“It doesn’t matter,” Keith said, his voice taking on a frantic edge.“You have exactly ten minutes to get ready.Let’s go.”
“What are you talking about?”I spun the combination on my lock and examined him out of the corner of my eye.Not waiting for an answer, I asked a new, more important question.“Hey, can you cover for me today?”
“Are you kidding me?We’re both on duty today,” he said and pushed me towards the shower, “which you would know if you had your phone or had been answering calls.”
I peeled my shirt off, slipped out of my pants and got into the shower.“Seriously,” I said through the curtain, “I need the day off.It’s important.”
“Leo, you’re not paying attention.Today is huge.Huge as is in, career making huge.As in, skip your best friend’s wedding, huge.There is no way you’re missing this.”
“Okay, since I clearly missed the memo, tell me what’s up.”I finished a quick shampoo and soap down and turned the tap off, grabbed a towel and headed back to my locker.
“We’ve been given the chance of a lifetime.Or at least of our careers.Management wants us to—get ready for it...”Keith paused and held out his hands for dramatic effect.
It only annoyed me.
“Just tell me already,” I said as I slipped into a new shirt.
“Fine, fine.But you’re ruining the suspense,” Keith said.“We—that’s you and me, buddy—have been selected to fill in and head up the opening night party for KA.”
I stopped and looked at him.KA was the latest, biggest Cirque du Soleil show opening in Vegas, in the MGM.The opening night party was a big deal.No, it was a huge deal, which is why Keith and I had nothing to do with it.We were both customer service grunts, and were not in major events, yet.
“I thought Marcia was in charge of that?”
“Shewasin charge.”I thought Keith’s smile might split his face in two as he said, “Turns out our Marcia has quite the little coke habit.She checked in to rehab last night, which means that, we—”
“Get the opportunity of a lifetime,” I finished for him, my grin matching his.
“I knew you’d catch on quickly.This is our big break, man.If we pull this off, we’ll be moving into big events by tomorrow morning.”
“What do you mean,if?More likewhenwe pull this off.How much time do we have?”I yanked on my pants and tucked my shirt in at the same time.
“We have to go like, right now,” Keith said.“Don’t want the day off now, do you?”
Keith’s question slammed me back to reality and my stomach dropped as I realized that Lexi would be waiting for me in the lobby in less than fifteen minutes.“Shit.”
“What?Don’t tell me you still want the day off?”
“No.I mean, yes.I mean...shit.”I slammed my hand into a locker.
“Leo, what the hell?”
“There’s this girl—”
“Stop.”Keith held up his hand.“Don’t even think about telling me that you were going to take the day off for some chick and that you are even remotely considering the possibility of passing up the career opportunity of a lifetime for her.”
“I—”
“Don’t tell me.”
“Keith,” I said and pushed his hand away.“She’s not just some chick.Lexi’s different.With her, it’s...I can’t even explain it.”
“So see her tomorrow.”
“She leaves tonight.”
“Oh man, she’s a guest?”Keith laughed and turned to face the mirror.“That’s even worse.It’s not like that’s going to amount to anything.Forget her.She’ll be gone tomorrow and your career will be on fire.What’s to think about here?”
“She’s special.”