I’m unable to hide my broad smile, and I glance around the room to see all of the security staff watching on. Joshua, my brother, is a millionaire app developer. His security staff go everywhere with him, and seeing as he is my best friend, they are everywhere with me, too. I’m used to it, but he’s completely right. If I get caught cheating here all hell is going to break loose. I smile across the table at him and wink. He raises a sarcastic brow. The round starts again and I start to count.
“He’s counting cards!” the man opposite yells.
My mouth drops open in mock horror and Joshua breaks into a smartass grin. Bastard wants me to get caught.
“What are you fucking talking about?” I shuffle through my cards in a fluster.
“He’s fucking cheating. I’m telling you!” he snaps.
“I am not.” I roll my eyes. “Have another drink, you alcoholic.”
The lunatic across the table goes ape-shit, lifting the table and throwing it in the air. Our drinks and cards are sent flying. Next thing I see, he is swinging punches in the air and, thankfully, he can’t fight for shit so is missing me every time. The bouncers come running in from every direction.
“I’m going to kill you.” He snarls.
“Yeah, well, throwing punches like that means you’ve got jack shit chance of that happening,” I mock as I step to the side to evade his next hit.
Joshua bursts out laughing at this fool. He looks ridiculous doing air swings and not connecting a single hit.
“You shut up or I will kill you, too!” he screams at Joshua.
Joshua raises a brow. “Is that a threat?”
“That’s a promise.”
“Have a go, prick.” Joshua snarls as he steps forward and pushes him hard in the chest.
He launches himself at me, instead, and I hit him once in the face before I am grabbed by the bouncers and ushered to the door with my arms held behind my back. “Take him downstairs to the police,” the bouncer yells to his co-worker.
“What?” Shit, this could affect my criminal record. “I haven’t done anything wrong and I didn’t even receive a payout.”
“He said you were cheating.”
“He’s as drunk as a fucking mute. Why would you believe anything that came out of that fool’s mouth?” I argue as I am rushed toward the doors, out into the elevator area.
The bouncers exchange looks as they realize they have nothing on me. They push me forward and I go flying. “Go back to your room immediately. You are not to come back on the gambling floor tonight.”
I retract my arms from their grip. “I hate your fucking grubby casino anyway.” I dust my shirt off.
I glance around at Joshua’s two security guards who have followed me out to the foyer, and I wave them back in. “I’m going back to the room. I’m tired. Tell the others I will catch them tomorrow.”
“Yeah, okay.” They both turn and return to where they came from.
I take the elevator to my floor and smile to myself as I walk along the corridor. That was kind of fun to be honest. Pity I didn’t get away with it.
Next time.
God, I’m so fucking tired. That chick wore me out last night. I smile at the memory. I’m going to ring her now and tell her just how much.
I go to grab my phone and realize it’s not in my pocket.
What?
I feel all the pockets in my pants. Shit, where is my damn phone?
I think for a moment and my mouth drops open in horror.
Fuck’s sake. It was on the table when that idiot tipped it over. It could be anywhere now. I turn and jog back up to the high rollers room and am greeted by the same two security guards again. They step in front of the door, blocking my entrance.
“Hi, I just left my phone inside. I won’t be a moment.”
The biggest bouncer shakes his head. “You’re not coming in.”
“Yeah, I know I’m not coming in. I just want to get my phone.”
“No.”
I screw up my face. “Oh, fuck off. I’m getting my phone.” I go to brush past them and they block my entrance once more.
“Get someone else to get it for you.”
“If I had my phone, I would fucking ring them and tell them to get it. I don’t have my phone!” I snap.
“Too bad.”
“This is ridiculous. I want my phone.” Fuck, her number is on there. If I lose it, I have no way of contacting her. I start to get agitated. “I’m going back in,” I announce.
“Like fuck you are.”
I go to push through them and we get into a scuffle as they push me back from the door.
“Go back to your room or we are calling the cops to come and arrest you.”
Shit.
“Listen, man, I have a really hot chick’s number on that phone and it is vital that I find it. Can you go in and get my friends and get them to find it for me?”
The idiot folds his arms in front of him. “Do I look like your slave?”
Something snaps inside of me. “You look like a fucking baboon on steroids.”
He pushes me hard in the chest and I push him back. “I need that fucking phone.”
“I need to smash your face in. Get out of here or I will.”
“Try it.” I sneer.
The other bouncer picks up the phone and calls someone. “Can you get the police up here immediately?”
Fuck.
