Page 51 of Faithful

With Gavin in D.C. until Thanksgiving, Amelia can come and go as she pleases and I’m happy that my mother isn’t alone and is doing things. Even if they are illogical, like buying the entire stock of a Dior store.

“We’ll be fine,” Amelia says to reassure me. “I’ll keep my eyes on her and you go have fun.”

I haven’t told anyone except for Leigh and my aunt where I’m going, but Leigh is the only one who knows why I’m going.

Amelia doesn’t but I sense that she’s starting to guess, and I almost feel like telling her but decide against it at the last minute.

Once I say my goodbyes, I drive back to my place and clean out the fridge.

Leigh has tasked me with trashing everything perishable she won’t eat.

I also picked up a proper suitcase from the mall on Wednesday and have been slowly packing it since then.

All I need to do now is throw in my toothbrush and a razor and be on my way.

My plane leaves from Sea-Tac at 3:10 p.m. and I’ve chosen to take an Uber to the airport on account of the daily rates for long-term parking on site being astronomical.

I never had to worry about that shit before, but now that Gavin has cut me off and my check barely covers my rent and bills, I’ve been sort of forced into rebuilding my life.

Long story short, freedom does have its drawbacks.

Also, thank fuck for Leigh.

I would have been living under a bridge if not for her.

The flight from Seattle to Vegas is roughly two hours and thirty minutes and I spend them fantasizing about Kai while listening to Iodine.

Pretty pathetic. I know.

Getting out of Harry Reid International is a challenge. Too many people. Too many confusing signs.

By the time I find the car that Kai arranged for me and leave the airport grounds, it’s ten past six. The drive to my destination would be fairly short if not for the evening traffic.

At 6:46 p.m. I’m dropped off in front of a tall building that’s drowning in lights.

I’m a bit wired from the anticipation and my brain has conveniently forgotten every single thing on my itinerary. I don’t give much thought to the group of girls in all black crowding the lobby or the fact that I just stepped foot into one of the most iconic hotels on the Strip and I don’t even know which one. Not that it matters.

New real estate springs up in this city like mushrooms after a rain, a skyscraper every two months. Who cares to remember the name? Am I right?

But that’s not the point.

The point is that I have the entire week to myself and I’m going to spend this week with Kai exploring this thing that’s us.

Basically, life is weird.

* * *

I scan my reflection staring back at me from the sleek surface of the elevator taking me up to the thirty-second floor.

I’m the only passenger, my hand grasping the plastic handle of my luggage, my face obscured by the visor of my baseball cap. The hood of my sweatshirt is thrown over it for good measure. If there are any security cameras in this hotel (Who am I kidding? Of course there are), I’m not so easy to recognize.

Although I’m not the one being chased by the paparazzi.

My heartbeat is fast and loud in my ears, and everything makes sense one minute and none whatsoever the next.

The ride itself seems to be taking forever.

When the elevator doors finally slide open, I’m a nervous wreck. I step out and into the hallway and read the numbers on the wall.

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