"She’s been kind of down lately, and I want her to be happy." Of course she’s down, Aiden. She’s with you. You are the master at turning something bright and happy into rust.

"And why Las Vegas?" Joe inquires innocently.

"Yeah, the city of gambling and prostitutes just screams rainbows and sunshine," I mutter. What about Spencer makes Aiden think that taking her to Las Vegas is a good idea?

"I thought you liked Las Vegas," Talise points out to me in a low voice.

"It’s fun, but it doesn’t seem very Spencer-like."

"You know it’s not just gambling, beer, and prostitutes. There’s a ton of other stuff you can do though Aiden will probably want to find a club or something."

"Exactly," I respond. "Why would Spencer want to go to a club to cheer up?"

"Why would anybody? Spencer’s not porcelain. She’ll get caught up in the rush just like everybody else."

"She’s not anybody else," I snap. It’s true. She’s better than everyone in the world.

Talise gives me a weird look, "She’s as human as you or me."

"But come on, Dad," Aiden wails, wrenching our attention back to him.

"There is no way I’m leaving both of you alone in Las Vegas without a chaperone," Joe states with finality.

"Then, then," Aiden splutters for a moment before his eyes fall on his twin. "Talise can go with us. She and Spencer can sleep in one room, and the guys can sleep in another."

"I can?" is Talise’s response.

Ben jumps up, "Wait, can I go too?"

"Please?" Aiden implores both his father and sister. "Come on, Talise. You have money saved up. I’ll pay for the rooms, and you can use your money on whatever you want." His sister doesn’t seem attracted to the idea. "It’s been forever since we’ve gone anywhere together."

"I’ll think about—"

Simultaneously, Joe begins, "Talise, if you go there, I’m counting on you to make sure that these to don’t get up to anything."

Abruptly, Talise stops talking to listen, a smile flashing across her face. It wasn’t a nice, friendly one either. In fact, it looked sort of vicious. "I know, and I’ll go."

"Thanks!" Aiden wraps his arm around her. "I owe you one."