I knock back the whiskey sour and gag. What the hell? Might as well do it, life is too short. I point at the list. “I want the ability to say no to my mother.”
The DJ calls my name, and I stand, well, I sway. When I walk away, Nate starts hollering and whooping as I take my place on the stage, and suddenly this doesn’t seem like a good idea at all. It’s the eyeballs, they’re freaking me out, there are too many people looking at me, but then right in front of me is a familiar pair of eyes.
Nate.
The music starts, it’s Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Want To Have Fun, and a genuine laugh bubbles up. I belt out some version of it, and although I sound like a cat on a hot tin roof, you never would have guessed it, the way Nate Peterson is dancing around like a maniac and singing the words along with me.
As the song finishes, he hops up on the stage and grabs me, twirling me around as I scream and laugh. We walk back to the table and see Archie is waiting for us, looking the grumpiest I have ever seen him.
Nate throws his hands up. “How did you know where we’d be?”
Archie waggles his phone. “Life360 idiot!”
Nate’s brows draw together. “I don’t have Life360.”
The look on Archie’s face has me smothering my laugh. “Well, you might not have installed it on your phone or signed up, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have it.”
Nate looks at me in shock. “Do you see what I have to put up with?”
I hold my hands up in surrender as I take a seat next to Archie. “Hey, don’t involve me in this. I am impartial, Annie.” The sad look on Archie’s face pulls at my heartstrings. “Aww, but look at him, Nate, look how sad he is?”
“Those puppy dog eyes won't work on me, Archie.” Nate folds his arms and stares his brother down, but Archie doesn’t move. In fact, his bottom lip sticks out, and he tilts his head, and I see the moment Nate gives in. “Fine. I’m sorry for leaving you high and hanging out, you can stay.”
Archie rubs his hands together, smiling from ear to ear. “Great.” Then he turns to me and suddenly looks serious. “I cannot believe you sang Cyndi without me. I thought we were friends?”
I throw my arms around him. “I’m sorry, we are friends. How about some Shania?”
Archie jumps up. “I’ll go sign us up. Nate, I want a Sex on the Beach, then all is forgiven.” He bounces off, and I have no idea how a man so big can be so graceful.
Nate sits down next to me and nudges me with his shoulder. “Thank you for that.”
I look around, unsure of what he means. “I don’t know what you mean. Thank you for what?”
“For being his friend.” He places a quick kiss on my cheek. So fast, I wonder if I'm almost imagining it.
Oh, Nate, what are you doing to me?
Chapter 6
Nate
Home is roughly eight hours ahead of Vegas. I check my phone on the bedside table. It’s almost midnight, meaning it will be morning back home. The noise here is constant. There’s always someone walking the corridors or singing drunk.
When I can’t sleep, like tonight, I look out of the window at a city that rarely sleeps, not that they’d be able to with the constant ringing of slot machines and bright lights attacking all of your senses when you’re down there, it makes me feel homesick. But I’m glad the rooms are quiet from the chaos down below.
I grab my phone and go to the group chat with my brothers, because even though they moan about it, I secretly love that they're there for me if I need them.
Me
Cole, how is Lacey doing? Is she any better?
I wait for a moment, and three dots bounce on my screen.
Cole
She’s okay. Hope you’re all enjoying Vegas. Archie, don’t forget your sunscreen.
Archie’s phone dings through the open doors, followed by a snort.
