Samantha:Because I needed to make sure I was right. Now that I know the situation, I’m going to tell you what to do next.
Maria:Grrrrl, if you don’t stop running your mouth, I’ll say something that’s going to get me fired.
Samantha:Call the hospital your mother was at and ask for an itemized bill. Then, contact every attending physician’s office and ask them for the same. After they’re received, request medical records from all sources, and forward them to me, along with your mother’s insurance information.
Maria:Why would I go through the trouble or give you any of those things?
Samantha:Because I’m a fucking shark, Maria, and I smell blood.
TWENTY-ONE
Toxic
I should be happy.
My girl is with me, I’m about to become a father, and my mom made it through surgery.
But for every sliver of good news, there’s an avalanche of chaos.
When my sister said the words:six-hundred-thousand dollars,I thought it was a joke. We were assured my momma’s procedure was minimally invasive and most people go straight home afterward. We never asked about the cost because we would never deny our mother needed care. Plus, she had insurance.
With this new bill, there’s no way I’ll be able to afford the RV I’ve been looking at. What’s worse, I’m not sure I can help Samantha as much as I’d intended.
I’m left in a no-win situation. I can’t deny my child, but in order to help out financially, I’ll have to be on the road constantly, dancing every show.
Which means I’ll never truly be there for Samantha and our baby.
The revelation guts me, but I see no way around it. I could pick up a few poker tournaments, but every moment I spend away from the bus gives Carl reason to see me as unreliable.
“Hey, if you need a spotter, I’m here for you.”
I turn to see Jacek waving at me, which is odd. Since I brought Samantha to the bus, most of the Hunks have been stone cold. I know it won’t go on forever, but it’s enough to make me rethink a few friendships.
“No, I’m good,” I finally tell him, finishing up a set of bicep curls.
While recovering, I look up local card events, but most of them are for prizes of no more than ten thousand dollars, which simply isn’t enough.
There is a tournament a few months away in Las Vegas with a five hundred thousand dollar grand prize. It’s not enough to completely alleviate my debt, but it will help me get ahead of the avalanche.
The entry fee is five thousand dollars, and prizes are only awarded to first, second, and third place. I’ve never played in a tournament with such high stakes, but maybe it’s time I set my sights higher.
Perhaps I can even convince Samantha to come with me and we can explore the city.
I take a screenshot and send it to her.
Toxic:Care for a mini vacay?
Samantha:If you win that, little droid is getting the most expensive diapers and a wet nurse.
Toxic:Only the best for little droid, which doesn’t involve anyone else’s boobs but yours.
Samantha:We’ll table this discussion for now, but expect me to be very forceful and intimidating.
Toxic:Oh, baby—don’t tempt me with a good time.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Natasha approach Jacek.
“I need to go pick up some food and Slay is busy. Could you come with me?”
