“Well, it is Valentine’s Day, but it’s not like that.”
Valentine’s Day. Oh my God. That’s right! It’s this weekend. I had completely forgotten about it.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“I have to go there to research something for this book I’m writing. Tanner is coming along. It’s too soon for us to go on a weekend trip. So actually, you’ll be doing me a favor if you come.”
“I don’t know,” I say. “I don’t want to be a third wheel. And I’m sure that Tanner wants some romantic time with you on Valentine’s Day.”
“Okay, well, then invite some people. I’d love to have extra people there.”
“Tea, what’s wrong? Are you not that into Tanner?”
She sighs. “No, I am. I’m just…I don’t really want to go away for a weekend with him. I’m not ready to sleep with him yet.”
“Oh,” I say. “Oh, I see. And if you two go away together, share a hotel room…then you think…”
“Exactly,” she says. “So you’re really going to be doing me a favor. And invite your roommates too. The more, the merrier. Juliet. Dylan. Maybe not Tristan.”
“Ha, yeah, probably not Tristan.” I smile. “I guess a trip away from here does sound nice.”
“Excellent, then it’s decided!” She grins from ear to ear.
“So tell me about this book. That’s exciting!” I say. “Was it what you were working on before? About Belize?”
“No.” She shakes her head. “It’s a completely different story. It’s actually a romance novel.”
“Really? Wow.”
“I know. I never thought I’d write one. But then I read a few and they’re really exciting and passionate. And I just wanted to try my hand at it.”
“So what’s it about?” I ask.
“I’m not entirely set on the name yet,” Tea says. “It’s either going to be called A Weeklong Fiancé or Fiancé for a Week.”
“Hmm, I’m intrigued.”
“It’s about this normal girl. She’s a copywriter at an online magazine. Just graduated from college. She has an apartment, a roommate and an unhealthy obsession with chocolate and shoes.”
“Well, who doesn’t, right?” I say with a wink.
“She’s drowning in student loans, has no idea how she’s going to pay them off. And then she gets an offer that’s too good to pass up. Take a weeklong cruise to the Caribbean with a dashing, rich stranger and pretend to be his fiancé at his family reunion. For $10,000. No sex. Business only.”
“Wow, seems like most girls would do it for way less than that.”
“That’s what she thinks. But then she starts to fall in love with him,” Tea says.
“I love it!” I say. And I do. Really.
“So this trip to Atlantic City is a little bit of a research trip. I’ve never been to a casino before and I want to get a taste of what it’s like. What it looks like, etc.”
“I get it.” I nod. “And I’d love to read your book when you’re done.”
“You’ll be the first.”
11
There was no way I was going to go on this trip without at least Juliet. And I was excited when Dylan decided to come along too. They don’t know Tea very well, and none of us have ever met Tanner, but they were down for a fun weekend. When I first told Dylan about this, he invited Tristan as well, but luckily for me Tristan said that he had too much work to do. Peyton was invited too, and she was planning on coming along, until she remembered that she had a big paper due on Monday.
Juliet, Dylan and I share an Uber to Grand Central Station. Juliet and I over packed a little and we’re laden down with bags that wouldn’t fit in the trunk.
“Why did you two have to pack so much?” Dylan asks. He only packed one small suitcase, the size of a carryon. “It’s just two nights.”
“You wouldn’t understand,” Juliet rolls her eyes.
“Just pack a couple of outfits and that should be enough,” Dylan insists.
“And what happens when you don’t feel like wearing one? Or it’s inappropriate to wear it? No, you have to have backups.”
I didn’t pack as much as Juliet, but I definitely took too much. There seems to always be shirts and pants that you think you might wear, that you almost should wear, but for some reason never do.
“So what’s going on with you and Tristan?” Dylan turns to me.
Juliet makes a face at him as if to ask why the hell he’s bringing him up.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. It just seems that something’s off, but Tristan didn’t tell me what exactly.”
I shrug.
