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Distracted, I pulled out my chirping phone.
Mya:Which hotel are you staying at again???
My pulse rocketed.
Nisha:It’s freezing. I hope you packed a coat and tights.?? ??
I kept tabbing and scrolling down my text thread.
Lisa:Hey. You mind if I meet you at your hotel? I need to chat with you about something. I’ll drive us to the pub.
A zip of panic coursed through my belly. Lisa was driving in from Easton, Pennsylvania. Would she need a place to crash? This was a half-a-weeklong event. She wouldn’t finesse me by springing on the need for a place to stay out of the blue. Right?
I tapped my index nail on the table, anxiety encroaching again. The waitress appeared in my peripheral suddenly, placing my drink on the table.
“Thanks,” I murmured, trying for a smile.
Lisa’s text still lingered in my head. The woman was married with kids. Responsible. Asking to crash with me at the last minute would have been a “broke college student” move. I glanced at my phone, considering my reply.
Then my spine tingled.
Tobias:125 Nirvana Ln. Samsara
Samsara. It was a small, river-town between Englewood Cliffs and Closter.Bergen County wealth. I’d never been and, honestly, had never heard of it until recently.
Shit…
Don’t!I chided myself.
To distract my nerves gone atwitter, I began responding to the texts in the order in which they were received.
Me: Red Carpet Inn. Budgeting.??
Me: Remembered to pack it at the last min.?? ????
Me: Sure. I’m staying at the Red Carpet Inn though in case you wanna meet some other place. I’ll text you when I get there.
I hoped that was a successful deterrent. Lisa was from a suburban town in the state of Delaware. She hated Newark, New Jersey. Thought of it as dangerous. Something it could be depending on where you traveled and what you were up to. But I was familiar with it, being from East Orange. It was like home.
Before my next response, I decided to allow the alcohol to medicate me for courage. TheMauvewas delicious, aged in oak to a smooth texture. Present were notes of thyme, grapes, and nuts. The Very Superior Old Pale liquid relaxed my limbs almost immediately. My toes inside my pointy-toe, knitBalmainbooties curled as they warmed. I closed my eyes, rolling them contently behind my lids as I felt suddenly blanketed.
Opening my eyes, I took a meditating breath. This week would be mine. I wouldn’t cower to my fears or the expectations of others. I’d be uncharacteristically selfish. Put me first. No plans outside of anticipating fun and good times without guilt, shame, or…fear.
Me: Affirmative.
Dropping the phone, I went for my drink again, peering out of the window to the tarmac. A thousand thoughts sprinted through my mind.
Tobias:Had to look around to see if I was at the hospital. Affirmative, my G?
I rolled my eyes, fighting my amusement. My phone chirped again.
Tobias:What size shoe are you?
Me: Why?
Tobias:Because I know you ain’t pack ya sneaks. We running this week.??
A violent beam burst on my face, splitting it in two as I shook my head, staring into the phone.
