I pick up my purse."Yup.He’s just a friend.He told me so himself.That’s how he sees me.That’s it.That’s all."
As Ophelia pulls open the door, she says, "Well, let’s go make him eat those words."
I am totally okay with that.
Chapter 24: TJ
This girl is messing with my head.I don’t think she means to, but what the hell was that picture?
It’s not as if I haven’t seen her legs before.She was wearing shorts the first two times I saw her.And a dress when we went to my parents.I am well aware of what her bare legs look like.So why have I looked at that picture practically continually since she sent it?
Why did she send it to me?
And what does the rest of her look like?
Is she really hitting the Strip?Is Ophelia going to be her wingman—er, -woman?Is she going to cross off number nine?
Me: Be careful.Stay together.Don’t go off with any strangers.
What is she doing?I was stupid to suggest she come out here.She’s totally out of her element.At least she has Ophelia.
"Um, Henry, how would you describe Ophelia’s street smarts?"
Xavier is buttoning up his shirt.He stops, mid-button."You’re joking, right?You’re asking about the Ophelia who flew to Baltimore to surprise her wanker ex, only to find out he was cheating on her, but she had to have all of ClikClak tell her that because she didn’t realize it herself, even though it was blatantly obvious to all of us at the party.The woman who asked the internet to set her up on blind dates, but the way she worded it made them think she was a prostitute for her day job, which she’s not, by the way.The woman who got drunk and proposed to me over FaceTime so I could keep my citizenship without ever researching to see if that was a valid thing, which, it turns out, it’s not.That Ophelia?"
I stare at him.This is not helping.
Me: Maybe you want to have a quiet little dinner and turn in early.
It sounds lame, even to me, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
Rachel: I didn’t come all this way to stay in.Ophelia and I are on a mission.
My gut churns reading this.What kind of trouble are they going to get into?I can skip dinner and head to where they’re going.I’ve never broken curfew before, but tonight might be the night I start.Sure, there’d be a hefty fine.Dad would lose his shit over that.And maybe I’d be subject to disciplinary action that’d have me sitting out a game or two.
At this point in my career, missing games is the kiss of death.Anyone they bring in to replace me will be younger.If he has a good game or two, that could be it for me.
I can’t break curfew.
I clear my throat."Um, are you at all worried about the girls going out on the town by themselves?"
He shakes his head."Ophelia is doing research for a book.She wants to go to a casino and see what the atmosphere is like there.I’m sure she’ll be fine."We lock gazes, both knowing that could not be further from the truth.
"What do we do?"
Breaking curfew is not an option for either of us, and we both know it.
"I’ll text Ophelia and tell her not to be impulsive," Henry says, pulling out his phone."Alright, it’s done.Now let’s go to dinner.I’m famished."
As we get in the elevator, I ask, "Does telling Ophelia not to do something usually work?"
"Hardly ever, but one can always hope."
We’ve decided to eat at the Mexican place in Mandalay Bay, which adjoins the W.I can’t tell if the gnawing in my stomach is from hunger or worry.It was just a week ago that Rachel fell asleep at my kitchen counter after drinking a bottle of wine.What would happen to her if she did that out here?
Henry and I lounge on a large banquette, waiting for other teammates to join us.We’re the first here.I don’t think this has ever happened to me before.Usually, I’m strolling in as people are ordering drinks.This gives me plenty of time to peruse the menu and think about Rachel.I’m so lost in thought that I barely notice when someone slides into the seat opposite me.
"Is this seat taken?"
