21—Indianapolis （Room 437）
“Okay, what?!” I snap at Chad as I pull on my jeans.
“Nooothiiiing,” he draws out.
“There’s obviously something.”
Know how I know that? Because he’s been acting weird since he returned from the club last night. He was weird while I got ready for bed. He was weird while I was trying to maintain a safe distance on the king mattress to sleep. He was weird while taking down his fairy lights at 5:30 this morning, and now he’s being weird while following me around as I get ready.
“Chad. Seriously, dude, just tell me what’s up.”
He releases a sigh. “Fine. But you have to promise not to do anything rash like start a survivalist cult or mass produce genetically modified tomatoes that mess with people’s immune systems.”
Right… um…
“Pretty sure I can restrain myself from… that.”
He looks skeptical but leans forward anyway. “Okay. It affects you.”
“I figured as much. What is it?”
On the outside I’m calm and mildly irritated. Inside, my heart is pounding.
What happened with Larinda at Club D Lux was amazing and very irresponsible. We both agreed it was too risky and we should keep our distance over the next few days, just in case. The last thing we need is any evidence to support suspicions that may have been aroused. We even left the club at different times in different vehicles to provide a cover.
Despite our efforts, I can’t shake the image of Jarvis’ dirty looks for the rest of the night. I couldn’t tell if they were new dirty looks or my brain adding new evidence to the same ones. Either way, I have no idea where his head is which scares the crap out of me.
Maybe I’m about to find out?
“It’s… ah! This is so hard. I don’t want to hurt you, bestie.” He cringes. “Shit! I meant, tour bestie. Marcos is already my bestie bestie. I’m so sorry. Please don’t be upset. If I could have two besties, you’d be the other one, I swear. It’s in the code, though.”
Of course it is.
“It’s fine. So what’s the news about me?”
“Oh! Right. It’s about your amours.”
“My amours?”
He chews on a thumbnail and nods. “I overheard something…”
“… which was?”
He glances around nervously again. “Cheating,” he whispers.
Oh no.
I force a calm expression through a burst of panic. “Cheating? What about cheating?”
He groans and covers his eyes. “It’s so bad. Ugh! Fine… I overheard your girlfriends gushing about a threesome with an A-lister. And since you’re clearly not an A-lister, it clearly wasn’t you.”
Ouch to that last part.
He peeks through an opening in his fingers, and I do my best to look dismayed not relieved.
“I see,” I say with a hard expression while my insides sip cocktails on a palm-lined beach. Thank god it’s not about Larinda and me.
“I’m so sorry, my friend. Bring it in.” Before I can react, I’m being yanked toward a cologne-drenched chest for a suffocating Chad-hug.
After a few seconds, I extricate myself and offer an awkward smile. “Thanks,” I say. “Do you know who they were talking about?”
That’s something a jealous boyfriend would ask, right? Plus, that info could be helpful down the line.
“No. I wish. I’ll keep an ear out, though. A man should know who his girlfriends are sleeping with, am I right?”
“Right.”
“Oh! Maybe it’s Phil!”
“Who?”
“Phil—I forget his last name—but he played the park ranger on that show about forest fires?”
I squint at him. Not sure what show he’s talking about but pretty sure “Phil” with no last name isn’t an A-lister.
Although I’m happy to hear my non-girlfriends are cheating on me, I’m nervous about my lack of progress on discerning more of Jarvis’ plan. We’ve been so distracted by our own scandal, we’re behind on spying on the others. Maybe Chad will have a lead I can use.
“Well, if you find out, let me know,” I say. “So, what’s on your schedule for today? Any more mint runs?”
“Hmm… well, it’s a show day, so Jarvis will be busy with show stuff but… oh! He did say we’re making an exception to go belt shopping!”
“Belt shopping?”
“Yep. He never goes out on a show day, as you know, but his favorite belt boutique is in Indianapolis.”
Interesting. He’s breaking his golden rule for a belt? And why not get the belt yesterday which wasn’t a show day? This development screams of potential subterfuge.
“Cool. And what store is that?”
“Hmm… something with ponies?”
Ponies. Well, there can’t be too many of those in the greater Indianapolis area. “And, uh, around what time do you think you’ll be going?”
“The car leaves promptly at ten fifty-seven. I’m pretty excited. I’ve never been to an exclusive belt boutique. He already said I can be the person who holds the ones he doesn’t want until the store people take them to put them back.”
“Wow. Good for you, man.”
He beams as he imagines holding belts, and I offer a quick smile to hide the returning nerves.
Jarvis doesn’t break his traditions lightly. Something’s going down at the pony belt store. Guess I’m going “belt shopping” today as well.
I pull out my phone to text Nash and research pony-themed belt retailers.