Tristan and I haven’t spoken much since that night. Though he did corner me by the bathroom this morning and insisted on talking.
“Alice, I just want you to know that I don’t want to break up,” he said. “That’s the last thing I want.”
“You don’t want to break up? I thought that was exactly what you wanted.”
“No, not at all. I just want to take a break. A breather.”
“That sounds like a breakup.”
“No, not at all,” he said.
“And what’s the difference?” I asked.
“I just need a little time. A little space. But I want to be with you. I don’t want to be with anyone else. And I hope you don’t either.”
“So I’m just supposed to wait around for you? Is that right?”
“Look, the way I see this break is just that. A break. I’m not going to date anyone. And I hope you don’t either. I’m just confused. And I need time to get myself back together.”
* * *
“Alice?” Dylan asks. “You okay?”
“Huh? What?” I ask.
“You seemed to have spaced out a bit.”
“Oh right, sorry. I don’t know what to say about Tristan. I don’t know what’s going on.”
“Wait, are you two back together?” Juliet asks.
“No, definitely not. But apparently, according to him, we were never broken up. Just on a break. Whatever the hell that means,” I say.
* * *
We ride the rest of the way to Grand Central in silence. My mind drifts back to Tristan, unwillingly. I still don’t completely understand the difference between a break and breakup, nor do I really care. I’m not sure if I’m down to be on this break, whatever it is. All I know is that I’m looking forward to going on this trip and forgetting all about Tristan and everything that has happened this weekend. I need to dance, drink a little too much, and let go of all this crap.
The three of us meet up with Tea and Tanner inside Grand Central. As we walk toward them, I smile at the fact that all girls seemed to have over-packed and both of the guys under-packed. Tea makes all the introductions as soon as we come up.
Tanner is definitely hot. He’s about 6 foot 4 with gorgeous eyes and lustrous hair. His dark hair matches his dark eyes and his five o’clock shadow makes him look mysterious. He’s three years older than Dylan. And while Dylan often comes off cocky, Tanner seems confident and self-assured. Perhaps it’s something that Dylan will grow into in time.
Tanner and Tea make a cute couple. He helps her with her bags on the way to the train and gives her a peck on the top of her head as we wait. I’m suddenly really thankful that Peyton decided not to come. They’re the only couple here and the balance of power is definitely on the singles. It would not be the case if Peyton were here.
Everyone gets to know each other during the two-and-a-half-hour train ride to Atlantic City and it feels like we’re old friends by the time we arrive in the hotel suite that Tea and Tanner got for our stay.
“Are you sure you two don’t want us to get our own hotel room?” Juliet asks.
“No, of course, not,” Tea says a little too fast. I notice that Tanner isn’t so quick to vote for everyone staying at the suite. “That’s why we got the suite. So there was room for everyone.”
Well, almost everyone. The plan is that Tea and T
anner get the bedroom, which is separated from the living room with two French doors. And the three of us sleep on the couches in the living room. There are two long couches, one for Juliet and I, and Dylan will sleep on the floor.
“As long as I’m not the one sleeping on the floor, I’m fine,” Juliet announces and starts to unpack her bag.
“This is going to be a fun night,” Juliet says in front of the bathroom mirror.
The three of us cram ourselves into the bathroom and share it. Unfortunately, there are only two plugs – one short of how many we need. Tea is blow-drying her hair and I’m flat-ironing my hair. Juliet, who’s planning on curling hers, waits patiently for her turn while applying false lashes.
Both Tea and Juliet came on this trip prepared. Not just in terms of the clothes they had packed, but also with their makeup kits. Juliet’s makeup bag can be a whole separate carryon bag. Tea’s isn’t so big, but it unfolds and once it’s all unfolded, it puts mine to shame.
I only packed a small Ziplock bag of only what I need. Now, I’m starting to think that I need a lot of more. After Juliet and Tea unpack their supplies on the counter, it looks like the backstage of a Victoria Secret show. They both have so many tools and brushes that I don’t even know what they’re all for.
