Page 28 of Ice Ice Maybe
Okay, I was not expecting that from him.
I was never one of those girls who had dreamed about their wedding day since they were five years old. I wasn’t even into fairy tales where the prince rescues the princess and owns her forever. Still, I found myself picturing a wedding with Nolan, intimate yet elegant, just close friends and family. I could almost feel the soft lace of a vintage-inspired gown against my skin.
And the first dance …
Oh, how I loved first dances at weddings. The way the newlyweds looked into each other’s eyes, lost in their own world as they swayed to the music.
“What are you talking about?” Mitch asked, snapping me back to reality.
I blinked, the daydream dissolving as quickly as it had formed. What was I doing? This was supposed to be a fake relationship, not a path to the altar.
Nolan shrugged. “Well, I wanted it to be a surprise, but Vegas is known for quickie weddings.” He shrugged and winked at me. “You never know.”
Mitch scoffed, his face twisting in disbelief. “I don’t buy it. You two couldn’t have been together that long.”
“Why would you say that?” I asked, crossing my arms.
“Because you only have six pictures together on Instagram,” Mitch blurted out, then immediately looked like he regretted his words.
I smirked. “Aww, that’s so sweet. You’re stalking me online now? I don’t know if I should be touched or get a restraining order. And the reason we don’t have many pictures together is that I was keeping our relationship private until I knew he was a man of substance.” I looked up at Nolan, hoping my eyes conveyed genuine affection. “Now I know.”
Mitch’s gaze darted between us, confusion and frustration warring on his face. “No way. I still don’t buy it.”
“It doesn’t matter if you buy it,” Nolan said with a grin, adding, “Some of life’s best moments aren’t meant for public consumption. But hey, keep refreshing Zena’s profile. I’m sure it’s a great use of your time.”
The look on Mitch’s face was priceless, a mixture of embarrassment and blue-flame rage. Before he could retort, Nolan grabbed my hand.
“And on that note—we’ll see you at the game tonight!” he said, leading me down the hallway toward the elevator. “Because right now, we’ve got memories to make!”
Mitch’s hotel room door slammed shut as we stepped into the elevator. Nolan pushed the button for the lobby, his hand still gripping mine even though we were completely alone.
I glanced down at our intertwined fingers, expecting him to let go. I was mistaken. His grip remained steady, not even a hint of wanting to let go as the floors passed us by.
39, 38, 37, 36, 35 …
I don’t know why I was so obsessed with it, because truth be told, I didn’t mind one bit. In fact, the warmth of his palm against mine sent a pleasant tingle up my arm. I wasn’t sure if he had forgotten we were holding hands or if he was enjoying it as much as I was.
“What?” Nolan asked, catching me staring at our hands again.
I glanced up, hoping there was no visual evidence of my embarrassment. “Nothing. I was going to say that was good acting with Mitch.”
He winked. “Who says I’m acting?”
It wasn’t the first time he had said that. Okay, I didn’t know if he was playing with me, but before I could process that commentfurther, the elevator doors opened to the lobby. Nolan led me to the exit, his stride purposeful.
“Do you actually know where we’re going?” I asked, half-jogging to keep up with his longer legs.
He gave me that mischievous smile that was becoming all too familiar. “Like I told Mitch, we’re going to make memories. Now that we know for sure he’s all over your Instagram, it’s time to really give him something to look at. Let’s turn up the heat.” He paused, glancing at my mouth. “Did you bring any lip gloss with you?”
Okay, that was an odd question.
“Yes,” I replied. “Why?”
Nolan’s eyes lingered on my lips a moment longer. “Because you’re definitely going to be needing it.”
I fought back a smile as we stepped out into the hot Vegas sun, ready and looking forward to whatever came next.
Our first stop was the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, a breathtaking oasis of flowers inside the hotel. As we entered, we were enveloped by a symphony of colors and fragrances that transformed the conservatory into a whimsical wonderland. Towering sunflowers reached toward the glass ceiling, their golden petals seeming to glow in the midday light. To our right, a massive floral elephant stood majestically, its entire body meticulously crafted from thousands of vibrant blooms.
