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“It’s an overpriced tourist trap,” Adrian murmurs.

“Is it your personal mission in life to always be so sour?” I ask, opening my door as soon as we come to a stop. “Have you ever enjoyed something for the sake of enjoying it?”

“Recently, yes. Very much.” There’s not a question in my mind of what he’s talking about, and the memories make my cheeks go hot. Hopefully it’s not super obvious under all this neon that I’m blushing like a fool when Theo joins us by the entrance.

It’s amazing what happens once Adrian takes hold of the diner’s front door and swings it open. All at once, a wave of sound pretty much slaps us in the face. There is doo-wop music blaring on the jukebox, dishes clinking, silverware tinkling like bells. And there are voices. Lots of voices.

“Order up!” The cook in a white paper hat slams his hand on a bell and banters with one of the waitresses while the three of us stand next to a sign ordering us to wait to be seated or else.

“Yeah? What do you want?” A woman in a striped apron with a mouthful of gum looks us up and down like we’re yesterday’s leftovers.

And I love it. I can’t help it. “Table for three?” I respond.

“Are you sure about that? Because you don’t sound so sure.” She rolls her eyes and heaves a sigh before yanking three menus from under the cash register. “Come on. We don’t have all night.”

“Well, this is fun,” Theo mutters behind me. “I’ve always wanted to pay to be insulted.”

“Lighten up,” I urge as we sit in a red vinyl-covered booth. Adrian sits next to me while Theo sits opposite, and now that I see him fully lit by the lamp hanging over the table, his fatigue is obvious. It’s etched into the lines around his bloodshot eyes, the brackets around his downturned mouth.

Adrian catches it, too, and he’s not as polite as I would’ve been. “You look like shit.”

“Driving all night will do that to you.”

“Just think. You could’ve come with us and we could’ve taken turns driving instead.”

“I didn’t have to come in the first place.”

“Hey, I have an idea.” Leaning in, I mutter, “How about you don’t get in a fight in the middle of this diner for everybody to see? How about that? I think that would be a lot of fun.”

“Hi there.” A tall, black-haired man steps up to the table, and one look at his spangled white jumpsuit tells me exactly who he’s supposed to be.

Adrian stares up at him. “Elvis?”

“That’s right.” He even wiggles his hips a little. “What can I get for you?”

“I am officially dying,” I whisper happily before ordering a cheeseburger and chocolate shake.

“What would you recommend?” Theo asks with a wry smirk.

“Well, you know, I’m partial to the fried peanut-butter-and-banana sandwich, myself.” He gives me a wink that shouldn’t make me giggle but does.

“Spare me, please,” Adrian mutters under his breath.

A girl dressed like Marilyn Monroe passes behind Elvis and coos when she sets eyes on the men with me. “My, my,” she purrs, placing a hand on Theo’s shoulder and giving Adrian a coy smile. “What brings you two handsome devils in here tonight?”

All of a sudden Adrian is much more into the act, grinning when he replies, “I had the urge for something sweet. Any suggestions?”

“Gag me,” I whisper before giving Marilyn the evil eye. Back up, girl. I know she’s just doing her job, but still.

“This place isn’t so bad.” Adrian is still wearing that shit-eating grin when he looks my way. “Good suggestion.”

Finally, we finish ordering, giving us at least the illusion of privacy. “Obviously I had second thoughts,” Theo finally admits with a shrug. “I did a little looking around and saw the press release for the masquerade ball. It sounded like the kind of thing you would take as a perfect opportunity.”

“Could you not sound so insulting when you say that?” Adrian asks with a scowl.

“Brotherly love,” I say, shaking my head. “Can’t the two of you just be glad you’re on the same side and together again? Or do you need to whip out your dicks and measure them first?”

“We already did that years ago,” Adrian tells me, waving a hand. “It’s a brother thing.”