Playing the Player(67)

“I’m sorry I didn’t encourage you sooner,” Mom said. She watched her pedicurist paint her toenails candy apple red. “It was completely irrational.” She shrugged. “I can’t explain it.” She met my eyes. “I mean it, honey. I am proud of you. Your brother would be, too.”

A long shuddering sigh eased out of me as I pictured Brian’s laughing face. “Thanks,” I said, fighting back my own tears.

She took another sip of wine. “You should let me pay for your lessons.”

I was grateful for the change in subject. “Slade’s not charging me anything.”

Mom wiggled her eyebrows. “Of course he’s not.”

I blushed at her suggestive tone, and we laughed together, causing our pedicurists to scold us and tell us to hold still.

After our pedicures, we got take-out food and spent the rest of the night at home watching chick flicks and admiring our toes. Happiness settled around me like a cozy blanket.

I hadn’t told her about my secret deal with Slade’s mom, but it didn’t matter.

That deal was over, and the fewer people who knew about it, the better.





Chapter Thirty-Nine


Trina


Saturday, July 13

The sun lit up the towering copper colored rocks framing the amphitheater. I’d been to concerts at Red Rocks before, but tonight was different because of Slade. Alex and Tim were there, too, but they were off buying food.

Slade’s kisses turned me into a puddle of mush, as usual. He didn’t seem to care that we were surrounded by people, some of them kids.

“Everyone’s staring,” I told him, pushing against his chest, but he just laughed into my mouth.

“So? Let them stare.” He pulled me close and shut me up with his lips.

No one cared about the opening band, but everyone cheered when they finished, in anticipation of the headliner. Alex and Tim reappeared, bumping into us on purpose and ending our lip-lock.

“You two need to get a room,” Alex teased, leering at us. Tim shot me a conspiratorial wink. They were disgustingly cute as they cuddled on the bench next to us.

The stage went totally dark, then light flooded the stage and the looming rocks on either side of us as one of Slade’s favorite country singers let it rip. The crowd screamed with excitement, and we jumped up from our seats. We all danced and spun together, laughing and singing at the top of our lungs.

It was the best time I’d had in forever. The lights of Denver and the entire Front Range spread out in front of us, and the moon shone down like nature’s spotlight. I could pick out Colfax, one of the longest streets in America, by the unending stream of red taillights flickering in the distance.

I wanted to preserve this night in my memory so that I could escape into it whenever I wanted to feel sublimely happy.

When the last encore finished we filed down the steps, getting separated in the crowd. Alex caught up to me and I saw Tim and Slade bobbing ahead of us. Alex knocked my shoulder and I returned the friendly gesture.

“Hey BB,” he said, grinning.

“Hey you.”

We hopped down the steps together like little kids. He reached out to grab my hand. “I’m so happy for you guys. I can’t even tell you.” He floated somewhere between tipsy and drunk. Slade had smuggled in a flask. Alex and Tim had way more sips than me. For a notorious party animal, Slade was good about not drinking when he was driving.

“Thanks. I’m happy, too.” Understatement of the year. I’d lost sight of Slade and Tim, but I knew we’d catch up to them at the car.

Alex leaned in to me. “I knew you guys would hook up. I freaking knew it!” He hiccupped in my ear, loudly. “That’s why I took the bet, even though it would cost me.”

My feet stumbled, and I reached for the railing to steady myself. “Bet? What bet?” My stomach churned, anxiety swelling inside of me.

Alex laughed and knocked my shoulder again. “My bet with Slade. That he could get you to lighten up. Turn you into a party girl.” He looked down at me and raised an eyebrow. “Okay, maybe you’re not ready for Girls Gone Wild, but…you two…” He leered at me.

The world tilted on its axis, and I couldn’t believe my legs still propelled me forward.

“You…you bet Slade that he’d…he’d…”

“Hook up with you. Yeah, totally. And he won, but it’s cool. Best fifty bucks I ever spent.”

A bet? My mind reeled with visions of all the time we’d spent together. The chick flicks we’d watched in his basement. The nighttime walks that had become our thing. Hanging out with the kids at the shelter. The swim lessons. The make-out sessions that left me barely able to stand.

It was all to win a bet?

I let the crowd surge around me, watching Alex disappear in the sea of moving bodies. Maybe I could hitchhike. Take a bus. Pitch a tent and never go home.

My cell buzzed and buzzed in my pocket, but I ignored it. I waited for the tears but they didn’t come. Instead, I felt numb. Completely dead inside.

Screw it. I’d stay here all night if I had to. No way was I getting in a car with Slade.



Eventually I got sick of the phone’s constant buzzing. My screen lit up with a zillion text messages and voicemail notifications. Against my better judgment, I listened to the first message.