Page 4 of All In

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Rylee sat on the edge of the bed holding her cellphone. She’d been sitting in that exact spot for forty-five minutes and hadn’t yet worked up the courage to make the phone call she’d been dreading. Carla had gotten safely to her hotel and said she wanted a nap, so they were going to do dinner later.

She stared at the pile of clothes she and Memphis had stripped off, and a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. She’d come to Vegas for a weekend job and a poker tournament and had somehow fallen in love. Her mom would question her judgment, and Rylee didn’t blame her. Kathleen Colton was not known for her own good judgment though, so Rylee didn’t think she had much room to talk.

With a sigh, she tapped her mom’s name and hit the green phone icon. Might as well get this over with.

“Rylee?” her mom answered.

“Hi, Mom,” Rylee said, clearing her throat. Why was she nervous talking to her mom?

“What is it?”

She blew out a breath. “It’s nothing, Mom. I’m just calling to check in and let you know I might not be coming home for a few months.”

“Months? I thought you were only going to stay in Vegas for a few weeks.”

“I was. But I met someone and we’re going to spend some time together. We might even get married.”

Her mother was silent. Never a good sign.

“Mom?” Rylee asked after several long seconds.

“I’m here, honey. I just. Are you sure? How long have you known this man?”

“How do you know it’s a man?” Her voice took on an edge that only her mother could bring out in her.

“So, you’re a lesbian now?”

She sighed. “No, Mom. I’m not a lesbian. I’ve known him a couple of weeks. But I’m in love.”

“Oh, Rylee. Don’t be ridiculous. Come home. I can pay for your ticket.”

Rylee snorted. She’d been bailing her mom out of financial jams since she graduated from college.

“Honestly, Rylee. You’re so impulsive. Why are you like this?”

“Says the woman who put half her life savings into a venture that turned out to be a scam. Can you just be happy for me, Mom? He has offices in Arizona, even has a house there. I’ll bring him home soon.”

“So, he’s rich?”

She could practically hear the opportunism in her mother’s voice.

“Listen. I just wanted to let you know I’m not coming home for a while. But I’m here if you need me.”

“What’s his name?”

“I’ll tell you later. I don’t want you running background checks on my boyfriend. Just let me be happy and in love for a little while before you start grilling me.”

“I just want what’s best for you, sweetheart.”

She sighed. “I know, Mom. I should get off here. He’ll probably be home soon.” That was a lie. It would probably be another few hours before he got home. But she was done talking with her mother right now.

“Wait,” her mom said as she was about to end the call. “Promise me you won’t have a wedding without me.”

Rylee groaned. “I promise.” It wasn’t a promise she was sure she could keep because if Memphis walked in and told her he wanted to get married tonight she would do it, but her mom didn’t need to know that.

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