“What the hell?”
“What’s wrong?” Tania yelled from the bathroom.
“You need a shot?”
“No, I’m good!” I called back quickly.
“Hold on just a second, ma’am. I’ll call you right back actually.”
I hung up the phone mid-panic, and my mind immediately went to who I needed to check with first about the missing funds.
I threw on some clothes and stormed out of the room before any of the girls could stop me. I already knew where Josiah was staying. We’d intentionally booked separate hotels so we wouldn’t run into each other in the lobby or anywhere else until the wedding.
When I got to the Bellagio, where he was, I walked straight up to the front desk.
“Hi, I’m Ari Westfield. I’m here to see Josiah. He’s in room 462.”
“Are you listed on the room, ma’am?”
“I don’t know. I booked it for him, but I don’t remember whether I put my name on it. Can I just go up? We’re getting married, and I can’t get in touch with him.”
“Well, we can check the room and give him a call, but we can’t allow anyone upstairs unless they’re listed on the reservation.”
“Wow really?”
“Yes ma’am. It’s hotel policy.”
“Well, can you please at least call him? I really, really need to speak to him.”
“Yes ma’am, no problem.” She typed into the computer and scrolled with the mouse for a few clicks before picking up the phone.
She tried his line several times, but no answer.
“I’m sorry, ma’am.”
“That’s alright, thanks.” I stormed away before I cussed her out or took my frustrations out on the wrong person.
My heart was beating so fast I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
Maybe this is a mistake on the bank's part.Maybe I should call them.
I was dialing the bank’s number, listening to the closed until Monday prompt, when I felt someone tap my shoulder.
“Why the hell do I keep running into you?”
I turned around, and of all people, it was Proctor standing tall, broad, and bowlegged in front of me.
“No, I’m not staying here. I was just here to see my friend.”
“Your friend, huh?” he asked with a slight chuckle.
“You over here creeping? Your nigga not answering, so that’s why you hanging around the lobby?”
“No, it’s nothing like that. I’m just having a few issues with my bank card and trying to figure it out.”
“Issues like what?”
“You're asking a lot of questions for a stranger,” I said sarcastically.
