Page 123 of Break Point
A loud knock on the door startles us.
Jesus …
“Come in!”
The door slides open, and it’s Henry. He’s wearing black sweats, a white tee, and his favorite denim jacket. His hair is sticking out like he’s been stress-pulling it for hours.
“I swear to God, Bells.” He spots my luggage and beelines for it like it’s the last flotation device on the Titanic. Robbie steps behind him with his palms next to his face like he shouldn’t be held responsible for Henry’s airport wrath. They grab everything, including my backpack, and step out.
“If yourneciaass is not inside the car within the next five minutes, I’ll carry you down myself!” Henry shouts from the hallway.
“You better wait a solid six minutes then,” Gemma teases, covering her mouth with her hand like she’s just gifted me life-altering wisdom.
I laugh.
“Are you sure you can’t come with us to Mexico?” I say, hugging her goodbye.
“As your official wingwoman, it is not only my duty but an honor to stay behind.”
“Gemma!” I slap her shoulder playfully. “You act like you don’t know Henry,” I whisper. “He’s living his best coach life. Believe me, he’s notinterested in blurring any lines. Not now. Maybe ever. And I’ve made my peace with it, okay?”
“Okay.” Gemma glances at her wristwatch. “You have about three minutes before Henry goes apeshit.”
“Shit, let’s go.”
Gemma and I rush downstairs to the lobby, where Henry is pacing frantically on the sidewalk. Tony’s watching him like he can’t decide whether to drive him to the airport or the hospital to put him out of his misery.
“Bye.” I give Gemma a quick hug goodbye and hurry into the SUV before Henry breaks into hives. “Text me!”
“I will!” Gemma shouts from across the window.
Tony speeds away, and I turn on my phone. Henry snorts.
“Relax,” I say, knowing that’s the last thing Henry will do. At least not until he’s buckled up in his first-class seat inside the plane. “We still have three hours and forty-five minutes before our plane takes off.”
Henry shakes his head and scans me from head to toe like he’s trying to locate the glitch in my operating system so he can rewire me into obedience.
“You are going to be the death of me.”
CHAPTER 28
LIKE BROTHER AND SISTER
HENRY FINALLY RELAXESonce the car parks in the motor lobby of Hotel Quinta Real in Monterrey. He barely talked to me on the drive from the airport, which is fine. It’s been a long day, and he didn’t get much sleep on the plane. I practically slept through the five-hour flight, so even if it’s past nine p.m., I’m feeling recharged.
A bellhop hurries over to handle our luggage and follows us inside.
The hotel is busy, considering the time. Other players are arriving, tournament hosts are moving around, and small groups of men and women in formal clothes, with name tags and plastic badge holders slung around their necks, are scattered everywhere.
“¡Hola,Belén!” A young, energetic woman approaches. “I’m Lydia. We spoke on the phone earlier. You must be Henry.”
We shake hands. Lydia is our assigned host for the tournament. Henry spoke to her earlier when we landed to coordinate our transportation. Everything’s been smooth sailing since we arrived.
“Let me help you get checked in,” she says. “You must be tired. Please follow me.”
Lydia turns around, and as we follow her to the front desk, she tells me how excited everyone is to have me at the tournament, highlighting how amazing it is that this is my first time playing in México. I quickly agree and tell her how happy and grateful I am to be here.
“Okay, give me one minute,” she says. “Let me grab your room keys.”
