Two Can Play (25 page)

I know he mouthed off at me because he was hurt. The fact that I hurt him means he cares. And don't people say the most dreadful things when they're hurt and angry? It doesn't mean they really feel like that or mean any of it. After tossing and turning for an age, thinking what I might say, if I can get his attention, I finally drift off to sleep.

I wake with a sickly, muzzy head. An excess of wine always does that to me. I've no idea of the time, but it feels late. I lean toward the bedside clock, my focus returning.

Jesus...Ten o'clock?

I reach out to pick up my cell to check my messages in bed, but can't find it. I'm sure I left it on my bedside table. I get up and look under my bed in case it's been knocked on the floor. It's not there. My head swims with the movements I'm making. I need a drink before anything else. I wrap myself in my robe and go to the kitchen. Brendan's sitting at the breakfast bar, eating, with his back to me. I can't face him. I think about turning around and going back to my room, but that's a cowardly thing to do. I'm trying not to be cowardly anymore. New day, new me.

I breeze in and say, “Morning,” as cheerfully as I can manage.

He starts in surprise at the sound of my voice and leaves the breakfast stool to face me, folding his arms and looking down his nose at me.

“
Yeah, morning, for what it's worth.” He eyes me up and down, a little unpleasantly. “Feeling better today? Did issues resolve themselves overnight? I guess not, eh?”

“
It's not that simple, Bren,” I start to explain. He deserves an explanation and to be put in the picture.

“
Well it's simple enough for me but obviously not for you. I thought we were on the same page, Kate? I must have read you all wrong.”

I'm not sure how to phrase my reply. I led him on and I never mentioned issues with my ex until he was in my bed and his hands were on my tits and other things. That was a big green light and a
hell yes, go ahead.

“
It was my fault. I should have said. I'm in the middle of sorting something out with my ex. I'm sorry, Bren, I don't... I mean I shouldn't, or rather we shouldn't....” I fluster with my explanation, trying not to upset him any more than I have already, but not doing very well. He holds his hands up.

“
Hey, don't stress. I get the message loud and clear.” He walks past me with a long hot look, stopping a few paces ahead. “Let me know if and when you're available, babe. Maybe I'll still be interested.”

Then he winks and strides off.

I'm getting the whole face-saving vibe. The lighthearted cool guy coming out full force. But he's stewing over this, I can see it.

I pour a glass of sparkling water and stand drinking it looking out of the window, thinking, and more than a little upset. Upset with myself more than him. I need to grow up and be more assertive with people. Even if they don't like it. I've no intention whatsoever of becoming involved with Brendan, even short or one-night stand term. He's a fun friend. That's all there is to it and I need to make sure he understands that completely, because at the moment, he doesn't. The truth is Aaron was just an excuse to push him away. Aaron or no Aaron, I don't want Bren. It's potentially too difficult and could give rise to problems. I seem to attract problems enough, one way or another. I don't want to add Brendan to them.

An hour later and I've been through everything. I can't find my damn cell anywhere.

Maybe I left it in the restaurant? No I remember texting Chris in the car on the way back. Maybe it's in the car?

Harry and Mom aren't up yet. I look around for keys to his Merc, but can't find them. I decide to go for a swim while I wait for them to surface so I can check the car. After putting on my bikini, I go outside into the brightness and heat. It cheers me up a little. I dip my toe and I'm about to jump in when I see something lying in the water on the edge of the pool. My heart pounds. It's my cell phone. I pick it up and it's soaked. And dead as a dodo.

Oh fuck! All my contacts and numbers...my whole life is in there. And Aaron's number. Jeee-sus!

I've no idea if I can rescue it. I'll have to go downtown to a cell phone store and sort it out somehow.

Shit, what an idiot! I'm way too careless when I've had a few to drink. God!

Tears stupidly flood my eyes. I was all set to call him this morning. Now I can't.

I know I can get his number some other way, but that all takes time. I hate hanging around when I've made a decision
.

HIM

I wake with the alarm buzzing loudly. My stomach churns with the effects of excitement, the morning after, and emptiness as I turn it off and sit up in bed. Throwing off the duvet and stripping my clothes, I enter into the bathroom for a shower. That usually picks me up fast.

Ten minutes later, I'm feeling much better, drying off and sitting on my bed, thinking.

I can't call her until I get there. It'll be too early. It's only 4:00 a.m. there at the moment. I'll send a text for now.

I pick up my iPhone and with a shaking finger I compose some very careful sentences.

- Kate, I need to see you. It's really important. I'll be arriving in Vegas 1:30 p.m. Virgin flight. Can we meet, please? I'll explain then. 

I press send with a fast beating heart.

This is it. I'm out there now.

Exposed.

I'm open to rejection at any point.

I'm keeping a closed book, guarding myself as much as possible until I meet her.

I pray she wants to meet me. That she's still interested, and hasn't frozen me out of her mind after my sickening outburst.

