I nod and flash him a resounding,Godspeed,in reply. And then I’m gone, heading back to Henn to find out the latest on Hazel.
But Alonso finds me before I’ve reached Henn and hands me my refilled drink.
“Thanks.”
“No need to thank me,” Alonso says. “You’re the one who bought it.” He motions to Ethan and Corinne at the bar. “What the hell, man? I’m the birthday boy. If you didn’t want her, why not introduce her tomeas a birthday present?”
“Because she’s an actress, and you sell life insurance.”
“All the more reason to help a brother out.”
“She’s out of your league, Alonso. Actresses don’t date insurance salesmen, any more than squirrels date bumblebees.”
As I gulp my drink, Alonso babbles a bunch of shit I don’t care about. So, when my drink is done, I ditch Alonso and stride over to Henn. Not surprisingly, he’s still tapping furiously on his phone, looking worried and frazzled.
“Any update?”
“Yeah. Thankfully, the doctor isn’t too worried. She told Hannah exactly what to do. So, she’s heading home with Hazel now.”
“Keep me posted.”
Henn runs a hand over his face, looking distraught. “I’ve got to go, man. I’ll say a quick goodbye to Alonso. Do me a favor and say my goodbyes to everyone else.”
“You bet.”
We head over to Alonso. Henn says, “Hey, man, I’m sorry, but my baby has a fever and I need to go home.”
“The last flight to LA has already left,” Alonso says. “Why don’t you go back first thing in the morning?”
Without hesitation, as Henn and Alonso continue talking, I grab my phone and start making arrangements.
“I’m gonna rent a car and drive,” Henn says. “This time of night should be smooth sailing. I’ll make it home in four and a half hours. Perfect timing for my wife to crash and for me to take over for her with Hazel.”
Henn turns to me, clearly intending to hug me goodbye. But I put up an index finger, asking him to hold on for a second. Quickly, I finalize what I’m doing on my phone, and then look up.
“No rental car required,” I say. “I just booked you a car and driver, so you can sleep on the way home. It’ll be at the front of the club in exactly fifteen minutes.”
“Oh my God, Reed. It didn’t even occur to me to do that! I’ll pay you back.”
“Don’t be stupid. Go get your suitcase from upstairs and meet me out front. I’ll wait outside for the car, in case it gets here before you’re out front.”
“You’re the best. Thanks, brother.”
With that, Henn heads toward the front exit of the club, looking like a man on a mission.
Alonso shakes his head as he watches Henn’s departing frame. “What the fuck has happened to all of us? Faraday couldn’t come to Vegas because his wife is in her third trimester and he won’t leave her, even for one night. Henn is running off to hold his sick baby, even though his wife is already there. Cory stayed home because his wife’ssisteris about to have twins. Jake is standing over there, showing everyone a video of his baby’s first fucking steps. And you just now turned down a smoking hot actress with the most perfect tits I’ve ever seen because you have agirlfriendwaiting for you at home? Seriously now, am I the only one whose balls are still attached to his body?”
“Fuck you,” I mutter. “You were always trash in college, and now you’ve grown up to be aPeter Panasshole motherfucker. I never liked you, Alonso. Not even in college. Not even when I was high on blow. So, why am I here? Why am Ihostingthis birthday party for you?”
Alonso laughs heartily, apparently thinking I’m joking. But I’m not.Why am I wasting my precious time on this planet doinganythingI don’t want to do? More to the point, why am I doinganythingthat takes me away fromGeorgina?
“I’m going outside to wait for Henn’s limo,” I toss out, and then stride toward the front door without waiting for Alonso’s reply.
Outside in the warm Las Vegas night, I bum a cigarette off the security guy out front, even though I don’t smoke. Just as I’m stubbing the cigarette out, Henn’s limo comes. Two minutes after that, Henn appears with his suitcase, looking frayed. I give my sweet best friend a bear hug and tell him to keep me posted. And then, I send Henn off into the night, on his white horse.
Deciding I’d rather have FaceTime sex with Georgina in my room than return to the excruciating birthday party, I begin crossing the street toward my hotel. But just as I’m heading into the lobby, my phone buzzes with a text from CeeCee that stops me dead in my tracks.
CeeCee: I saw on Instagram you’re in Vegas. Francois and I are here, too, for his friend’s birthday dinner tomorrow night. Let me know if you have time for a drink.
