Page 15 of Solid Ground

He studies me intently. “No, no you’re not.”

“Thank you. For everything.”

“Oh, you are very welcome.” He smirks. “But I should be thanking you. I came here to have one last blow-out before Ireset my life. I thought my night would be more like Caitlin’s was than the night we shared.”

“Really?”

His eyes search mine. “I don’t know what my future looks like, but I’m glad I found you last night.”

I slap his shoulder. “Don’t you go getting all sentimental on me.”

“I’ll treasure our time together forever, Zoe. Now go on and do great things with your life.”

Oh, he’s not going to call me.

Did he suggest he would to soften the blow of this being a one-night stand?

If we had more time together, I’d tell him what I’ve done so far—that I’ve done great things and now I’m trying to work out what does come next. But that’s not a conversation to be had today.

“Right back at you,” I whisper.

He grips my arse and kisses me softly. “I don’t want to cut this even shorter, but I’m checking out today.”

I nod. “I get it.”

He gives me one more lingering kiss before I leave.

As I step outside his room, I look down at how I’m dressed. I’m still wearing my little black dress from the night before.

I’m doing the walk of shame.

However, once I get in the elevator and it starts to move down toward my floor, stopping every so often to pick up other guests, I realise that in a Las Vegas casino, people are gambling at all hours of the day and night, which means myclothing doesn’t stand out among everyone else’s. For all they know, I’ve been sitting beside a slot machine for hours.

I reach my floor and sigh. Declan and I’ll only ever have one night, but I can’t help but feel I’ve left a part of my heart in that hotel suite.

It’s with great reluctance that I make my way back to our hotel room.

Maybe Caitlin messed up her weekend, but mine has been unforgettable. Even if last night is a little hazy.

I swipe the card and let myself in. The room’s dark, and I turn on the lamp beside my bed. The gentle light doesn’t do much to illuminate the room, but it gives me enough visibility to see the lump in the bed next to mine.

“Caitlin?” I whisper.

A long, loud moan comes from the bed, and I clamp my lips together to stop myself from laughing. I’d thought I’d had a heavy night, but apparently that was nothing compared to my best friend’s.

“That bad, huh?” I finally say.

“I think a herd of stampeding elephants have set up home in my brain.” She rolls over, flicking on her bedside light, and I can’t help it—I bark out a laugh that makes her wince.

If she’d been more with it, I might have helped her take her makeup off before she fell asleep, but now her mascara is smeared, and her hair looks like she’s stuck her finger in an electrical socket.

“Just as well we’re not going home today. I don’t think you could handle that.” I tilt my head.

She rubs her face with her hands. “God no. Any turbulence and I’ll be hurling all over the cabin.”

I bite my bottom lip to stop myself from laughing more. “I’ve had breakfast. Do you want anything?”

“The thought of food makes me want to puke.”

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