Page 167 of Dirty Like Zane
I sat down on the stairs thistime.
We were at the Crystal, on the fabulous sweeping staircase in the hotel lobby that led up to the second floor and the ballroom, and Katie had stopped again. It was taking us like ten minutes to get up half a flight ofstairs.
“Just asec…”
“Who the hell isit?”
“Um. It’sJessa.”
“Please don’t tell me she’s runninglate.”
“Nope.”
“Good.” I sighed and checked my phone. Seven-thirteen.
I was supposed to have Katie here at seven o’clock, and for some reason she was really dragging herheels.
As the guest of honor at this thing, she was acting reallyweird.
Now that Dirty had reached the end of the North American leg of the tour and we were all home for a few days following the Vancouver show, we were having a little party for Jesse and Katie, to celebrate their big news—that Katie was pregnant. She was three months along now and everyone had known for a while, but it just seemed like a good time to celebrateit.
Jessa, being Katie’s sister-in-law, had the honor of handling most of the planning, including booking out the beautiful ballroom at the Crystal for the party. Probably a bigger room than was necessary, but I was sure the party would be top-notch.
I mean, I could onlyguess.
I was still trying not to be disgruntled about the fact that I wasn’t asked to help plan theparty.
Atall.
Because, you know, it wasn’t like planning was my thing or anything. Seemed like everyone had forgotten about that particular talent of mine, because no one seemed to want my input. Onanything.
I wasn’t hurt about it, but I was kindahurt.
At least I’d been able to keep myselfbusy.
Officially, we all had a few days off before we left for Europe, but the women’s shelter I volunteered at whenever I was home didn’t exactly take days off. I was always welcome there, and I’d put in some long hours the last few days—which had helped keep my mind off the whole partything.
Still killed me just a little that all that planning was going on and I wasn’t a part ofit.
“Okay,” Katie said, finally. “We’re good togo.”
“Alrighty.” I got to my feet and up we went the last several steps to the big hallway outside the ballroom. Giant set of ornate double doors, closed, and total silence from inside, but maybe the doors were soundproofed? Definitely didn’t sound like there were a few dozen people in there waiting forus.
And no sign whatsoever of Jesse. Wasn’t he supposed to meet us at thedoor?
It was more than a little weird, actually, that we hadn’t run into anyone on our way in. Not one party guest in thelobby.
And I was starting to get this horrible feeling on Katie’sbehalf…
What if everyone was running late? Or something had gonewrong?
Theyreallyshould’ve had me involved in planning this thing. Maybe they’d know better now, for next time. Good thing; if I was shut out of planning Jessa’s bridal shower this summer, it was gonna getugly.
I paused just outside the doors, feeling weird about this. Where was Jesse? Zane was supposed to bringhim.
“Just a sec,okay?”
“Sure.” Katie stood dutifully by while I typed furiously on my phone, sending a text to Zane:Where the fuck areyou?
