Page 3 of From Ice to Home
1
HANNAH
Ihave no idea what I’m doing here.
The lights are too bright and too dim at the same time, the ceilings are confusing, and the jingling of the slot machines seem to be everywhere even if they’re nowhere in sight. As we make our way across the hotel lobby to the restaurant on the ground floor, I can’t help but wonder what on earth got into me when I accepted Mona and Liz’s invitation to come to Vegas for two days. The countless people around us are chatting and giggling without end, the sound of high heels on the polished tiled floor pushing me to the brink of insanity.
“Tell me again why I agreed to this?” I ask Mona, who’s excitingly clutching her new handbag like a newborn baby. Her dark hair is curled over her shoulders, while she’s all geared in her brand new outfit and make-up. In comparison, I’m more like sad Sally-May dressed in my leather boots, but it’s what I packed and I refused to let them buy me shoes to go with the dress they insisted on getting for me. To say that I wasn’t completely prepared for this, would be an understatement.
“Because you love me and you know this is what normal people do!” She gestures toward the crowd with pride shiningon her face as she twirls around. She stops abruptly, holding up a finger. “Wait, before we take one more step, phones out.”
“Why do you need my phone?” I ask, taking it out of my purse and watching as Liz does the same.
Mona takes Liz’s first then mine, her fingers moving across the screen with practiced ease. “I just want to make sure we can all find each other,” she says innocently. “You know, in case the night takes a turn for the better.”
Taking back my phone, I shove it in my bag, not sure I want to ask why she would think us needing to resort to Google location, would mean the night improved.
“Right, this is all normal,” I say, referring to Mona’s expectations of the night and looking at the people all around me. It might just be my opinion, but everything and everyone here feels over the top. I’ve seen a few women with barely any clothes on and right now, there’s a lady dressed in a red, formal gown with diamonds the size of Pluto in her ears walking past us.
Moving from Georgetown to Durham has had its adjustments, but when I was paired with Mona and Liz on our first day, it just became a bit easier to navigate the things I wasn’t used to. Somehow they’ve lured me out of my shell, and I’ve coaxed them back into theirs.
Although, Mona is still a work in progress.
Liz follows my gaze. “Yeah, Han, Mona doesn’t know what normal is. That red dress and bling might be a bit too ambitious for you.” She doesn’t say it as a dig toward me, but rather a statement of fact. You won’t find me wearing something like that.Ever. And if the occasion calls for it, then it’s an occasion I won’t be attending.
“You know we love you despite your Southern roots,” she adds, linking her arm through mine.
“Despite?” I ask with a laugh. “I thought it was the reason you two keep me around.“
“Right,” Liz says, smiling at me. “Which is why we’re just grateful someone like you decided two heiresses from Manhattan were worth your time.”
Somehow, they’ve managed to convince me to go against my very nature tonight. I’m a small town girl from South Carolina—the local pastor’s daughter. Which means I know everyone in my town and they know me. So, even though I have a plan for my life—one that does not include small town life—I always thought that maybe city life would be better.
But now that I’ve been here for all of three hours, I’m dead certain that Sin City is not the place for me.
When Mona insisted that I dress up with them, I had no choice but to concede and put on the dress she bought for me. Although I had to draw the line at wearing high heels, especially the ones she thought would be appropriate. I would’ve been wheeled off to the emergency room if I attempted to walk in those things. Even the dress isn’t completely my style, but it had some redeeming factors. The hem is definitely a little too short, but I like the long lace sleeves and high neckline helping me with the modesty factor. The entire back of the dress is missing for some reason, but at least my hair covers it. I’ve never been so grateful that I have never cut my hair in my life.
Liz hooks her arm into mine as we make our way into the restaurant. The lights are dim, casting a warm glow that dances across the walls, while electric fireplaces flicker invitingly, their flames making the room feel cozy. The air is filled with delicious aromas from the kitchen, making my mouth water. Small blue lights trace the contours of a long bar at the back of the room, the cool light contrasting with warmth of the dining room.
The Maitre’d greets us with a polite smile, quickly scanning the reservation list for Mona’s name before leading us through the dining area. The sound of clinking glasses and hushedconversations wraps around me, making me feel a hundred times more comfortable than I was a few minutes ago.
We settle at a table close to one of the fireplaces, the gentle crackle of the flames soothing me even more. I start to relax, taking in the elegant decor of the place. From our table we have a clear view of the bartenders gliding behind the bar with choreographed precision as they serve the people in front of them.
“This is supposed to be the best restaurant in town,” Mona says, taking out her platinum credit card and waving at us. “And thanks to Daddy, we’ll get to enjoy everything the chef has to offer.”
I’ve learned not to argue with her when she whips that thing out. Because usually it’s a sure sign of her mind being made up. If it were up to my own bank account, I wouldn’t be here. I’d be at a little coffee shop with the freshest, most buttery, croissant you can imagine.
That is the biggest treat in life.
This restaurant is doing an amazing job of convincing me that Vegas might not be that bad. Although, I’m sure the moment I step out of those doors, I’ll feel different again. Either way, I’ll try my best to make the best of this trip. It’s only two days, which seems like a small thing in light of our four year friendship.
“One of these days, he’s going to cut you off,” Liz says to Mona, flipping her dark ponytail over her shoulder. “And then what will you do?”
“By then, I plan on being married to someone with one just like it,” Mona answers with a smirk. “My father didn’t get where he is, only for me to drop the ball. I might not be able to contribute to the family fortune the same way he does, but trust me, I’m going to do all I can to stay in the game.”
“You’re the worst,” I say, unable to keep myself from smiling at my friend. She might have a rich girl streak in her, thinkingher money is the most important thing about her. But to the two of us know her better than she knows herself—beneath all the platinum she has a heart of gold.
“Not all of us plan on actually using our degree,” Mona says with a grin. “I’m at Duke to please the parents. Besides, any husband who’d want to frame my degree probably isn’t in the right tax bracket. I’m not made to work, ladies.”
