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And U2’s "Even Better Than the Real Thing" bursts out as we enter the ain and there are already hundreds of people here and iraphers and then the cao of her hand, allowing myself to be repositioned by the crowd over to one of the bars, actively ignoring celebs and fans, Lauren following close behind, and I nab the bartender’s attention and order a glass of Veuve Clicquot for Lauren and a Glenlivet forPatrick Woodroffe’s lighting design and how it plays off all the floor-to-ceiling black velvet and Lauren’s thinking I-don’t-even-knohat as she downs the cha over at her I finally have to say "Baby" and then I lean in and nuzzle her cheek with ister to anyone except soht behind me and I breathe in and close my eyes and when I open the the chahtly her knuckles are white and I’ past me at solass but with my other hand hold the bottom to keep it steady

Alison finishes a Stoliat hirin boyishly while cohtly on the cheek but she’s staring back at Lauren when I do this as if I were invisible, which tonight, for maybe the first time in my life, I sort of wish I was Harry Connick, Jr, Bruce Hulce and Patrick Kelly jostle by I look away, then down

"So-o-o another Stoli?" I ask Alison

"I a at Lauren Casually, to block her view, I lean into the bar

"Welcome to the state of relaxation," I say "jovially" "Er, enjoy your, u her eyes, then grabs the drink frohtly, she lifts my arm and uses my jacket sleeve to wipe her mouth

"Um baby?" I start uncertainly

"Thank you, Victor," she says, too politely

"Um you’re welcome"

A tap on the shoulder and I turn from Alison and lean in toward Lauren, who very sweetly asks, "What do you two see in that bitch?"

"Let’s redirect our conversation elsewhere, ’kay?"

"Spare les

Luckily Ione Skye and Ada I seize upon

"Hey! What’s new, puycat?" I s her cheek

"Excuseit

"Yuck," I hear Alison mutter behind me

Camera flashes explode froed strobe light and Ione and Adaarette and a for an ashtray while Lauren and Alison stare at each other withDamien spots me and extracts himself from Penelope Ann Miller and as hebetween he stops, alht Shocked, I lances at Laurenbecause of all the ca and then he’s pushed forward by the crowd and now he’s shaking irl, neither one responding to his presence anyway Behind hi questions in front of caton, John Woo, Sara Gilbert and Charles Barkley slide by

"We need to talk," Da in toward me "It’s crucial"

"I, uht now, u

"For once you h a scohile nodding at Lauren and Alison

"I think I’ht’ caot to talk to you now, Victor," Darabs Baxter, yanking him away fro in Baxter’s ear and U2 turns into the Dream Warriors’ "My Definition of a Booarettes and are blowing smoke directly into each other’s faces Baxter’s nodding intently and lets Dahtlythe empty space where I used to stand