”Liver, Alice. Liver.” Bette corrects me as she snaps a card into her hand before laying down another fucking rummy. ”Damn, I wish we were playing for money,” she smiles at me. ”You shuffle, I can’t do it with her asleep on me like this.

”What’s up with her?” I nod toward Tina.

”Sleep deprived, I think.” Bette says as she cuts the cards.

”Newlyweds! Well, soon anyway.” I smile as I fan out my hand, and see that I have a fighting chance with this one. ”Bette, drink up. The cart’s rolling back this way.”

”Not my fault,” Bette smirks in a rare form of sexual disclosure. ”This time.”  Followed by a tender kiss on top of Tina’s head. ”All week they’ve been shooting at night. Stupid movie. She’s exhausted.”

”It’s the redheaded flight attendant, again.” I lay down my discard. ”I wouldn’t mind another round, you?”

”I’ll play you for it.”

”Okay,” I nod.

”Gin!” Bette announces, as she lifts up the Queen of Hearts I just discarded.

”God dammit! How do you keep doing that!”

”Skill. Sheer skill, Alice.” Bette pushes the cards at me to shuffle.

Tina’s hand drops into Bette’s lap, and begins to rub her thigh. ”Babe, are you and Alice getting drunk?” Tina whispers into her neck.

”I think so. Is that okay with you?” Bette winks at me.

”I’m not driving.” Tina sighs.

”Okay, but right now we’re flying – so, we’re good.”

”Who’s winning?” Tina asks drowsily.

”As if you need to ask,” Bette drops a six of clubs on the table. ”Eight to nothing. My favor.”

Dallas, Texas – Outside the Hotel – Alice

Leave it to Bette to choose a hotel where a giant modern eye ball sculpture peers constantly into our windows. Awash with airplane vodka, I’m finding it particularly unnerving. That and the fact that Shane keeps visiting it, as she is doing now, and stroking the red vessels that crawl up its sides. But, we’ve got a silent, and as yet unbroken mantra going while we’re in Dallas. Let it Be. Let it Be. Let it Be.

So far, so good.

Tina pushes through the glass doors from the lobby. ”We’re very close to St. Francis.” Tina says as the valet appears with our rental car, and she hands Shane the driving directions. ”Are you sure you’re okay to drive?”