All In

by Nell Stark

  Nova wanted to go home, only she wasn’t sure where that was anymore. She had lost the easy synchrony she’d once shared with her roommates, especially since she insisted on sleeping alone ever since her return. Her parents were nice enough, and even proud of her in their fashion, but she wasn’t about to move back in with them. Increasingly, other people were making her claustrophobic. She needed her own space.

  One of the few women in the group approached her then, Royal Flush cap in hand, to ask for an autograph on behalf of her teenage daughter. That cheered her up a little. As she handed the hat back with a smile, though, she could have sworn she caught a glimpse of Vesper across the room. Her heart thundered and her palms broke out into a sweat, but when she looked again, “Vesper” was gone. Probably because she had never been there to begin with. Rolling her eyes at her own imagination, Nova downed what was left of her scotch. She needed to clear her head and get some fresh air.

  At the far end of the room was an observation deck looking out over a stretch of pristine white sand that gave way to the Pacific. Nova walked down to the far corner of the deck and rested her forearms on the railing. Turning her face into the sea breeze, she closed her eyes and let its wild fingers comb through her hair.

  “You were right about the ocean,” said a familiar voice behind her. “It’s incredible.”

  Nova spun so quickly she made herself dizzy. Vesper stood five feet away, wearing a dress the color of her eyes. Her freckles stood out vividly against the pale skin of her shoulders, and all Nova wanted in that moment was to kiss each spot in turn. Waves of emotion roared in her head: love, need, fear, desire. She swallowed and fought for breath to speak.

  “Hi.”

  Vesper’s lips quirked. “Hi.”

  “You…you’re here.”

  “That’s true.” Vesper seemed to be enjoying her incoherence. “I am.”

  Nova couldn’t seem to care that she wasn’t making sense. Vesper was here. Vesper had sought her out. That had to mean something, didn’t it? “How…what…” She shook her head. “It’s good to see you. Great, even. You look amazing.”

  “And you look exhausted.” Vesper took a step forward, then paused.

  Nova had nothing left to lose. The realization was freedom. “It’s hard to fall asleep without you next to me. I miss you.” Vesper opened her mouth, but Nova soldiered on. “I’m so sorry. What I said, that night…I didn’t mean it that way. I swear.”

  One of Vesper’s eyebrows quirked. “Good. Because if you think I’m going to give up my career—”

  “I don’t.” Nova leapt frantically into the breach. “I’d never want you to do that. I’ll commute between Vegas and Frisco. I will.” She knew she was sounding increasingly desperate, but she didn’t care. “Really.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Vesper said into the silence.

  Nova’s heart froze. “Y—you don’t?”

  “I don’t live in Las Vegas anymore. I live here, in Los Angeles.” When she smiled, Nova realized her shock must be apparent. “Priscilla asked me to take over one of her investments.”

  Nova shook her head slowly. “I’m going to need you to spell this out.”

  Vesper closed the gap between them and raised her hands to cup Nova’s face. At that first intimate touch, Nova shivered. “She inherited a chain of luxury hotels from her husband. I’ve taken charge of the one here in LA. I’m supposed to revitalize it—to transform it into a prototype for the entire international chain.”

  Nova couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “But what about Vegas? You’ve worked so hard to build a life there.”

  “Priscilla helped me realize I’ve done everything I can as a host. Anything else would be variations on a theme. That’s not what I want.”

  “It isn’t?” Nova felt completely adrift.

  “No. I want to build something that’s lasting. With the hotel and with us.”

  “Us?” Nova thought she understood what Vesper was driving at, but she didn’t want to make unwarranted assumptions.

  “You know, Priscilla offered me a choice of hotels. Tokyo. London. New York. A few others. I chose this one because it was closest to you.”

  “You did?” Nova stepped back in surprise, severing their connection.

  At the loss of contact, Vesper noticeably paled. “I just realized how presumptuous that sounds. If you don’t—”

  Nova couldn’t suppress an incredulous smile. “You did all of this so we could be together.”

  “Yes. Together.” Vesper’s eyes were bright and intense. “Ocean and desert. A compromise. I’m going all in, here. I’ll even tell you my name.”

  Nova’s chest swelled with emotion. Vesper wanted her. Not just for the moment, but for the future. Sliding her arms around Vesper’s waist, Nova pulled their bodies flush. “I love you,” she murmured. “And your name is Vesper.”

  Vesper braced her hands on Nova’s shoulders and searched her face through blurry eyes. “I love you,” she said, her voice quivering. “You’re mine.”

  Nova kissed her forehead; her cheeks; the dimple in her chin. She had never felt so certain, so content. “I’ll call that bet.”

  About the Author

  Nell Stark is the Chair of English, Philosophy, and Religious Studies at a college in the SUNY system. She and her wife live with their son and dog just a stone’s throw from the historic Stonewall Inn in New York City. For more information, visit www.nellstark.com.

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