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Grayson’s engagement party this weekend happens to coincide with Heinrich Farr’s birthday party, the biggest social event to hit Las Vegas in months. I was invited— Heinrich’s hockey, the star centre for Las Vegas Knights, and I’m baseball, but we struck up a friendship at the ESPN awards a couple of years ago. I would have probably made the trip in for it, but now I’m definitely going and bringing a gang.
But that’s tomorrow night.
Tonight, I’m showing off my club.
From the look of the texts piling up, there are plenty of people already in town for Heinrich’s party. The guest list is full for the club, with half the Knights, a Kardashian— Rob, but still—a few reality stars, and two Backstreet Boys pushing the D-list celebrities off the guest list.
I made sure my people are still at the top.
Arabella’s posse will be there, which means Emelia will be too.
She’s the last woman I want to see. If I see her, I may raise my voice and yelling at women is not cool. But Emelia knows how to push all my buttons.
I don’t need to check my reflection to know that my confident grin is now an ugly grimace.
There is a pounding on the door, and I hear the laughter before I even open it. Grayson is there, looking almost as good as I do. Better, with the addition of Bexley on his arm.
She’s a keeper.
I keep missing those types of girls; the sweet, down-to-earth girls who don’t expect thousand-dollar trinkets whenever I see them, and can actually stand me being photographed with someone who isn’t them.
I get the possessive ones. The jealous ones. The slightly unstable enough to sue me for paternity even though the dates don’t even come close to adding up to the baby being mine.
That’s my type. Unfortunately.
“Welcome,” I greet, holding the door open. “Room service is on its way, we can have a drink before we go.”
“Dude!” Grayson gives me a guy hug before I move to Bexley and kiss her cheek.
“This place is amazing,” Bexley explains, sliding past me to gaze out the wall of windows to the city below.
The family keeps this room available for our use and for clients and it’s really one of the nicest in the hotel.
I greet the others with hugs and fist bumps. The flight here was my first time meeting Boen and Rachel, but I’m used to sliding into friendships, thanks to the many teams I’ve played on.
They all seem pretty cool; regular people. I don’t get to hang out with people like that very often. It’s a nice change not having to pose and preen and watch my every word.
A flash goes off. “Mase, can you stand with Emmett and Grayson?” Shae asks. “Great content for the vlog!”
Now this is what I’m used to. But I pose for Shae with a big grin because it’s Shae. I feel like I know her, having followed her on social media for years.
“I talked to Winston and Rafe, and they’ll be here tomorrow,” I report to Grayson and Emmett. “And Carlos’s trying to make it in.”
“I thought he was playing in Japan,” Emmett says. Even though Emmett’s days of playing ball are over, he and Grayson are still on good terms with some of the guys we started out in the minors with.
“I got him at a good time. Also, Tad; you remember my buddy from home? Hope that’s cool with you.”
“Bro, you can invite whoever you want.” Grayson throws up his hands. “This is unbelievable.”
“Just hope you have a good time.”
The knock on the door comes as I’m at the window, pointing out a few of the landmarks for the girls. Emmett opens it to allow a very pretty server with a chilled bottle and flutes.
“I’ve had more champagne since I met you than I’ve had in my entire life,” Bexley says to Grayson with a laugh as I pop the bottle and start to pour.
The server hovers nearby and Grayson pulls out a few bills to slip into her hand. “Can I do anything else for you, Mase?” she asks with less formality than I’m used to from the staff. “I mean, Mr. Stirling.”
She’s very pretty, and the smile suggests we’ve met before. Have we? Reaching back through the memories, I recall that yes, we have.