I step back as I weigh up my options. If I stay here I’m going to be arrested, and as a doctor, I can’t have a criminal record.
I blow out a defeated breath. “Fuck you.” I sneer as I turn and leave. Hopefully Joshua, Murph, or someone from the security team find it. It’s probably under a bloody table somewhere.
I continue to stride up the hall as I think. I’m sure one of them will have it, although I can’t call any of them to look for it. I don’t have one person’s phone number on me and I don’t know any off by heart. All of my phone numbers are on that fucking phone. I head back to the room and, after being severely pissed off with myself, I quickly fall into an exhausted sleep.
“Cabin crew prepare for take-off.”
I put my head back onto my headrest in annoyance as the plane rolls down the runway.
The phone is gone. Nobody saw it and when they went back to look for it this morning, it had vanished.
I’m so fucking pissed.
“It might turn up.” Murph shrugs as he sips his drink from his seat opposite me.
I look at him deadpan.
Joshua smirks from his seat next to Murph. “It’s gone. It isn’t coming back.”
“You’re not helping.” Murph sighs.
I roll my eyes. Adrian Murphy-Murph, as we call him-is our best friend. He is the General Manager of Joshua’s company, good looking, young, and as gay as all hell. He is forever the optimist and finds a silver lining in every event.
“It’s backed to the cloud, though, right?” Joshua asks. “It’s not that bad.”
“There is only one number on that whole fucking phone that I want. It is not in the cloud.”
“That chick from the other night…” he replies flatly.
I stare out the window as the tarmac starts to scream past.
“She might call you,” Murph offers.
I shake my head. “She didn’t ask for my fucking number,” I snap, annoyed.
Their eyes meet and they both smile broadly. “She was probably trying to get out of there as quick as she could.” Joshua smirks.
I shake my head. “She could have been Mrs. Stanton, I’m telling you. This chick was out of this world.”
“What was her name?” Murph asks.
I roll my eyes. “I don’t even know.”
They both burst out laughing. “You… You didn’t even ask her name?” Murph stammers in shock.
“I was calling her wife and Bloss.”
“No wonder the poor bitch ran.” Joshua smirks. The two of them clink their drinks. “Who calls a chick their wife on the first night they meet them?” Joshua shakes his head in disgust. “Creepy son of a bitch.”
“This isn’t funny, assholes. I’m supposed to be going to New York to meet her next weekend and I don’t have her fucking number.”
Joshua raises his eyebrows in shock. “You were going to fly all the way to New York next weekend, just to see her?”
I nod and blow out a deep breath as I stare out the window. Fuck, I’m so pissed off with myself.
“I would have flown to the moon. She was dropping in and out of languages and had a body to die for. I’m telling you. This chick was the shit.” I slam my head back on the headrest. “You fucking idiot,” I snap at myself.
“So, let me get this straight. It’s taken you twenty-seven years to find a woman you like better than yourself, and then the next day you lose her number?” Murph asks flatly. “This is why you are the stupidest man I know. You make goldfish look smart.”
Joshua laughs into his drink. “Snap.”
I glare at him. “I’m going to fucking kill you with a smile on my face. Prepare yourself for pain, fucker.”
We all fall silent for a moment as the plane launches into the air. “What was the last thing you said to her?” Murph asks.
I narrow my eyes as I think for a moment. “I said I was coming to New York and booking a hotel for us, and don’t bother packing any clothes because you won’t be needing any.”
“Witty,” Murph mutters dryly. “I’m glad you lost your phone because if she is as smart as you say she is, she would have dumped you in a week anyway with pickup lines like that.”
I roll my eyes. “Just concentrate on sucking dicks, asshole.”
Murph throws me a cheeky wink. “Well, it’s a lot better than hearing about goldfish pickup lines.”
“So, you heading off to Kamala tomorrow?” I ask Joshua to change the subject.
“Yeah, we leave in the morning. Only going for three weeks, though. What are you guys up to?”
“Working,” Murph replies. “Somebody’s got to hold the company together.”
“I’m going to New York next weekend,” I announce as I come to an impulsive decision.
“What are you going to do?” Joshua smirks. “Search the whole of New York for some mystery chick you don’t even know the name of?”
“Maybe.” I stare out the window.
“You fucked it. Just admit it. She’s gone.”
New York City
Saturday night
I sit at the busy bar in New York named Luco. I’ve chosen a seat that faces out onto the street and I stare out at the crowd bustling past. This is the craziest thing I have ever done in my life. After thinking on it all week, I got on a plane this morning to come to New York to look for a girl whose name I don’t even know.