“Vicki?” Bee muttered, in disbelief. Vicki’s dark hair was matted to her forehead. Her cheeks were flushed. “Jimmy?” Bee continued. “You guys, what are you doing up here?”

“I told Jennifer I’d grab her pocketbook from the tower before we went back to the hotel,” Jimmy said, removing himself from Vicki, who, once freed, grabbed her underwear and tights and began the clumsy process of putting them back on without exposing more of her bottom half. Jimmy rolled over, so he was sitting face up next to Vicki, and shamelessly removed the condom from the tip of his penis as he talked about his girlfriend’s belongings. “We’d stashed Jennifer’s purse up here, at the start of the reception, so she could dance,” Jimmy continued. “And then I ran into Vicki when I came to get it.”

Joe licked his lips, his mouth suddenly parched. He kept his eyes on Jimmy to avoid looking at Vicki, who was still moving like a worm on the floor, trying to get the top of her tights over her stomach. “I…,” Joe started, almost audibly. “I’m just going to take Hannah back to the inn now, Vicki,” he said softly, as if Vicki hadn’t helped come up with the plan less than a half hour ago.

“Thank you. That sounds good,” Vicki responded, in a businesslike voice, as Jimmy stood up and zipped his pants. He walked over to the nearby trash can and tossed the used condom toward it, but it fell to the floor, glistening under the harsh fluorescent light. Vicki continued to speak formally, pretending not to see it. “Hannah’s two bags are right over there. The black purse and the blue duffel bag.”

“Will you be needing a ride back to the hotel, as well?” Joe asked, matching her tone and letting out a cough as he walked toward Hannah’s bags. He made a wide circle around Vicki, ensuring that he was at least a few feet away from the spot where she and Jimmy Fee had performed their act. Bee stood paralyzed, still evaluating the scene.

“I—I think I can find my own ride,” Vicki responded, her eyes shifting to Bee, who looked away.

“I’ll drive Vicki back,” Jimmy said, jumping up, unfazed by the small, wet circle of latex that was now about an inch away from his left shoe. “It’s no biggie. I’ve got a rental in the lot. It’s a Sebring. I asked for an economy, and they bumped me straight up to a convertible. Sweet, right?”

Jimmy grinned proudly and wiped his chin. Vicki smiled nervously at Jimmy and shot an apologetic look to Joe, who coughed again, walked past Bee, and began the descent down the staircase. “Okay, then,” Vicki could hear Joe grumble as he made it to the third step with Hannah’s bags in his hands. Bee waited another moment before lifting her train and starting down the stairs behind him. As soon as they were gone, Jimmy Fee muttered, “Holy balls. Can you believe that?” He bent over to pick up the condom and threw it straight into the wastebasket as Vicki stood up and adjusted her dress.