Page 22 of Most Valuable Player
“I love you, man, but you’re a pain in the ass.”
Everyone nods in agreement. Cameron whirls away with a dramatic sniffle.
“So,” Darius says, looking pointedly at me, “text me your order and I’ll be back.”
He walks off, followed closely by Anup and Nate, who are asking how many things he’ll buy them while he’s there. A deep, baritone “Zero” resounds through the yard.
“Come on.” Cameron’s voice is back to how it usually is—obnoxiously loud and lilting like a frat boy’s in college. He nudges me toward the bonfire before I can properly react to anything that just happened. “You need heat. You’ll stand a better chance against the Grim Ripper if you’re not both malnourishedandhypothermic.”
Despite the frustrated pounding in my temples, a smile cracks my face. How can he say words like “hypothermic” in the same sentence as “Grim Ripper”? “Reaper,” I correct gently.
Cameron glares at me, the flames accenting his tan face nicely. Then, “I need to text Big D your order. What do you want, water boy?”
“I guess…a black bean soft taco.”
“He’s going to punch my sack if he finds out I sent him away toorder one dollar’s worth of food,” Cameron snaps. “Come on—work with me.”
I swallow nervously. I don’t have much money—allowance doesn’t exist in my house (I simply do the chores I’m asked to by my mother, who says my reward is the roof over my head). The only pocket change I have is when the artists tip me for volunteering to watch the gallery. But I can probably afford a little more, so I say, “Two black bean soft tacos?”
“And?”
“Uh…a veggie burrito supreme?”
“Nowwe’re getting somewhere.” When he finishes texting, we return to watching the flames. Ravi must’ve added more firewood, because it’s soaring higher, shedding golden light farther across the backyard. Cameron keeps one wary eye on me, and I wonder how he’d react if I pretended to faint. The thought of him squawking and running circles around my unconscious body is so amusing, I have to shield my mouth to prevent laughing.
“Why do you do that?” He points at my palm. “Your teeth rotting or something?”
I lower my hand, the smile fading away. “Just a habit.”
That smile of yours…
“How did you get here?” Cameron asks.
“Annie drove me.”
“How are you getting home, then?”
I shrug. “Walking, I guess.”
Cameron gives me an incredulous look, like I said something absurd.
“What?” I ask defensively.
“You can’t just walk around in the middle of the night by yourself. And when you’re starved half to death. What are you thinking?” hedemands. I’m about to ask why he’s concerned, but then he flips course and playfully says, “If you reconsider your rejection, maybe I’d even be willing to drive you home.”
“I thought you couldn’t drive,” I say accusingly, raising a brow. “Isn’t that why you sent Darius to Taco Bell? Because he’s the only sober one?”
“I’m sober, too. But someone needed to stay with you to make sure you don’t pass out,” he says, scoffing.
“And you decided to take up the mantle. I’m honored.”
“Don’t be. It’s my duty as a strong, competent man.”
I smirk, scooping my knees tighter into my chest. “Sure,” I whisper.
Darius arrives minutes later with Anup and Nate, and it’s only when I smell food that my hunger reels to the surface. My stomach roils with nausea, and Darius has to meet my trek toward him halfway to hand me my bag. “How much do I owe?” I ask feebly.
“This one’s on me.” Darius claps my shoulder, and I nearly buckle under his strength. “Oops. Sorry. Go eat—you don’t look good.”