“So you know they have eyebrow extensions now, right?” Juliet asks Tea.
“Yes, I know. I saw it on Instagram. Aren’t they amazing?” Tea asks.
“I’d love to get some. I think I over-plucked mine a little bit in high school.”
They both stare at their eyebrows in the mirror. I’m suddenly become super self-conscious of my own eyebrows. Perhaps, they’re not up to snuff.
“Well, not everyone can have naturally beautiful brows like Alice,” Tea adds.
“I know, right? They’re amazing!”
I roll my eyes. “A few years ago, they were too bushy, but now they’re apparently just right.”
“Well, a few years ago, everyone was wearing low-rise jeans and showing their hip bones. And now, it’s all about high rise,” Juliet says.
“Yeah, that’s the cool thing about fashion. It changes all the time,” Tea adds.
“That’s also the stressful thing about fashion,” I add. “It changes all the time.”
I free up one plug for Juliet to plug her curling iron into and go to the living room. I don’t contour my face – just put on some foundation, eyeliner, mascara, eye shadow and lipstick. That’s enough for me.
There’s a knock at the door. When I open it, I see Tanner with a bag of alcohol and a case of beer. Since he’s the only one of us who can legally drink, he was sent out to get everything for the pre-game.
“Pre-gaming is about to commence!” Dylan announces.
Pre-gaming is a very important tradition in college. Since most of us aren’t legally able to buy drinks, we use the time before we go out to get a little drunk. Plus, the drinks are way cheaper this way. Dylan asks everyone what they want. I ask for a martini. Forty-five minutes later, just when we’re all ready to leave and I’m finally done with it, I’m already feeling like I had a little bit too much. Unfortunately, I keep drinking.
12
I open my eyes. My head is pounding as if someone is smashing on the drums with all their might a millimeter away from my eardrums. A slither of light peeks in through the blackout curtains and my eyes can barely handle it.
“Oh my God,” I whisper. My throat itches. I cough and feel the nightstand for something to drink. My hands lands on a glass. I bring it to my lips. And then take a sniff.
Please don’t be alcohol, I say to myself. It’s not. Just water. Whew. I drink the whole glass. Finally, I manage to open my eyes a little wider. The room is pretty dark, but the light still pierces my eyes as if it’s a sword. I cover my eyes with my arm and look around.
Where the hell am I?
I’m sitting in a tall bed. There are suitcases all around. And French doors across from me. The place does not look familiar, however.
My eyes dart to one side and I spot the bathroom. Carefully, I get up and walk to the bathroom. I don’t put on the lights, but I do look at myself in the mirror. I’m a mess. And not even a hot mess. My hair is completely out of place. Crumpled and sad. My make up is all smeared and I have ugly raccoon eyes. I wipe my mouth – lipstick residue comes off on the back of my hand.
“Where is this?” I whisper.
My eyes adjust to the muted light enough for me to stop protecting them with my hand. I look around the bathroom. It’s familiar and foreign at the same time. I feel like I’ve been here before, but not often. This is not our bathroom back at the dorm. And then I see it. My tiny, bright pink, travel-sized flat iron. And it hits me. I’m at the hotel. We’re in Atlantic City. But for some reason I’m in the room. Weren’t Tea and Tanner supposed to sleep here?
I come back into the room. What the hell am I doing sleeping here? And everyone else sleeping there? I search my mind for answers. But it all comes up blank. I can’t remember a thing!
“Oh shit, why is it so bright in here?” I hear someone say.
The voice startles me. It’s quiet, but it’s definitely not coming from the outside.
It’s coming from the bed!
Please don’t be Tanner.
Please don’t be Tanner.
Please don’t be Tanner.
When he moves the cover from his face and sits up in bed, I see that it’s not Tanner.
It’s Dylan.
“Dylan? What are you doing here?” I ask.
“Stop yelling! My head is killing me.”
I give him a moment to collect his thoughts. He gets up and pulls the blackout shades shut. The slither of light is gone. My head feels a little better.