I make breakfast and eat it with my mind elsewhere. My stomach needs food but I'm kinda feeling nauseated as I eat it. I'm shaking with nerves. I can't believe it.

What the hell is the matter with me? Actually I know exactly what the matter is, but I'm not admitting it to myself for a second. Fuck, I so need to pull myself together. What the hell am I going to be like when I see her? IF I see her, that is.

I don't know what's making me feel sicker. Worrying about the plane landing or worrying about what Kate's thinking right now. We bump down on the runway and I take a few deep breaths as the reverse engine noise revs up loudly and we start to slow.

Not so bad.

I get up and grab my things as soon as the doors are open. The plane is only half full and I make my way out quickly, through to arrivals. I turn my iPhone to normal setting and with a pounding heart wait for her reply.

Nothing comes in. My stomach sinks big time.

Not even a “no thanks you creep” or a “fuck off you bastard”?

As well as being extremely disappointed, I'm a little angry so I call her.

I'm getting an “unavailable” message.

Fuck it.

Maybe her battery's dead or she's lost her cell phone or something I try to reason. I need to make a little more effort before I give up completely. Now I'm here I've got nothing else to do.

The heat outside hits me in a blast.

I've never known anything this hot.

God this place is a hellish inferno.

I get in a cab and ask for the strip. I need a hotel. I'm gonna give it two days. If nothing happens. That's the end of it. As I gaze out of the window, unseeing, my mind and body are stressing. I can't stop it.

I've had a thought. An idea. I know her mom works in the casino at Caesars Palace. I'll go there and ask around for her later today. Maybe I can play the tables as well. I like a gamble. Might as well enjoy myself while I'm here.

After telling the cab driver to take me there, I sit back with a plan forming. I'm resourceful. It's one of my better skills. I'm also persistent and quite determined when I want something.

I message her on Facebook and post a status update of where I am.

The cab stops outside Caesars Palace, so I pay and enter the cool hotel lobby. Despite my mind being preoccupied, I'm very impressed with what I see around me. It's absolutely amazing. I wish I were in a better frame of mind to take advantage of it all. And I had someone with me as well.

That might even happen soon,
I tell myself positively.

I register for two nights, booking a ridiculously expensive deluxe-king room and make my way up in the Octavian Tower elevator.

I close the door. Pretty neat room. Huge. The bed's calling to me. I'm dead tired. I need to sleep.

HER

The heat is unbearable and I move under the shade of the parasol. I sit there staring miserably at my dodo cell.

Kelsey appears in her shocking lime-green thong bikini.

“
Hi, how are you?” I say pleasantly.

“
Okay, I guess.” She doesn't ask how I am. Obviously doesn't care or the thought doesn't enter her brain.

Then she surprises me with an invite.

“Wanna come for a late lunch today, downtown somewhere?”

“
I'd like that, thanks. My cell's ruined so I need to get a new one.”

“
Fuck no. What happened to it?”

“
I must have dropped it last night. I found it on the poolside in the water this morning.”

“
You poor bitch. God, I don't know what I'd do without my iPhone. Actually I've got a spare in my room, my old one. Wanna try your SIM in it, you never know?”

“
Can I?”

“
Sure, come with me, it just needs charging.”

I follow the almost naked Kelsey to her room. She is definitely NOT a tidy freak. She rummages around swearing to herself and finally finds the purse she's looking for and fishes out the old cell and charger. She plugs it in.

“Here, give it me.”

She opens another drawer, and finds a paperclip. When I pass my phone to her, she uses the paperclip to open the SIM tray on both phones, removes my SIM, and then places it inside her old phone. Thankfully we both had the 4s, otherwise my Micro SIM wouldn’t have fit.

She switches it on and a few seconds later, hands it to me.

“
It's locked, but it seems to be working. We can get it sorted later, maybe get you a new one? Although you will need to sync it with your laptop to get it working properly.” She smiles at me.

“
Thanks, Kels.” I smile back. I breathe a massive sigh of relief.

Despite being friendly and nice at the moment, I'm not sure about her motives. I'm keeping Bren's warning in the forefront of my brain.

We return to the pool and she gets comfy on the sun lounger next to me, in full sun.

“
How can you lay in full sun? It's so hot it hurts.”

“
I do a fifteen-minute roast either side and cover myself in SPF 50. Keeps me tanned and UV safe.”

I laugh and she looks at me, her brown eyes sweeping over my pale skin.

“I don't tan well, I'm going for pale and interesting. Not that I have much choice.”

“
You don't take after your mom then?”

“
No, I seem to have inherited the white Russian look from my dad.”

“
Your mom's real nice, Kate. Didn't like her much to start with, but now I've got used to her, she's cool. My dad has had a lot of women interested in him for the wrong reasons. When you've got money you gotta be careful, but I suppose you know all about that. I tend to keep quiet about money myself, particularly with guys.”