Page 1 of Huge Pucking Play

Chapter 1

Cyn

Igrimace at my reflection in the casino bathroom mirror. Bloodshot eyes. Smudged mascara. Disheveled hair.

"God, I look like I've been through a wind tunnel," I mutter, reaching for a paper towel.

I dab at my face, willing away the fatigue after my long flight in the middle seat. Damn, these bright fluorescent lights are unforgiving.

"Come on, Lockhart. Pull it together."

Fishing in my clutch, I find my favorite lip gloss. The familiar strawberry scent is comforting as I swipe it on.

"That's better," I say, smacking my lips. "Sort of."

I smooth back my blonde waves, tucking a few strands behind my ear. I'd had to take a later flight than the rest of my friends for Sophie’s bachelorette weekend in Vegas. I'd come straight from the airport to the Excalibur.

"Please don't let them want to party all night," I whisper to myself, gathering my things.

The thought of celebrating my best friend's upcoming nuptials fills me with warmth, but exhaustion tugs at my limbs.

Squaring my shoulders, I stride out of the restroom. The cacophony of slot machines immediately assaults my senses.

I scan the sea of bodies looking for Sophie and the other girls, but they are nowhere to be seen. The growing feeling of panic flutters in my chest.

"Okay, don't freak out," I tell myself. "Just call them."

I dig around in my purse for my phone, but it’s not there. My stomach drops.

"No, no, no," I mutter, rifling through my purse. "This can't be happening."

I spin on my heel, preparing to race back to the bathroom. Just as I do that, my stiletto catches on the plush carpet and snaps clean off.

You’ve got to be kidding me right now.

I rip both my shoes off my feet since I have no other choice and practically sprint back into the bathroom.

When I get there, I frantically look for my phone. I glance at the countertop where I washed up. Nothing. I look in the stall where I peed. Nothing. I look in every stall that is open just in case. Nothing.

"This is a nightmare," I groan, slumping against the wall.

How am I going to find my friends if I don’t have a phone? Where are we even staying tonight? I'd been so caught up in just getting to the casino, I had forgotten to get hotel details.

Heading barefoot to the lost and found while trying to avoid gross stuff on the floor, desperation claws at my throat.

"Hi, um, has anyone turned in an iPhone?" I ask the attendant, my voice trembling.

The disheveled man tears his eyes away from his own phone and shakes his shaggy head. "Sorry. You’re out of luck. Maybe check again later."

My shoulders slump. "Thanks anyway."

I gingerly walk away, mind racing. What now?

The casino traffic has picked up and there are so many people here now that I can barely walk around looking for my friends.

I scan the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of Sophie’s red dress or hear her unmistakable laugh. Nothing.

"Come on, Cyn, think," I mutter to myself. "Where would they go?"

---