Page 2 of Risk It All

“He’s harmless!He’ll help you pay for gas and food or whatever.He can even help drive.Maybe you wouldn’t even need to pay for hotel rooms then!”she says, getting excited with the idea the more that she thinks about it.

It does make sense, I guess.I’m just not really looking forward to climbing into my little station wagon with a stranger for the next few days.

“How do you know this guy?”I ask, needing more details before I say yes.

I love Layla, but she has some friends that make me a little nervous.Hazard of being able to talk to anyone, I suppose.

“I went to a comedy open mic a few months ago and he was there performing.He’s really funny and he was at the bar afterward.I went to grab a drink during one of the other guy’s sets, he was really awful by the way, and I told Anthony that I thought that he was hilarious.We started talking and I’ve seen him at a few comedy clubs now and then.I just ran into him last night when I went out with the David guy.That’s why I thought of him.”

I nod, biting my bottom lip.

“How was your date with David, anyway?”

“Boring.The guy has no sense of humor.I mean, he took me to an open mic and then bought me one glass of wine and he expected me to sleep with him at the end of the night.He didn’t even laugh at any of the comics, so it was weird,” she says, her nose scrunching up as she remembers last night.

Layla is always going out on first dates but never second ones.She claims that she hasn’t met anyone who is worthy of her, and I have to agree.She is pretty awesome.I just wish that I had that kind of confidence or was even half as self-assured as she is.

“So, do you want Anthony’s number?”she asks, getting us back on track.

I tug on the ends of my hair as I roll my options over in my head.Do I really want to drive across country with some random guy?No, but I want the Malhoy Gallery job more than anything and if spending a few days in my car with this Anthony guy is what I have to do to have a shot at my dream job, then that’s what I’m going to do.

“Yeah, give me his number.I guess it can’t hurt to talk to him for a few minutes and ask if he wants to road trip with me.”

Layla grins, running back to her room to grab her cell phone.I pick up my wine, taking a big swallow as I already start to wonder if I’m making a mistake.

“Just sent it to you!”Layla calls from her bedroom and I feel my phone vibrate in my hand.

I take a deep breath before I open the message and type out a new text to Anthony.

CHAPTER2

Anthony

UNKNOWN:Hi, my name’s Emerson.I’m a friend of Layla’s.She gave me your number because she heard that you needed a ride to New York.I need help with expenses so if you’re willing to help with gas and hotels, then I can give you a ride.

I stareat the new text on my phone for a solid minute, trying to remember who Layla is.I meet a lot of people at the different comedy clubs and it takes me a few minutes to place a face to the name.Black hair, talkative girl.I’ve seen her here and there at different clubs.

That shouldn’t be the part of the text that I’m worried about though.

I had just gotten the call yesterday about auditioning for The Comedy Vault but I was at a loss as to how I was going to make it out there.

I have a million things to do before my audition next week.I should be tightening up my set, working on new jokes and perfecting my timing.If I can nail down my details on making it to New York though, then I would only have to focus on my craft for the rest of the week.

I grab my phone and my fingers hover over the screen as I think of what to say.

ANTHONY:Hey, man.Yeah, I need to get to New York by next Friday night.When are you leaving?

EMERSON: I’d like to leave Sunday morning.Before noon, but the earlier the better.I need to be there by Thursday so that should give us plenty of time.

ANTHONY: Sounds good.I’d like to stop in a few major cities so that I can hit up some open mics.

EMERSON: I’ll have to check the route.I was hoping that we could drive straight through and take turns sleeping.

Jeez,doesn’t this guy sound like a barrel full of fun.I roll my eyes, studying the text messages.Maybe I should just suck it up and ask my brother to help me pay for a ticket or something.This Emerson dude seems super uptight with his schedule and routes, but if he can get me to New York….

It’s only going to be a few days, I remind myself.You can handle a few days with this guy.

ANTHONY:Okay.Do you need me to meet you somewhere?I live on North Soto Street.

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