“If you can’t, you can’t. We’ve talked about skipping pieces before. Don’t stress yourself out.” Audrey gave her shoulder a bump. “You can feel good even if the topper doesn’t work because we’ll have paid the Fishers some of their lost money.”
While Audrey’s understanding made her feel a little better, it was still a failure on her part. She hated that feeling. Audrey’s words were kind, but they were reminiscent of her father’s. He never told her art was stupid—he did have an appreciation for it—but every time they talked about her work, his comments felt patronizing. Like a pat on the head because nothing she did was serious.
Audrey would never treat her that way, but the irritation rose anyway. She wanted to prove herself. To show everyone that she was an excellent artist.
“I’ll get it done. It might not be perfect, but who’s going to notice, right? It’s going to be on the top of a tree during a party when everyone is at least half-lit.”
“That’s my girl.” Nikki tapped her bottle against London’s. “Just has to be good enough.”
London took a swallow of beer. No. Good enough wasn’t enough. She had to be better than that. “Let’s talk about what kind of distraction I need to be for the security guards tomorrow night. Are they at least hot?”
London was excited—no,she was beyond keyed up—to actually take part in the heist. She didn’t mind being in the van with Audrey because she was technically the getaway driver, but having an active role? It was gonna be fun. Nikki told her to dress provocatively. Well, Nikki’s exact words were “Dress one step up from streetwalker. We want the guard to be drooling and hoping for a wardrobe malfunction.”
So she slid into her slinkiest black dress that could pass for a negligee and skipped the double stick tape that would normally keep things in place. Getting behind the wheel of the van was a little awkward and she knew she looked totally out of place driving the thing, but Audrey liked to work from the van. It was a mobile office for her. Not quite as high-tech as you saw on TV, but it was damn close.
She drove to the apartment, where Nikki, Wade, and Audrey would be waiting. Nikki wanted her and Wade to run through the distraction scenario on the way to the job. And of course, Nikki would need to eat, as was her pre-heist ritual. When she pulled up in front of the building, she texted.
A moment later, all three were headed toward the van, looking like one hell of a motley crew.
Wade had his light hair slicked back and he wore a sexy suit that quietly declared, “I’m important.” Nikki wore a light blue uniform dress and she had on a pink wig and a pair of glasses. She was also pushing a small cleaning cart. Audrey wore her usual attire of jeans and a sweatshirt. If she didn’t know them, she’d never peg them as friends.
Audrey whipped the side door open and climbed in. Then she popped the back door open for Nikki to stow the cart. Wade got in the passenger side.
When she slid into a seat next to Audrey, Nikki let out a low whistle. “Lookin’ good.”
London preened. “Why, thank you. I do clean up quite well.”
“Wow,” Wade said beside her.
Nikki smacked his arm. “Stop perving on my friend.”
“I was simply appreciating the view, babe. You know I only have eyes for you.”
“Ew,” Audrey said. “You all sound like you’re running cons on each other. Let’s go.”
London pulled away from the curb.
“All right.” Nikki clapped her hands. “I’m thinking if you, London, go running in the lobby a minute or so after me—as I’m searching for my ID—and start yelling about your no-good, cheating bastard of a boyfriend, demanding access to go catch him in the act, the guards will have to handle you.”
“This is an office building,” Wade pointed out.
“Of course, the lying sleazeball would have a side piece at the office,” London suggested.
“And once Nikki is upstairs, I’ll swoop in and apologize to the nice guards about my girlfriend who overindulged and I’ll make some kissy noises and promise to buy her another diamond,” Wade said.
“Ooh...I get a diamond?”
“We know what we’re doing,” Wade continued. He shot a look at Nikki over his shoulder. “We got this.”
“Where are we stopping for food?” London asked.
“Chili dogs!” Nikki yelled.
“Don’t spill on the uniform,” Audrey said, sounding like a mom.
“It’ll make my frazzled personality more authentic,” Nikki countered.
London enjoyed the banter of her friends in the back as they ate on the way to the job. She parked the van around the corner from the building, and Audrey handed them all earpieces. London tucked it in her ear.