Page 19 of All In

“Exactly.”

I drop my hands, and he steps back, grabbing his suitcase and dragging it toward the bed. When he plops onto it, the rose petals jump, and he laughs again, running his hand along the mattress and sending more petals flying.

I have to close my eyes because the visual is almost more than I can take.

Oh, this is gonna be a long fucking week.

Chapter 6

Harlow

“Do you wanna go out tonight?” I ask, letting the silky rose petals slip through my fingers. Gray is looking at me a little funny, and I’m not sure why. “We don’t have to. Just thought maybe it would be fun to go out.”

Finally, he comes further into the room. “Sure. What are you thinking?”

“Maybe we can go out and drink? Gamble some?”

I’m not a huge drinker, but I like to go out and have fun occasionally. Plus, we’re in Vegas, and I’m assuming all the couple-y things I had planned aren’t gonna quite work out with Grayson.

I’m nothing if not adaptable to change, though—ha—so maybe we need a night of drinking and slots instead.

Sitting down on the edge of the bed, Grayson nods. “Sure.”

“Now… or?”

Gray smiles. “Well, since you’re practically bouncing with excitement, I think now works. Wanna grab some food first?”

“Sure.” I stand up, tapping my fingers on my thighs. “When I was looking into visiting here, I looked for some food stuff. They have this place that sells gourmet bacon-wrapped hot dogs.”

Gray’s eyebrows shoot to his hairline. “You want to eat bacon-covered hot dogs and then go out drinking?”

I shrug. “Why not? Live a little.”

Grinning, he shakes his head. “I am living a little. I mean, I’m literally in Vegas with you.”

I still don’t understand that, though. I mean, I get why he’d come with me. But… “Why did you have this time already off? You never said.”

For a long minute, I’m sure he’s not going to say at all. Which is weird.

He sighs. “Well, it’s kind of embarrassing.”

Since when is that even a thing in our friendship? We’ve always shared everything with each other. “You don’t have to tell me.”

“No.” Gray shakes his head. “It’s just… you were getting married. And that made me sad, so I took the time off work so I could wallow a little.”

He’s looking down, not making eye contact with me. “You were sad that I was getting married?” His head snaps up, his mouth opening and closing without any words coming out. Normally, that’s my thing. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“Why would you be sorry?” he asks. “That’s not your problem. It’s mine.”

“Uh, I don’t know if you know this, but you’re my best friend in the entire world. Of course your problems are my problems.”

It honestly makes me a little sad to think he doesn’t already know that.

“What would it have changed if you knew, Harlow?” he asks softly. “It’s not like you would have called off the wedding, and you shouldn’t have. I never would have expected you to.”

A harsh laugh bubbles up inside me and spills out. “Not like it matters since he fucking left me anyway.”

Gray’s face twists. “Yeah. I’m sorry.”