Betting on You

“Check it out,” Eli said, opening the cabinet where Clark kept his booze.

“Duuuuude.” Austin got a shitty grin on his face as he pointed to the bottle of Jack. “What the fuck is this?”

“Don’t even think about it.” I reached over his head and slammed the cupboard door. “That belongs to the douche, and I’d rather have my nails plucked out than listen to one of his lectures.”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

My phone buzzed, and I pulled it out of my pocket.

Bailey: Is there any way you can come get me?

I hated how happy that made me, knowing she was coming to the party. I hopped onto the counter and texted: I suppose. Where’s your car, Glasses?

Austin pulled a twelve-pack out of his baseball bag and put it in the fridge, and I wondered just how many people those two had told about the party.

Bailey: I’m at the Walgreens on 132nd and Center. I walked here because while my mom and I were having dinner at Zio’s, Scott showed up and PROPOSED.

Holy shit, holy shit. I texted: Did she give him an answer?

Please don’t say yes, I thought.

Bailey: She said yes.

I sent: Fuuuck. You okay, Mitchell?

She wasn’t; I knew she wasn’t. Even though I couldn’t see her, I knew exactly what Bailey’s face looked like at that moment, and it broke my heart.

Bailey: I ran out of the restaurant and now I’m bawling in the pharmacy, begging you for a ride home. That’s okay, right?

Ah. She wasn’t texting because she wanted a ride to my party; she was texting because she needed to be rescued.

Made sense.

I pulled my keys from my pocket and got off the counter. Typed: Absolutely it is. Hang tight—I’m on my way.

“Party’s off,” I said as I slid the phone into my jeans, not making eye contact with either of my friends. “I have to go now.”

“What?” Austin asked, his voice rising in disbelief. “You’re kidding, right?”

“No way, bro,” Eli said, shaking his head and pointing at my chest. “What the hell happened? You are not backing out, you fucking hermit. We’ve already called everyone.”

“I have to, it’s an emergency,” I said, having zero intention of telling them about Bailey. “And I have to go now. Let’s just move it to tomorrow night.”

“Fuck me,” Austin muttered in disgust. “I can’t believe you’re doing this. Is this about Becca?”

“What?” I asked, watching the play of emotion on Austin’s face. He knew he was out of line with that comment, but I could tell he meant it. “What would it have to do with her?”

He shrugged and said in a quieter voice, “You tell me.”

“She texts, and you jump,” Eli said, holding up his hands in the universal I’m innocent pose. “I’m not trying to be the asshole here, but it’s what you do.”

I kind of wanted to hit him, because he was being the asshole, but he was also not wrong.

“I really have to go,” I said, walking past them as I headed for the front door. “Come on. I’ll give you money for alternate plans and we’ll do it tomorrow.”

“This is such bullshit,” Eli growled, sounding almost pouty as he opened the fridge, presumably to grab his beer. “Where the hell am I supposed to take Dana now?”