Page 10 of My One
“Then let’s walk over there and see if anyone is there. If not, we go back to the plan of drinking by the slots.”
Without hesitation, we walked in the direction of the high roller room. Apparently, some guys go to Vegas for the strip clubs or to get drunk at clubs. But Easton and I? We had other plans. I had no desire to go to a titty bar or spend twenty bucks for drinks at a club. I just wanted to hang with my best friend and then tomorrow marry the love of my life. The girls, on the other hand, were clubbing. Girls could do that. They could go into a club, dance with each other and have a good time. I couldn’t picture Easton and me dancing together.
We walked into the dark room that had black walls, crown molding, and an elaborate chandelier hanging over four blackjack tables. Adjacent was a room with slots, and to the back of the room was a private bar. For some reason, I felt as though I didn’t belong in the room. It wasn’t because I was poor—far from it. Halo was thriving, but betting an enormous amount on a single hand wasn’t me. And because Easton had been my best friend our entire lives, I knew it wasn’t him either.
As I scanned the tables, I realized no one looked familiar. “I think it’s just you and me tonight,” I stated to Easton.
He nodded. “Looks like it. Let’s do this the cheap way.”
I chuckled, and we both exited the glamorous room. The older I got, the more I just wanted to relax. Maybe it was because of the year I’d had. I felt as though Nic and I had both grown as people over the last few months. Losing a baby had taken a lot out of me. That was why Nicole was my light at the end of my tunnel. To some, the light reflected death, but to me, the light was my forever.
A cheer erupted near the card tables, and I turned to see a group of people standing near the craps table. “What’s going on there?” Easton asked.
We moved closer, and I saw the craps shooter. “Is that …?” Jason Black, the star of Nicole’s favorite show,How to Get the Girl, was playing craps.
Nic was going to be so jealous.
“See.” Easton slapped me on the arm. “Told you celebrities hang out at The Palms.”
“The girls are going to hate us.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, they are.”
I dug into my pocket and pulled out my phone. After taking a quick picture, I hesitated. Should I send Nic a picture of her celebrity crush now or should I show her after we were officially married? I decided not to send it.
“Shall we?”
“What? Play craps with him?” I asked.
“Sure. Why not? We’re in Vegas, right?”
I bobbed my head. “Yeah.”
We walked closer to the table. Jason was still the shooter, and some guy who’d had one too many was betting against him as he slurred his jabs at Jason. I didn’t fully understand craps, but the way the guy was talking to Jason, it was apparent there was some sort of rivalry between them.
I opened my wallet and pulled out a hundred dollar bill.
“You’re going to bet?” Easton asked.
I shrugged. “Sure, might as well.”
Easton pulled out his wallet and did the same. Before Jason threw the dice, one of the dealers exchanged the bills for chips. We each placed minimum bets on the Pass Line.
“You two know betting with the shooter is the worst possible way to win money, right? You need to bet on the Don’t Pass Line,” the drunk guy said.
I shrugged. “Maybe, but it’s not as fun when we win.”
“Exactly!” Jason boomed. “These guys know what to do.”
“The odds are with the house,” the guy argued.
“Don’t listen to him.” Jason leaned over. “He’s pissed I’m on a winning streak.”
I smiled. “Then I guess it’s good I’m betting with you.”
“Damn straight.”
We played for a few hours, and Easton and I both walked away with a wad of money. Not a bad way to start the rest of my life with Nicole. Now, I was going to give her the world, starting with the best honeymoon possible.
