Page 11 of Playing For Keeps
“Hey, Selena. I’m ready when you are,” Benton says to me. We’re currently in the kitchen having breakfast before we have to leave for the airport. Ritchie made me a fake passport so I could get to D.C. without alerting Evan Ross.
“Okay, let’s go,” I say sadly. He looks at me worriedly. Every one of them has been looking at me like that these past few days. I think they know their friend is being an idiot but they just don’t want to interfere. I guess I can’t blame them. They’re trying not to take sides.
Just as I stand up, his phone rings. I watch his entire face transform as he picks up the call with a bright smile.
“Hey babe,” he says to Kim, his girlfriend. I’ve yet to hear the full details of their relationship, but I’m happy that he’s happy.
“I’ll only be gone for two days,” Benton says into the phone. He looks a little upset and I immediately feel guilty.
“You don’t have to come with me,” I say as soon as he hangs up the call.
He looks at me like I’ve grown two heads.
“What? No way, let’s go,” he tells me, grabbing his duffel bag.
“I’m serious, Ben. I’ll be fine. They don’t know I’m still in America. I’ll just go to the court, watch Evan Ross lose, then head back here. It will be fine,” I reiterate.
Benton is shaking his head.
“No, I don’t like this at all. Joseph asked me to accompany you.”
“Joseph isn’t here,” I snap. He left in the early hours of the morning to God knows where. He didn’t even tell me goodbye.
“But,” Benton starts.
“Let her go, Ben,” Thomas says walking into the kitchen.
“Really?”
“Yeah, I’m sure she’ll be fine,” Thomas says without even glancing at me. I narrow my eyes. No way he’s letting me go without a fight.
Then again, I should probably leave before he changes his mind. I take one of the cars to the airport and board the plane. It’s a two-hour flight but during it, I start to get a feeling that something bad is about to happen. It’s like my subconscious mind is trying to warn me about something. I’m immediately scared. I wish Joseph was here but he’s not. As always, I only have myself to depend on. Everything will be fine.
When I get down from the cab at the courthouse, he’s the first thing I see.
I’m so shocked to see him that I immediately start running into his arms. He actually came through for me. I almost can’t believe it. He’s walking towards me too, grinning from ear to ear, until he catches sight of something over my shoulders.
His expression immediately darkens. His walk turns into a sprint. When he’s close enough I see fear in his eyes, fear for me. When he reaches me, he whirls me around, hugging me. Then a loud bang goes off and he collapses in my arms.
That was a gunshot. Joseph just got shot.
He crumbles to the ground and I go down with him. The tears begin to fall.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” I repeat. Blood is oozing onto my fingers. It’s wet and warm and terrifying.
“Shush,” Joseph says with a gasp.
“I’ll be f-i-ne,” he stammers.
“Just shut up, please,” I tell him. He tries to smile but it’s more of a grimace. I turn him slightly to his side and put pressure on the wound. A crowd is gathering around us. Aren’t they worried about the shooter? I look around but the shooter appears to be gone.
I’m pretty sure someone already called for an ambulance.
“I’m sorry for making you think I was choosing work over you,” he says. He sounds drowsy, I’m surprised he’s able to form a coherent sentence.
“Please stop talking,” I tell him as more tears begin to fall. I hate crying. I always feel like shit afterward but Joseph is bleeding in my arms. The man I love looks so pale right now and I’m terrified. This is all my fault. Why did I have to come here?
“It won’t happen again,” he says. His breathing changes, becoming more erratic.
