There. She'd said the word aloud. Divorce. I am going to divorce Linc.

Oh, God! How can I when I still love him?

Because I have to.

'I get it,' Pete said. 'I'm very-'

'Patient,' she said, finishing the sentence for him.

He laughed.

'Good night, Pete,' she said.

'Talk to you tomorrow,' he said.

After putting down the phone, she lay awake for a long time, thinking about what the future held.

No more procrastinating. Her baby needed a father, a man she could depend on.

And, much as she still loved him, Linc was sadly not that man.

Chapter Forty-Two.

'I have a newsflash for you,' Lola said, sidling up to Tony, who was standing next to Jorge.

Tony turned to look at her as if they were merely vague acquaintances, not passionate lovers.

'Hi, Lola,' he said. 'Did you meet Jorge?'

'Miz Sanchez is the most beautiful woman here,' Jorge said, taking her hand in his, bringing it to his lips and kissing it in a courtly fashion. 'Voluptuous. I love voluptuous women.'

'Me too,' Tony agreed.

Then what are you doing with that nothing little girl? Lola thought. 'How's everything, Tony?' she said, playing the game. 'I don't think I've seen you since New York.'

'Everything's tight, Lola,' he replied. 'I signed the deal for my new movie yesterday.'

'Yes,' Jorge joined in. 'And Tony also recently announced his engagement to a delightful young lady, quite delightful.'

Somehow or other Lola kept the smile on her face. Jorge must be an idiot: didn't he know that she and Tony were once engaged?

'Thanks, Jorge,' Tony joked. 'If Maria was a boy she'd be exactly your type.'

Jorge frowned. He did not appreciate his sexual predilections being advertised to the world.

'Where's your wife?' Lola asked, plucking a glass of wine from the tray of a passing waiter.

'Unfortunately she could not come on this trip,' Jorge replied. 'She is at our house in Buenos Aires. Her father is a most important politician.'

'She doesn't mind you coming here alone?'

'Why would she mind?' Jorge said, his eyes lingering on Lola's cleavage.

'L.A. is known as the city of temptations,' Lola said, shooting a sideways glance at Tony.

'Ah, but my wife is a very understanding woman, and I am a very understanding man. It is only in unsophisticated societies that people get upset when extra-curricular activities take place.'

'Yeah, women can get very uptight in America,' Tony agreed.

More guests were arriving. Jorge politely excused himself and drifted off.

'So,' Tony said, his eyes inviting her to stay, 'you wanna tell me your newsflash?'

'Since you don't seem bothered by extra-curricular activities,' she said, savouring the moment, 'it's about your girlfriend.'

'You got somethin' to say about Maria?'

'Only if you want to know.' A long beat. 'Do you, Tony?'

'Depends.'

'Where is she?' Lola asked, taking a sip of wine.

'Around somewhere,' Tony said irritably. 'When I'm ready to leave, I'll snap my fingers and she'll be there.'

'Ah... men.' Lola sighed. 'Their egos are so big, just like your beautiful-'

'You tellin' me or not?' he interrupted.

'I thought you weren't sure if you wanted to know.'

'Stop jackin' me, Lola. Spill.'

'When you left me in the bathroom without coming back to rescue me-'

'You coulda come out whenever you wanted.'

'As you can see, I did. However, I waited a few minutes first.'

'Uh-huh?'

'And... it seems someone else had the same idea as us.'

'You mean somebody else was makin' out in there?'

'Yes, and one of those two people was your dear fiancee.'

His face hardened. 'You're shittin' me?'

'No, Tony. I'm telling you the way it is. You think Maria is so sweet and innocent, when obviously you're totally wrong.'

'Who was the guy?' he said harshly.

'Ah... that's what makes this such an interesting story.'

'Stop fuckin' with me, Lola. I don't like it.'

'It wasn't a man,' she said, sipping her wine. 'It was our esteemed guest of honour.'

'Raja?'

'Yes, Raja. The great artist was busily going down on your fiancee like there was no tomorrow.'

Unexpectedly Tony burst out laughing. 'Jesus holy Christ!' he said. 'And I thought Maria was so demure.'

Lola was shocked by his reaction. She'd wanted him to call the girl every name he could think of. Instead he was laughing as if it didn't matter. 'You mean you're not upset?' she said.

'No way. She's got the guest of honour's tongue up her crack, hey, maybe I can get a discount on a painting.'

Lola scowled. Her news had not had the effect she'd hoped for. 'You're a pervert,' she said.

'No, babe,' he said, still laughing. 'I'm a man.'

'You know what?' Nick said.

'What?' Cat replied.

'My turn to do something wild now.'

'Thought we just did.'

'Yeah, we did, and I'm wet and freezing my balls off. How about you?'

''Look at me,' she said, shivering. 'I'm like something left outside in the rain all night.'

'You're still a beauty.'

'Ooh, compliments,' she said, grinning. 'I like it.'

'Here's what we're gonna do,' he said, executing a U-turn and heading back along the Pacific Coast Highway.

'We're drivin' to Vegas and playin' blackjack. My game of choice.'

'Oh, in our wet clothes, with you driving seven hundred miles an hour, we're off to Vegas, so you can play a dumb card game?'

'C'mon,' he encouraged her. 'You're an adventurous soul. You gotta like gambling.'

'Can't say I've ever done it.'

'I'll teach you. I'm a degenerate gambler.'

'That sounds bad.'

'I always win.'

'Why Vegas?'

'Why not?'

'I can think of a hundred reasons.'

'Go ahead,' he said, driving fast.

'Okay. My movie wrapped, I'm beat, and come Monday I'm locked in the editing room. I think I need to go home.'

'That's not a hundred reasons,' he argued. 'Besides, it's Friday, we've got the whole freakin' weekend. I'll have you back Sunday night.'

'I can't walk into the editing room a total wreck.'

'I did your adventure, climbed down a freakin' cliff to make out with you, and nearly got swept away. Now it's your turn to do something for me. Here,' he added, tossing her his cellphone, 'call Amy. Tell her and Jonas to come join us at the Hard Rock.'

'Really?'

'My dime. We'll make it a weekend.'

'You are crazy.'

'Have you noticed that if I'm not telling you that you're crazy you're telling me?' he said, looking more dishevelled than ever. 'Are we a fuckin' match made in heaven or what?'

'Actually, yes,' she admitted, thinking how right he was.

'Go ahead,' he said, shooting her a grin. 'Call my sister.'

'What's her number?'

'Speed dial number one.'

Amy answered immediately. 'What happened to you two?' she yelled, music blaring away in the background. 'Jonas and me are still at the party. It's a blast.'

'We took off on a side trip,' Cat explained.

'Hmm... I see.'