Page 29 of Champagne & Handcuffs
You and Me.
7
Seth
Present Day – Eleven Years Later
It was hot.
It was hot as fuck.
Fuck it was hot outside.
I always thought Vegas was called Sin City because of their motto: What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas. I knew that wasn’t the reason Vegas was referred to as Sin City, but a lot of shit goes down in Las Vegas that people don’t want to recall. They lose all their money, they hook-up with strangers, they drink until they black out or they pay for sex. But to me, it was called Sin City because the moment I stepped out of the airport, I walked into the Devil’s playground. It literally felt as though fire was burning in the wind and I was in the fucking shade.
How was I going to survive in Hell? I didn’t even know how long I’d be in the Lake of Fire. All I knew was Joss and the FBI needed my help with an undercover case she was on. Apparently, she’d requested me. Joss and I had both focused on our careers over the years, and while she went into the FBI, I’d worked my way up to detective.
The cab I grabbed at the airport pulled up to a two-story house, and after I grabbed my bag, I made my way to the door. I rang the doorbell, stood in the Netherworld for what felt like hours, and then my best friend, Joss, opened the door.
“Miss me?”
She squealed and rushed into my arms. “I’m so happy you’re here.”
We hugged for a moment and then pulled away. She still had a smile on her face. “Vegas looks good on you, kid.”
“I have so much to tell you. Get in here.” Joss waved me in. After she shut the door, a dude was coming down the stairs.
“Paul, this is Seth. Seth, this is—”
“Her fiancé,” he informed me and stuck out his hand.
I turned to Joss, shocked and not realizing I’d left Paul hanging. “Fiancé?”
He pulled Joss against his side and then kissed the top of her head. For as long as I’d known her, I’d never seen Joss with a guy. I’d only heard about her failed dates like she’d heard all about mine. For the past eleven years, no woman had felt right. It was as though a part of me was missing, and I searched, but only to come up short each time. I hadn’t even heardhervoice since the nightshedrove away from me before I could explain the date I was on wasn’t real. I tried calling and texting Cat, but she never responded. Then one year turned into two, and two turned into five, and five turned into eleven.
“A lot has happened since I moved to Vegas,” Joss said with a smile.
“Apparently.” I laughed. “Well, let’s pop the champagne, and you two can tell me all about it before we dive into why I’m here.”
“So you’re the best friend this one has known almost her entire life?” Paul asked, nudging his elbow against Joss.
I nodded. “That would be me.”
“Well, it’s great to finally meet you. Do you like tequila? I’m more of a tequila man myself.” He chuckled.
“Yeah, anything really.”
“Do we have any tequila?” Paul asked Joss.
I wrinkled my brow and pointed to Joss. “You’re asking her?” I found it weird because I knew what alcohol was in my house. Granted I lived alone.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I just moved in about an hour ago.”
“What? Really?” Moved in an hour ago? How long had they been engaged? “Does that explain the pictures on the floor by the door?”
Joss turned to a cabinet and pulled out a full bottle ofPatrón. “Um—that kinda explains the pictures on the floor.” She laughed. “And I just bought a bottle this morning.”
“Okay. So explain.” I took a seat on a barstool at the kitchen island. “You two are really engaged?”
