The Fury - Jason Pinter [84]
said. "What're you doo ing here?"
"I don't have time to explain right now," I said, taking
her hand. "But you need to come with me."
A sultry smile spread across her lips. I didn't see her
drunk all that often, so part of me couldn't help but be
slightly amused. "So," she said. "You're taking me
home?"
"Not exactly," I said, pulling her away. I apologized
to Darcy and Devin, who seemed too preoccupied with
how each other's lips tasted to notice.
"If we're not going home," she slurred, "where are
we going?"
"A hotel," I said.
"Ooh baby!" Amanda said, suddenly grabbing a
chunk of my ass and squeezing. She likely meant to be
flirtatious, but the girl had some serious nails and I was
reasonably certain she broke the skin. Hopefully stitches
wouldn't be required, because that'd be one awkward
explanation for the doctor. "Have you been working
out?"
244
Jason Pinter
"Not recently, I haven't had time, but...that's not the
point. We need to go."
Amanda finally relented, and we made our way
down the steps and toward the exit. For the first time it
seemed to dawn on Amanda that something was wrong.
I couldn't walk too fast due to the fact that she was in
heels and had no hand-eye coordination to speak of, so
to other clubgoers I looked like the no-fun boyfriend
dragging his fun-as-hell girlfriend away because he
didn't approve of her shenanigans.
I had to give Amanda credit, though. She looked
stunning. Outclassed every girl at the club. I'd have to
remember to tell her tomorrow, when she would
remember.
We got to the tunnel leading to the outside, and the
girl inside the coatroom remembered me. Guess not
too many guys dropped off their luggage before
entering.
"Can I get my bag?" I asked.
"Five dollars," she said, smacking gum between her
lips.
"You just saw me with Shawn, I--"
"Five dollars," she repeated, bored by the whole
thing. I didn't want or have time to argue, and pulled a
crumpled ten from my pocket. She counted change,
then swung the door open and let me take the suitcase.
As I lugged it into the hall, Amanda said, "Where
are we going?"
"A hotel, baby," I said.
"I thought you were kidding," she said, a joyous glow
in her eye. "I have the best boyfriend in the whole
world. "
The Fury
245
She threw her arms around me again, and I nearly
stumbled over a small girl trying to make her way back
into the club. She called me a name that I'd most defi
nitely never been called by a girl before.
Gripping the bag with one hand and Amanda with
another, we stumble/bumped our way outside. A row of
cabs was waiting five deep down the block, knowing
every minute brought another inebriated person out
who needed a ride home (hopefully to another
borough).
It was a delicate balancing act carrying Amanda and
the suitcase outside since they were both essentially
dead weight. The next cab in the line pulled up, and
thankfully the driver came outside to help me with my,
er, belongings. He hoisted the bag into the trunk while
Amanda and I slid into the back. As soon as he closed
the door and said, "Where to?" I realized I had no idea
where we were going.
The list of New York hotels I knew offhand was quite
slim, and one of those, the Plaza, hadn't reopened yet.
Before I knew what I was doing, I said, "Times
Square. The W Hotel, please."
"Henry," Amanda cooed, her cheeks flushing red
her hand delicately tracing the curve of my calf. "I
had no idea..."
"Me, neither," I mumbled as the cab sped away.
Amanda spent the whole cab ride either staring outside,
the world swimming by her drunken haze, or awkwardly
trying to grope me. Ordinarily I might have felt frisky
enough to try a little something in the backseat while the
cabdriver wasn't looking, but Amanda was as subtle as
a hyena and I had too much on my mind to truly focus.
246
Jason Pinter
Who was that guy outside my apartment? Clearly
somebody knew I was following leads, but nothing had
been printed in the newspaper, which limited the list of
culprits significantly. I wondered,