of her seat and wound her way through the club to the front door. The bouncer gave her a once-over and a seductive smile. She walked further from the entrance and answered. “Yes?”

“If you ever send me a picture like that again, I will be in a fetal position for the rest of my life. Is that what you want?”

Allie laughed. “You should see you mother. She’s eating it up. No pun intended.”

“Oh. Good. God.”

“Pix gave us a bag of penis paraphernalia. If I’m not mistaken, there’s a candy cock ring with you name on it, mister.”

“I’m hanging up now.”

“Wait, I’m bored.”

“You’re at a naked male buffet and you’re bored?”

Allie shrugged, even though he couldn’t see it over the phone. “Yep. You’ve seen one waxed, naked ass, you’ve seen them all.”

“You realize that no man thinks that way?”

“That’s why you guys can be led around by your junk.”

“Point taken. And I do love it when you call my cock ‘junk.’ So sexy.”

“How about a winkie?”

He laughed. “Yes, that’s much better, thank you.”

“So, what are you guys doing?” She walked up and down the sidewalk, looked at the marquis pictures of the male strippers.

“Smoking a cigar, trying not to punch Paolo in his classic Italian nose. Ignoring my father.”

“You want to come meet me? It’s a dork smorgasbord here. A dorkgasbord, if you will.”

“That is beyond tempting, love. But I’ll stay here and probably drink too much.”

Allie stood in silence. She wanted to tell him she missed him. She wanted to tell him she loved him and never wanted to spend another night apart. But that’s not what Trevor wanted.

“Allie, are you still there?”

She cleared her throat. “Yeah, I’d better get back inside. They’ll wonder where I am.” She hung up without waiting for his answer.

When she walked back into the club, a muscle-packed blond was straddling Pix while she shoved bills into his man panties. Allie winced and made her way back to the table.

Mags, released from her onstage exhibition, shimmied to the music and sat across from Allie. “You must get a lap dance darling, they’re so much fun.”

Allie glanced over at Pix, who spanked her bare-assed friend. He wore a flag G-string, a bomber jacket, and a pair of aviator sunglasses. “No, I’m good,” she yelled at Mags over the music.

Somewhere along the line, Mags had gotten ahold of a penis straw and now sipped her wine out of it. Allie’s eyes found Karen’s, and suddenly, she burst into a fit of laughter. Karen joined her.

After about another hour of rump-shaking good times, they clambered into the limo and drove to an upscale sushi restaurant. Mags strolled in, still proudly wearing her penis pin.

Before she sat down, Allie excused herself and went to the restroom. Karen followed. As Allie stood at the sink washing her hands, Karen stepped out of the stall, her eyes meeting Allie’s in the mirror. Karen waved her hand in front of the soap dispenser and took a deep breath.

“Allie, I want you to know, I would never do anything to hurt Brynn. I feel responsible that she took off like that. Your father and I are slowing things down, trying to make sure Brynn’s comfortable.”

Allie could hear Trevor’s voice in her head, telling her to stay out of it. She ran her hands under the dryer. “It’s really none of my business.”

The older woman flung the excess water off her hands. “Of course Brynn is your business. And so is your father. He told me how you took care of your mother and helped him with the girls when she was so sick.”

Uncomfortable discussing this subject with this particular woman, Allie shrugged. “The two of you are adults. If you want to hook up—”

“We’re not hooking up.” Small lines fanned out at the corners of her eyes. “I’m in love with him. And he loves me too.”

How could her dad forget her mom so quickly and fall in love with another woman he barely knew? “Look, Karen, I want my dad to be happy, but like I’ve told him, Brynn needs his attention right now. I’m sorry, but sometimes you need to put your life on hold for the sake of others.” Allie had done it. Now it was her dad’s turn.

Karen nodded, her eyes red with unshed tears. “Yes, you’re right.”

Allie shifted uncomfortably. “Um, I’m going to go back to the horndog sisters. I’ll give you a couple minutes, okay?”

Again, Karen nodded.

Allie felt horrible as she walked out of the ladies room. She should have stayed out of it. She should have kept her mouth closed. Karen seemed like a nice lady. But Brynn was her sister, and Allie wanted to protect her.

She dropped into the chair. “Karen will be back in a second.”

“I’ve ordered sake for us all,” Pix said. She held up a small hand-painted cup.

“So, Pix, where did you meet Paolo?” Allie draped the napkin over her lap and took a sip of warm sake. The strong, clear taste burned a pathway to her stomach. She blinked back a few tears. “Whoa.”

“It’s potent, dearest. I don’t want Simmons to have to carry you home tonight. Trevor would never let me hear the end of it,” Mags said.

Pix ran her scarlet nail around the rim of the cup. “I met Paolo while I was vacationing in Cianciana. I was visiting friends, he was waiting tables in the hotel. Very Shirley Valentine of me I know, but darling, you only live once.”

Karen appeared, pulled out her chair, and murmured an apology. Her face was a little splotchy, like she had been crying. Now Allie felt worse than terrible. She tried to give Karen a reassuring smile, but the older woman refused to meet her eyes.

Allie refocused on Pix. “Who’s Shirley Valentine?”

The sisters’ laughter filled the air.

“Oh my, you’re so young,” Pix said.

Mags sobered. “You’re right though—you do only go around once. I’ve made so many mistakes in my life. Failing Trevor being the biggest, of course. But leaving Nigel was a terrible mistake.”

Pix laid her hand on Mags’s arm. “Don’t you remember the horrible rows? You and Nigel would have killed each other had you stayed together. And Trevor is fine.”

Allie wouldn’t go that far. He definitely carried the scars of his parents’ messed-up marriage—make that marriages.

“No, Trevor’s not fine.” Now Mags began tearing up. “He’s been very unhappy, very angry. I wish I had been a better mother, more nurturing. And Nigel was always the one. I’ve always loved him.”

Karen remained silent and winced when she took a drink. Allie wanted to reach out to her, but what would she say? Yes, forget my fifteen-year-old sister? Go be with my dad, never mind that Brynn is suffering? What an endless night. Allie wanted the comfort of Trevor’s touch and his dry humor and naughty jokes so badly, she almost ached with it.

“So, when is it your turn, Allie dear?”

Allie blinked at Pix. “What?”

“I’ve noticed the way Trevor looks at you, like he’s ready to pounce on you the moment you enter the room.”

Allie’s cheeks infused with heat. “You have it wrong. Trevor and I…we’re just…” She shrugged.

“Don’t put Allie on the spot, Pix. She and Trevor will figure things out in their own time,” Mags said.

“Really though, I thought Trevor would never fall in love. He’s always been so commitment phobic.” She turned to Mags. “Is that the phrase?”

Mags sighed. “Yes, just more evidence that Nigel and I ruined him.”

“He’s not ruined,” Allie said a little too loudly. Feeling embarrassed by her outburst, her gaze flashed around the room, and she lowered her voice. “He’s just…in pain. And I really don’t feel comfortable talking about him like this.” She grabbed the sake and took a long swallow and, thanks to the coughing fit that followed, regretted it.