“Cover forme.”
“What? No! I told him I’d keep you from doing stupid shit exactly likethis.”
“I can’t not go,” I say adamantly. “Fuck, even if I am her biggest mistake, I have to make sure she’sokay.”
“Goddamn it, Van. You’re gonna earn me a lot more than a two-gamesuspension.”
“I don’t have time for this shit. I gotta go home and get mypassport.”
He groans. “Sorry, Sue Lei. Looks like we’re sitting this danceout.”
“You’re still paying me,right?”
“Double . . . if you promise to keep quiet. We don’t want this getting back toCoach.”
“Fine with me. Now I’ll have time to go get my hair done.” She unfolds the table she just set up and packs herthings.
“You book the tickets. I’ll drive,” Eli says once Sue Lei isgone.
“Tickets?” I lean on the ‘s’.
“You don’t think I’m going to let you go alone, doyou?”
“Uh, yeah. Prettymuch.”
“Hell no. I gotta see this shit when you fall flat on your face. Who else is going to film and put it up on YouTube when you failspectacularly?”
“Thanks, buddy. I knew I could count onyou.”