Page 33 of The Mark (The Players 2)

“You boys and your bets.” Laney shookherhead.

The elevator stopped on my floor. When the door opened, I laid my hand on her lower back and guided her to my room. Once I opened the door, she dashed inside, ripping the dress off over her head even as she walked. Then she wadded it up. I followed a good six feet behind her and saw she’d set it inthesink.

“You shower. I’ll take care of thisforyou.”

“Please, like you know how to clean linen.” Shewinked.

I shook my head. “Not even a little, but I have a lifetime of experience with calling the front desk. And I’m sure they’ll be more than happy to send housekeeping and get this laundered for us.” Igrinned.

“Well, I’m not going to argue with that reasoning.” She sighed and started thewater.

I exited the room because this wasn’t the way I was going to see her naked for the first time. In my mind, when I finally did, it would be a wildly romantic experience, not one brought about by my childhood friend puking on her for the second time in two nights. I shook my head and wandered over to the hotel phone on the nightstand when my cell in my pocket began to ring. Upon pulling it from my pocket, I discovered the caller was Ty. With a sigh, I answered. “What,Ty?”

“I’m sorry.” He spoke so quietly, I thought Imisheardhim.

“What did you say?” I couldn’t hide the confusion in myvoice.

“Kate reprimanded me the instant you two disappeared.” He paused for a moment and I could hear her voice in the background. “She’d like to know how Laney’sdoing.”

“She’s in the shower, recovering nicely, I think, considering the circumstances.” Iscowled.

“She is.” He sighed. “She’s nothing like who I thoughtshewas.”

“I could say the same about you,” Igrumbled.

Ty groaned. “About that. Listen, I’m sorry. I really am. Kate pointed out that while I’m constantly proving my devotion to her, I’m doing a fine job of alienating my friends. And I don’twantthat.”

I was silent a moment, mostly because I didn’t know what to say and we’d both already said too much of the wrong stuff. Our relationship truly felt like it was teetering in the balance. Obviously, I waited too long to say anything because Ty felt the need to further convince me of his dedication to preserving ourfriendship.

“See, I love Kate. Ireallylove her.” His voice grew muffled and I guessed he was trying to have this conversation away from her ears. “I want this marriage more than I’ve ever wantedanything…”

“Listen, you rich bastard,” I interrupted. “You were born with a silver spoon in your mouth. You’ve never wanted foranything.”

“You wouldn’t think so, right?” I heard him scratching his head, an indication of how troubled he truly felt at the moment. Then he continued. “I wanted for love. I never knew how to love. Then I met Kate. She changed everything. And I can’t lose her, but I don’t want to lose youeither.”

I sighed. “How are you feeling about Drew? At the moment, I’m worn out. AndI’mtorn.”

“Yes, Drew is a tough case. I have to believe he’s hurting. We may be the only ones who can fix this. Please help me.” Ty soundedridiculouslysad.

“I’m helping you. I’m helping Drew. I’m afraid I’m going to help myself into an early grave,” I muttered. “I promised I’d give thisoneshot…”

“Wait. Are you quitting already?” Ty soundedpanicked.

I began pacing as I stared out the window at the Vegas lights. “I don’t know. I guess not. I mean, I suppose I hadn’t officially started, right?” I stopped walking and leaned my head against the window pane. Ty was silent and I knew he was trying to figure out what to say at this point. Instead, I put on a grand display of word vomit. “I know that if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have met Laney. I know that if it weren’t for Drew, I wouldn’t have spent last night with Laney. And now, because I really want to get to know Laney, everything else feels like a distraction.” I groaned. “I’m not saying any of this right. And I don’t want to sound ungrateful or hurt your feelings, but I mean it. The next time he screws up, he’s proving to me, to you, to all of us, that caring for him is a bigger job than we’re prepared to handle.Gotit?”

“I know,” Tymumbled.

“The thing is, even though it feels like I’m turning my back when I put my foot down, even though I worry I’m admitting defeat, I’m really trying to save him.” I slapped my hand against the wall. “See, I’m afraid he’ll get hurt and it’ll land on me because I didn’t pay close enough attention to him. I worry he could die on my watch. What if he hurtssomeoneelse?”

In the background, Drew moaned. “I’m getting into the car with him now,” Ty murmured. “I’ve heard you. I understand. And I’m going to share this with the doctor. I’ll see what he suggests. Then we’ll talk in themorning,okay?”

“Yeah. This is all we can hope for at the moment. You have my number. Text. Call. Let me know, okay?” I turned around and leaned my back against the wall. When I did, I found Laney standing there with her hair in a towel, her body wrapped in that robe all over again. In an instant, nothing else mattered. “I gotta let you go.” Then I ended the call and stuffed the phone in my pocket. I wanted my hands free to greet her properly. “Hi,” I murmured as I moved closertoher.

“Hi. You know, now that you mention it,Icould use your number.” Laneysmiled.

“Anything for you.” I meant it. I meant it in every wayimaginable.

16

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