“What are you wearing?” Dylan asks me.
I don’t know. I didn’t even think to look. I look down. For some reason, I’m wearing a white bathing suit cover up. It’s light and airy and has tiny little spaghetti straps.
“I don’t know,” I say, shrugging. What I don’t reveal is that I’m also not wearing underwear.
Dylan sits up more in bed. He’s not wearing a shirt either.
“Are you wearing any clothes?” I ask him, cautiously.
He rubs the back of his head. Then looks down.
“No.” He shakes his head. He acts like it’s no big deal. Just gives out a little sigh. Clearly, he’s not fully understanding the magnitude of this situation.
“Oh shit,” I say. “Do you think we…?”
I can’t finish the sentence. No, we couldn’t have. Right? I try to remember something, anything, from last night. Why did I have to drink so much? The last thing I remember is staggering up some stairs at a casino (which one?) with Juliet. My phone said it was 1:30 am. Or maybe 3:30? I have no idea.
“Do you think we what?” Dylan asks.
His mind isn’t working well. Either that, or he’s particularly dense.
“I’m not wearing underwear,” I decide to inform him. “And you’re naked.”
“Oh shit,” he whispers. The expression on his face says it all. Peyton. They just got back together. This is Valentine’s Day, for crying out loud.
“I can’t remember anything,” he says.
“Me neither.” I shake my head.
“You can’t tell Peyton about this. Promise me that you won’t. She’ll never forgive me.”
I nod.
“No, you have to promise,” he says. He’s speaking really fast. It sounds like he’s about to hyperventilate.
“I promise. I don’t want Tristan to know either,” I say.
Oh my God, Tristan! This is the first time he had popped into my head this whole morning.
“Oh wow, Tristan,” Dylan mumbles. They are roommates. And really good friends. This doesn’t look right, not at all. “But maybe nothing happened,” Dylan says. “I mean, we don’t remember a thing. So maybe we were too drunk.”
“Yeah, maybe,” I mumble. “I hope you’re right.”
> I find my underwear under the bed and put it on. I turn around as Dylan puts on his clothes. I don’t want to tell him this, but this is going to be a hard one to hide. Juliet is outside and she’s our roommate. And not just our roommate, Tristan’s roommate. And if we did sleep together, the news is just too juicy for her to keep quiet. And if Tristan finds out, I’m sure that Peyton will too. He won’t be in a very forgiving mood. Besides, I’m not even sure if I want to keep it from Tristan. We’re not really together anymore.
Dylan and I walk out of the room with hung heads. I’m actually tiptoeing. I hope that everyone is still asleep. Unfortunately, they’re not. There’s a room service cart in the middle of the room and everyone’s having breakfast.
“Wow, look who’s up!” Juliet announces to the whole room. Tanner stops pouring his cup of coffee. Tea looks up from her magazine.
“Hey.” I smile and wave. “Morning.”
Without saying a word, I walk over to the opened box of donuts and grab one with cherry filling spilling out of its side. Sugar isn’t the best way to start the day, but I need a pick-me-up. A big one.
“So…how does it feel?” Tea asks.
Dylan and I look at each other. He has a confused look on his face. I’m equally perplexed.
“What?” he asks.
Okay, so maybe we had slept together, even though neither of us remembers. But how is this their business exactly? It’s not, but it doesn’t stop them from gossiping. I hate to admit it, but if Dylan and Tea slept together, I’d be all over it as well.
“I can’t believe you two did that last night.” Tea shakes her head. She has a mischievous smile on her face.
“We don’t remember a thing,” I finally admit. “Why were we sleeping in that room anyway? Wasn’t that supposed to be your room?”
“Yes, but after what happened…we just thought it would be more appropriate,” Tea says with a shrug.
Why is she being so mysterious?
“What happened?” I ask. I search all of my memories from last night in an effort to find one that would explain that. But nothing comes to mind.
Auctioned to Him 6: Damage Page 128