Oh that.
“These tech guys got too rich too quickly, have god complexes and zero humility. Some days, I think they’re harder to take than the old-money narcissists.” He finished his beer and stared at the empty glass. “I’m getting too old for this shit.”
She almost laughed, but his expression told her he wasn’t joking. It was an unexpected flare of emotion too raw to be deliberately done for show. He put his glass on a side table and surveyed the room as if he genuinely dreaded having to be here and any notion she’d had he was acting took a dive off the balcony.
She took his hand, and his eyes went to hers. “Lighten up, lover.” His brows jumped. “You’re not dead yet, and you have a hot date who will protect you from too much sex, drugs, and rock ’n roll.”
He put his free hand over his heart. “My hero.”
His something; she just wasn’t sure what. Business associate, friend, hopefully.
“I meant what I said about using your anger,” he said.
It was still there on a low heat, simmering in her gut. “That’s what you do.”
He tipped his chin up to indicate the room. “I’m a salesman. They tolerate me.”
He sounded so weary it made her ache to hug him. “Let’s take this place.”
He squeezed her hand, and it was curtain up. The XRad founders were younger than her, and if they weren’t high, she’d slap her own face.
“Fin like the fish,” Neil Chen said when Cal introduced them.
>
“Only to my dear friends,” she responded, biting back the urge to make fish lips at him.
“Don’t mind Neil,” Cal said. “He’s being a rich-ass dickhead.”
That caused Neil to throw his arms around Cal and bear hug him. “Glad you could come, man.”
Cal’s expression was about the same as he might make during a root canal surgery. “Show me how glad,” he said, extracting himself. “Fin like the fish has a charity, and you should support it.”
Neil shook his head. “Not cool. Not cool. This is a party.”
“That you spent a mil on.”
“One seven five,” said Neil with a slick smile, pleased with his own excesses. “The planning permits were exie.”
“This party cost one point seven five million. Oh shit, that’s a lot of money,” Fin spluttered. Cal’s sharp bark of laughter told her it was okay to have said that.
“What do you care?” said Neil.
“I care, because I know how many families that kind of money can support.”
“Great Gotham, you’re boring.” Neil turned to Cal. “Hope she’s a good fuck,” then back to Fin. “If I give you money, will you go off in a corner and drink till you require medical attention?”
“If you give me one point seven five million,” Fin shot back, “I’ll strip naked first.”
Neil’s chin jerked up so fast he might’ve given himself whiplash.
“That’s my boring girl,” Cal said, hauling her into his arms and kissing her temple. “Your move, Neil.”
Neil knocked his knuckles against his shaven head. Fin’s heart smacked against her ribcage so hard it was a wonder Cal couldn’t feel it. Her own audacity, that kiss, those arms around her.
“Can you sing?” Neil asked.
“I can make do.” It was preferable to stripping and for one point seven five million, modesty could go fly a kite.