Page 2 of The No Try Zone
They all seem a little confused, but that changes the instant I raise my left hand to the camera.
“Is that aring?” Kari asks. And look at that: I’ve managed to actually shock her.
“You said you were in Vegas?” Allyson chimes in, all business.
“Tell us what happened,” Elodie demands.
But all I can do is repeat the same thing that’s been circling in my head the past ten minutes. “He’s not here. He’snot here.”
“Who?” they all ask.
“Matthew!” I choke his name out.
“Who’s Matthew?” Kari presses.
I’m about to snarl awho do you think he is, Kari,but Allyson beats me to it.
“By the sound of it, it’s her damnhusband, Kari, keep up,” she snaps.
“Okay, shit,” Kari breathes, holding a hand up in apology. “Calm down.”
Allyson glares at the screen, and I’m grateful for it. Someone needs to be mad, and I’m too rattled to be angry right now. “Don’t start with me,” she tells Kari. Her gaze shifts to me. “Sam, what’s his last name?”
That is such a great question. Really, really great question. Wish I knew. I have the vaguest memory of it starting with aTh, maybe? I whimper.
Finally, Elodie speaks. “Where are youexactly?”
Wordlessly, I flip the camera to pan the suite. It’s beautiful, decorated in creams and blues. I keep going, showing them the view outside the floor to ceiling windows. The Strip is directly outside, relatively empty of people and cars at this time of morning, but still packed with buildings I can’t name. The giant Ferris wheel juts into the sky, unmoving, and the Sphere is lit up in bright colors that make me wince. In the distance, purple-hued mountains rise to meet a clear blue sky. The sun is bright, bathing the scene in a cheery yellow that makes me want to puke. “I’m at the Fontainebleau.”
Kari whistles. “Okay, queen.”
I flip the camera back to me. “It was just for the night.” That much I remember. Did I win it? Didhe? Something about a VIP thing?
This is why I have one unbreakable rule: one drink. Just one. Which I clearly broke last night, big time.
What could have made me break my rule? Was he that charming?
Why can’t I remember?
“What’s his last name?” Allyson repeats.
All I can do is grimace.
“Are you sure you’re married?” Kari asks dubiously.
I bite my lip. It’s another incredible question that I can’t accurately answer. “I think so?”
“What was the name of the chapel?” Elodie presses.
There’s no stopping the groan that comes out. “I don’t remember.” There’s a reason I don’t have more than one drink: I make impulsive decisions that result in bad things happening.
Clearly.
“You had to get a license,” Allyson says. “Is that in the room somewhere?”
“No!” My eyes fill with unbidden tears, and I can’t be bothered to care. There is nothing in this room. No sign of Matthew, no proof he evenexistsoutside of a dubious picture, never mind a bloody license. I barely sound like myself as I practically screech, “What have I done?”
“Nothing we can’t undo,” Kari says, her voice calm and low. “Right, Allyson?”
