Page 21 of Besties
“Hey, now. I said you could come work for us, but you told me you liked your job.”
He chuckled. “I do, but it’s nice to be thought of for other things. Where are you gentlemen headed?”
“Dinner and glow bowling.” Richie threw an arm over my shoulder. “I told him we could do anything, and that was his choice.”
“Sounds like fun.” He gave a slight bow as a guest approached his desk. “I hope you both have a good night.”
He turned to leave, but Richie called his name. When Peter came back, Richie handed him a sheet of paper. “I was hoping you could have this taken care of for me.”
I could see Peter scanning the page, then folded it and slipped it into his pocket. “Of course. I’m more than happy to.”
“Thanks. Have a good night.”
“You as well.”
As we walked out to the car, I turned to Richie. “What was that?”
“Hm? Oh, just something I need taken care of before tomorrow. We ready? It’s going to be a crazy night.”
His laugh echoed down Wisconsin Avenue as we got into the car and headed for dinner and bowling.
And oddly, I was perfectly content at the moment.
Chapter6
My phone buzzed at six.I rolled over to grab it from the nightstand and answered it without thinking who might be on the other end. “What?” I barked.
“Is that any way to talk to your mother?”
I sat up, shocked. Mom never called this early. “Something wrong?”
“No, nothing. Just today’s an important day, so thought you might need to get an early start.”
I groaned and flopped back onto the bed. We hadn’t stayed out too late. We’d come back to the hotel at a little after one. Dinner had been delicious, though it would require a few trips to the gym to work it off, bowling had been amazing with all the lights flashing to techno music, and the company couldn’t have been better. Richie and I had a great time. We bowled a few games, then hit the video game room, where he decimated me in some of the games from our childhood.
“I can sleep another hour, Mom.”
“Really? Hm. I looked at the clock, and I swear you need to be up now.”
There was a strange amusement in her voice. Working two jobs, Mom had never been a morning person, but now she sounded positively perky.
“Max, breakfast is here.”
Saved by Richie again. “Mom, I have to go. Richie says breakfast’s here. Can I talk with you later?”
“Sure. We’ll definitely be talking soon.”
She hung up and I just lay there, staring at my phone.
“Max, come on. Food’s getting cold.”
“All right, I’m coming.”
I heard him chuckle. “Dude, maybe you should do that on your own time.”
“Asshole.” I got up, dressed quickly, then headed out into the suite. The table was laid out, but there was enough food to feed an army on it.
“I’m not that hungry.” Dinner had been filling. “How could you be after the burger and fries, the custard, and then the pizza we ate at the bowling alley?”
