Page 58 of Whiskey and Regret
“Emergency kit?” Her face bent into a frown.
“A cosmetic bag with pads or tampons and some wipes. Maybe some Tylenol or something. Your mother hasn’t gotten you something like that yet?”
“Um no. She hasn’t even talked to me about it. Whenever I try to talk to her, she changes the topic. I think it makes her nervous.”
“Got it. Well, when you come home I’ll do your makeupandwe’ll make a period kit.”
“Ugh. Now I really want to come home,” she whined.
“I laughed a little and assured her that she’d be home in her bed later on tonight. It was enough to keep her satiated before we ended the call.
After I hung up, I got dressed and pretended like I wasn’t picking out my outfit based on what I thought Evander would like. All the voices in my head knew that shit was a lie.
I picked out a pink and black dress with spaghetti straps that hit a little above my knee. I opted for no bra or panties because let’s be real, I was trying my best to catch more of that glorious devil dick Evander gave me last night. Just thinking about it made me ache in all my private places.
When I was done getting ready, I went downstairs and cut up fruit for breakfast. I went straight to Sunshine and sat on my stool, scrolling through my phone while I ate chunks of fresh pineapple, grapes, and melon. I stopped scrolling immediately when I saw one of my Instagram videos circulating on Facebook.
“What the hell?” I clicked on it and watched as I played the harp. It was one of the dozens of Instagram videos I’d posted of myself playing but they never got many likes. Maybe a hundred or so.
This video had been posted earlier in the morning and was already up to 5,000 reactions and 2,000 shares. That’s why my notifications had exploded this morning.
The caption under the video simply said, “Someone find her for me. I’d pay her to play at my wedding.” I blinked repeatedly once I saw who posted it.
Nerves rushed through my body making my fingers and hands feel loose and pointless. I damn near dropped my phone when Navy called.
“Xari, you’re viral! Have you looked at social media today?”
“Yeah…I just saw. One of my videos is on Facebook but…”
“Not just Facebook. Go look at Instagram.” I put Navy on speaker while I hopped over to Instagram. I balked at the thousands of notifications. People were tagging me left and right. “Girl, Damon Philips posted your video and now it’s going crazy!”
“Fuck. I have no idea what to do with this information, Navy. What do I do?” I asked, shooting to my feet.
“Find out how to get in contact with him! He’s looking for you! If you could play at his wedding…oh my god, Xari.”
Damon Philips was one of the most famous basketball players in the country. He was officially in the conversation about who was the greatest of all time. People mentioned him in the same breath as Michael Jordan and Lebron James andheshared my fucking video.
“He can’t be serious though. Maybe he was just showing love.”
“Girl. He’s engaged. It’s not outside the realm of possibility. Have you checked your DM’s?” Navy quizzed.
“No. I got off the phone with Frankie, made breakfast, and sat down at my harp.”
“Check them!”
“I need to breathe. I need some coffee and some weed right now.”
“Really, Xari?”
“What? I’ve never experienced anything like this. I’m freaking out.” I shook the nerves out of my hands and set my bowl of fruit to the side. I’d never been so nervous I lost my appetite. Food was life.
“I’m coming over. Are you at Senator Freeman’s house?” My body jumped to life vibrating like a plucked string.
“Um…yeah,” I said, blinking. My mind replayed last night and I was already hungry for more.
“Cool. I’m gonna drop by.”
“Okay. Bring weed.”
