“Wow, seems like most girls would do it for way less than that.”
“That’s what she thinks. Then she starts to fall in love with him,” Tea says.
“I love it!” I say. I do. Really.
“So, this trip to Atlantic City is a little bit of a research trip. I’ve never been to a casino before and I want to get a taste of what it’s like. What it looks like, etc.”
“I get it.” I nod. “I’d love to read your book when you’re done.”
“You’ll be the first.”
17
There was no way I was going to go on this trip without at least Juliet. I was excited when Dylan decided to come along, too. They don’t know Tea very well, and none of us have ever met Tanner, but they were down for a fun weekend. When I first told Dylan about this, he invited Hudson as well, but luckily for me, Hudson said that he had too much work to do. Peyton was invited, too, and she was planning on coming along until she remembered that she had a big paper due on Monday.
Juliet, Dylan, and I are sharing an Uber to Grand Central Station. Juliet and I over-packed a little and we’re laden down with bags that wouldn’t fit in the trunk.
“Why did you two have to pack so much?” Dylan asks. He only packed one small suitcase, the size of a carry-on. “It’s just two nights.”
“You wouldn’t understand,” Juliet rolls her eyes.
“Just pack a couple of outfits and that should be enough,” Dylan insists.
“What happens when you don’t feel like wearing one? Or it’s inappropriate to wear it? No, you have to have backups.”
I didn’t pack as much as Juliet, but I definitely took too much. There seems to always be shirts and pants that you think you might wear, that you almost should wear, but for some reason never do.
“So, what’s going on with you and Hudson?” Dylan turns to me.
Juliet makes a face at him as if to ask why the hell he’s bringing him up.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. It just seems that something’s off, but Hudson didn’t tell me what exactly.”
I shrug.
Hudson and I haven’t spoken much since that night. Though he did corner me by the bathroom this morning and insisted on talking.
“Alice, I just want you to know that I don’t want to break up,” he said. “That’s the last thing I want.”
“You don’t want to break up? I thought that was exactly what you wanted.”
“No, not at all. I just want to take a break. A breather.”
“That sounds like a breakup.”
“No, not at all,” he said.
“And what’s the difference?” I asked.
“I just need a little time. A little space, but I want to be with you. I don’t want to be with anyone else and I hope you don’t either.”
“So, I’m just supposed to wait around for you? Is that right?”
“Look, the way I see this break is just that. A break. I’m not going to date anyone and I hope you don’t either. I’m just confused and I need time to get myself back together.”
“Alice?” Dylan asks. “You okay?”
“Huh? What?” I ask.
“You seemed to have spaced out a bit.”
“Oh, right, sorry. I don’t know what to say about Hudson. I don’t know what’s going on.”
“Wait, are you two back together?” Juliet asks.
“No, definitely not. Apparently, according to him, we were never broken up. Just on a break. Whatever the hell that means,” I say.
We ride the rest of the way to Grand Central in silence. My mind drifts back to Hudson, unwillingly. I still don’t completely understand the difference between a break and a breakup, nor do I really care. I’m not sure if I’m down to be on this break, whatever it is. All I know is that I’m looking forward to going on this trip and forgetting all about Hudson and everything that has happened this weekend. I need to dance, drink a little too much, and let go of all this crap.
The three of us meet up with Tea and Tanner inside Grand Central. As we walk toward them, I smile at the fact that all the girls seemed to have over-packed and both of the guys under-packed. Tea makes all the introductions as soon as we come up.
Tanner is definitely hot. He’s about 6’4” with gorgeous eyes and lustrous hair. His dark hair matches his dark eyes and his five o’clock shadow makes him look mysterious. He’s three years older than Dylan. While Dylan often comes off cocky, Tanner seems confident and self-assured. Perhaps it’s something that Dylan will grow into in time.
Tanner and Tea make a cute couple. He helps her with her bags on the way to the train and gives her a peck on the top of her head as we wait. I’m suddenly really thankful that Peyton decided not to come. They’re the only couple here and the balance of power is definitely on the singles. It would not be the case if Peyton were here.
Everyone gets to know each other during the two-and-a-half-hour train ride to Atlantic City and it feels like we’re old friends by the time we arrive in the hotel suite that Tea and Tanner got for our stay.
“Are you sure you two don’t want us to get our own hotel room?” Juliet asks.
“No, of course not,” Tea says a little too fast. I notice that Tanner isn’t so quick to vote for everyone staying at the suite. “That’s why we got the suite. So there would be room for everyone.”
Well, almost everyone. The plan is that Tea and Tanner get the bedroom, which is separated from the living room by two French doors, and the three of us sleep on the couches in the living room.
