Red Queen Read Online Free PDF Page A

other hotels. When we finally made it to the restaurant, the manager looked like he’d have a nervous breakdown when we told him we were missing half our entourage. He screamed at us in Italian, but since none of us spoke the language, it didn’t do much good.
    He had no choice, he had to seat us immediately. We were taking up the entire waiting area. Jimmy didn’t show, which hurt. I had told him where we were eating. Of course I had also told him to get out of my room.
    Ted sat beside me. He said he had not seen or heard from Jimmy. “He didn’t stop at your room?” I asked.
    â€œNo,” Ted said.
    â€œDid you try calling his cell?”
    Ted looked annoyed. “I’m not his babysitter. I offered him a place to crash. If he doesn’t want it, that’s his business.”
    I touched Ted’s arm. “You’re right. Sorry.”
    Ted tried to act casual, and would have succeeded if he didn’t sound like he was choking on his next question. “You two back together?”
    â€œAbsolutely not,” I said.
    The food was excellent. I had a pasta dish with shrimp. The cook had seasoned it with a fantastic mix of herbs. The incredible taste quickly improved my mood. By the end of the meal I was laughing with the rest of my class. It might have been the alcohol. Alex had flashed her fake ID and convinced our waiter we were teachers from Apple Valley High. He brought us two bottles of chilled wine that the outside heat caused us to polish off way too quickly.
    I cannot hold my liquor. Two glasses of anything above ten proof and I fall in love with the universe. Worse, the love created by my inebriated state usually wants to flow in a direction. And since kindhearted Ted was sitting beside me, I couldn’t stop thinking how he had gotten us O tickets and fake IDs, offered Jimmy a room, and broken into our minibar. . . . Why, I felt I just had to express my undying gratitude to him.
    I suddenly leaned over and kissed him on the lips.
    It took me maybe two seconds to realize what I had done.
    Shit! Oh, shit!
    Talk about sending wrong signals. His face broke into an expression of pure delight. But Debbie—who sat to his right—cast me a look so dirty I felt like our friendship wouldn’t survive the blow. Plus Ted grabbed me after the kiss, probably hoping our brief oral contact was the beginning of something extraordinary.
    â€œHave I ever told you how wonderful you are?” he said with feeling.
    â€œMaybe once or twice,” I muttered, trying to extricate myself from his arms without being too obvious.
    Alex was as drunk as I was. She studied her empty wine glass and waxed philosophical. “Why is it we always say such emotional crap at times like this? The truth is the feelings you two share are as obvious as a one-way street.”
    â€œHuh?” Ted said, blinking. He’d had some of our wine.
    â€œDon’t be so cold,” I said quickly, diplomatically, still trying to slip from his bear hug. “Ted is a dear old friend.”
    â€œFriends,” Alex said, practically spitting the word. “What good are friends? You can’t f—”
    â€œWhy did you just kiss me?” Ted interrupted, his joy slowly fading.
    â€œBecause I care,” I said.
    â€œAnd she’s drunk,” Alex added.
    â€œIs that true?” Ted asked, his expression darkening.
    â€œWell,” I said.
    â€œIgnore her,” Debbie said, reaching over and taking one of his hands, which gave me one less hand to escape from. “When Jessie gets drunk, she always acts like a whore. We were at this party once where she downed a six-pack and got up and started dancing on the tabletop. She stripped down to her panties.”
    Ted released me all of a sudden. He practically shoved me away. He looked upset, confused. “What’s going on here?” he mumbled.
    â€œKnock it off, Debbie, would ya? You know damn well that was