“Are you okay? Don’t bullshit me. I hate when you act all tough and in turn, I try to act just as tough. I can’t imagine what you must have gone through. We’re both avoiding the ‘R’ word but that’s kind of what it was.”
“He was drugged too. We were both victims in this.”
“Are you sure? I mean, how do you know he didn’t spike your drink?”
“The NSO thinks I did it.”
Beth paled. “What?”
“I guess I was the only one who sat next to him.”
“That’s insane. You’d never drug a guy to have sex. What is wrong with them? You were drugged too.”
“I know.”
“I’ll call them tomorrow myself and set them straight.”
“Don’t.” She was instantly fearful. “They were taking me to Homeland when I slipped away.”
“What?”
“Yeah. I don’t know if they were just going to get me medical treatment or arrest me. Smiley seemed to believe me when I said I didn’t do it but I’m not sure about the guys with him. I overheard two of them talking when I woke up in the backseat. It scared me.”
“We’ll hire a lawyer.”
“They don’t know who I am. I mean, I left my purse in the hotel room and only told them my name was Vanni. The room was in Mable’s name. That’s Gregory’s assistant. I couldn’t even sign for coffee this morning. I was just a guest in her room.”
“That’s good. Maybe we should go to the police and tell them what happened.”
“No!” Vanni was horrified at the idea. “I just want to forget.”
“Your shit is still at the hotel. Does Carl even know you’re gone?”
“Crap. No. He might raise hell in the morning when I don’t show up for breakfast.”
Beth released her and stood. She walked to the dresser and lifted her cell phone. “I’ve always got your back.” She called a number and put her finger over her lip to motion Vanni to silence.
“Hi, Carl. It’s Beth. I just wanted to let you know I picked up Vanni and she’s home with me now.” She paused. “She ate something and got a bad case of food poisoning. She didn’t want to bother you since she knows this was an important weekend for your father.” She paused again, listening, and stared at Vanni.
Vanni was grateful. She did worry when her best friend gritted her teeth.
“Just have her things packed up and get someone to drop them off at our apartment tomorrow. She’s sleeping now that she puked her guts up. Thanks for being so concerned for her health and not obsessed about some stupid breakfast she’ll miss.” Beth hung up.
“He took it that badly?” Vanni suspected he would.
“It’s official. He’s a total asshole. He didn’t even ask how you were but ranted about some press photos you were supposed to take with him at breakfast. He said it’s going to make him and his father look bad. I just threw that in at the end so he felt like an ass, if that’s even possible. You dodged a bullet with that loser.”
Vanni nodded.
“It’s going to work out.”
She really wanted to believe that.
“Don’t look so sad. Carl isn’t worth it. I don’t think you ever really loved him. It was just the idea of the white picket fence.” Beth glanced around. “Bright side, we’ll save a lot of money on this new place since we downgraded to a one-bedroom so I wouldn’t be stuck paying for that two-bedroom after you moved out. Maybe we can use the spare money and finally take a trip to Hawaii. That would be cool.”
“I’m so sorry, Beth.”
Her best friend sat on the other bed a few feet away. “For what? I’m the one who got to pick this place. I love it. It’s cozy. I like sharing a room with you. It’s like summer camp every night.” She crossed her legs and leaned back against a fluffy pillow. “Remember? We’d stay up all night and drive those camp counselors insane with our giggling.”
It lightened Vanni’s mood. Those were some of her fondest memories. “We don’t have to share a bathroom with eighteen other girls. I hated those hikes in the middle of the night just to pee.”
“Or the mosquito bites on our asses from those suckers hiding in the toilet.”
They smiled at each other.
Beth spoke first. “Tell me your deepest, darkest secret and I’ll tell you mine.”
It was a game they used to play. Vanni licked her lips and said the first thing that came to mind. “I really liked Smiley.”
“Oh hon.”
“He was so sweet, Beth.” Tears filled her eyes. “He should have been pissed, thinking I drugged him, but he wasn’t. I was scared and in pain but he took care of me. I didn’t have to have sex with him but I wanted to. I initiated it.”