“And then there’s this homeless guy who comes in all the time. Once, he found a diamond ring somewhere and was so excited, he stood on a chair in the middle of the waiting room and sang “Single Ladies” to the head nurse. He sounded pretty good, too, before he fell off the chair and lost his bladder.”

Regina shuddered. “Ugh. I am so glad I live in Carnegie Hill.”

“Oh, I don’t know. People in Carnegie Hill just overdose on better drugs and shove more expensive items up their bleached bungholes.” She glared at the taller woman pointedly.

“Angel,” said Duke, sliding between them. “I see you met the ladies. And Regina.”

The young woman wanted to sigh in relief.

Duke tipped his head in the model’s direction, but his green eyes focused on Angel. He handed her a fluted glass of champagne. He gave the student nurse a half-smile, raised his own glass in salute. “Sorry it took me so long, baby.”

“Baby”? How far are we taking this dating story? As she took a sip, he put a hand lightly on her bare back. She could smell tequila rolling off of him. Good thing he’s not driving.

“So, what do you girls think of my little chiquita?”

Oh, no he dinna.

“Hmm. I see you’re still drinking.” Regina flipped her hair.

Duke’s hand at the small of Angel’s back clenched, but calmly he said, “Good thing you don’t need to worry about it anymore.”

“Thank God for that. It’s going to take an Angel to put up with your ass,” Regina sneered.

Angel rolled her eyes and wondered if she could get away with smashing her glass upside the bitch’s head. “Luckily, I’m fine with Duke being himself. I’m not his mommy.” She tilted her face up to Duke, winked at him. “Let’s get some air, baby, it’s thick in here.”

Behind them, Kinley asked Regina about the fund-raiser, but the model was unresponsive. Angel could feel Regina’s stare drilling into her back. Duke chuckled under his breath, his hand still on her, guiding her away. I should have unleashed on her. These people were never going to be her friends, there was no reason to play nice.

Duke grabbed two more drinks from a passing waiter and led her through French doors to the patio, out into the comforting twinkle of candles and the Manhattan skyline.

“This is amazing,” Angel breathed. In and out, calming her heart rate. She focused on the lights. She’d never seen the city like this, from such a place of privilege.