"Yeah, just wishing I could have a margarita too.What looks good to you?"I pick up the menu to hide from her, at least for a moment."Henry, what are you going to get?"Many of our other team members have started to arrive.Ophelia stands up."Well, we’re going to head to our table and let you boys enjoy your pregame bonding experience."
Rachel joins her, margarita sloshing over the side of the glass.I wonder what she’d do if I licked it off her hand.Probably run screaming into the void.I look back at the menu, but the words aren’t making much sense.
Finally, I glance up to see Rachel peering down at me, her eyebrows knit in confusion."Are you sure you’re okay?"
"I’m fine.You have a good time tonight."
"Um, okay.I will."And with that, Rachel and Ophelia leave to go to their table across the restaurant.I can see them throughout dinner, talking and laughing.This is just what Rachel needs.A good time.She needs to be carefree.She needs to live life, not just for her sister, but for herself.
"Doyle.DOYLE!"Antonio Caster-Naples is yelling my name from the other end of the table.
"What?"
"Who’s your friend over there?"He nods toward Rachel."You haven’t gone ClikClak official with anyone yet.What’s the story?"
I shrug, trying to appear casual."There’s no story.There’s nothing to announce.We’re just friends."
"Does she know that?Didn’t I see her with your family at the last home game?"
Why is he paying attention to these things?
Antonio needs to drop this."She’s noneya," I say.
"What’s noneya?"
"None ya damn business," I all but growl.I glance over at her again.She’s watching me.When she sees me looking, she gives a little wave.That’s the margarita talking.I can tell already.
Antonio says, "Well, maybe you can introduce me to yourfriendthen.She’s—"
"Enough, Antonio," Landon Stubbs interjects."Leave Doyle alone."
"Aw, but it’s fun to watch him get all riled up."
I ignore him and turn to Xavier."Henry, I know the girls are planning on a night on the town, but do you think they’re okay doing that?Rachel seems a little tipsy already, and she’s never been here before.I’m worr—"
"You’ve got your knickers in a knot over nothing.The girls will be fine.Ophelia’s going to ring me as soon as they’re back in their room.She won’t let anything happen to Rachel.Don’t worry."
I wish it were as easy as that.
Chapter 25: Rachel
Vegas is … exhausting.
I’m going to need at least a week to recover from all this stimulation.It’s bright and loud everywhere.I can practically feel my blood pressure rising with all those fluorescent lights.Except for meeting Ophelia and getting to see TJ at the restaurant for those few minutes, I wish I hadn’t come.
I’m trying not to think about the way he was looking at my legs and shoes, and how he offered Ophelia $500 so I could keep them.What was that all about?Maybe he has a secret shoe fetish.
Ophelia and I lasted all of fifteen minutes in the Luxor Casino before we decided to blow that off for dessert at the Milk Bar.
It was much more our speed.
It also made Ophelia decide to write a romance about dueling ice cream companies with an enemies-to-lovers trope rather than a mob romance.I tell her about the Doyle family post-game ice cream tradition, thinking it would be a great subplot in her story.
"What do you think he meant about the shoes?"I finally ask her, kicking the torture devices off my feet.These were not meant for walking or standing.
"Exactly what you think it means."
"But he just wants to be my friend."
