“Right. We’re just going to go out into the Atlantic Ocean and catch one?”
“I’m sure that shark, Mary Lee, is still swimming around out there.”
“Mary Lee?” I chuckled. “You want to go catch a sixteen-foot great white?” Currently, Mary Lee was the most famous shark. Researchers had captured her so they could put a tracker on her and follow her whereabouts. The last I’d heard, she’d gone silent, but they assumed it was because the battery in the tracker died.
“I’m teasing, man, but it does look sick in the middle of the bar.”
We continued to slowly walk along the side. The shark was cut up into three pieces, and each piece was in a giant glass box. The bar was in a circle, and from every angle you could see all of the beast.
“We should get a drink here,” I suggested. “Maybe we can pick up some new drinks to serve back at Halo.”
Easton nodded. “I like your thinking.”
We didn’t really see anything new and exciting on the menu at Unknown—with a thirteen-foot tiger shark as a focal point, the place didn't need a standout name because people were drawn to the giant ass shark—so Easton suggested the slots again.
I nodded. “Yeah. I didn’t come to Vegas to pay for overpriced drinks when I own a bar.”
“Agree.”
We walked back toward the center of the casino floor, trying to find a good spot to sit. The machines were tighter than jeans after Thanksgiving dinner, but slots were one of those games we could pretend to play, only hitting the button when a waitress walked by.
“I’ve yet to see a celebrity,” I mentioned.
“We were sitting at a bar for a half hour. Not like we were scouting the place.”
“By the way you were talking, I’d assumed the place would be crawling with A-listers.”
“They’re probably in the high roller room.”
I bobbed my head slightly. “They probably are.”
“Should we check that room out?”
“Do you have money to play there?”
“Do you?” Easton countered.
I didn’t have a lot of money on me because I’d left most of it in the safe in the hotel room. After Nic and I said I do, we would spend one more day and night in Vegas and then I was taking her on our honeymoon. She didn’t know where we were going. It was going to be a surprise, and I was excited to see the smile on her face when she found out.
“I have some money,” I stated.
“Me too.”
“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.
I couldn’t believe it was my wedding day.
The only reason I was able to sleep the night before was because I got drunk and passed out as soon as Brooke and I got back to our room. When I woke up, I still had my jeans on, but my top was gone, and I was sleeping in my bra. I knew we’d had a good night.
I heard Brooke step out of the bathroom and crawl into her bed. “I need a cheeseburger stat,” I groaned.
“And fries,” Brooke grumbled.
Yep, we were hungover. “What time is it?”
There was a slight pause before she replied, “Eleven.”
We didn’t need to be at the venue until three. That was when a hairstylist and makeup artist were arriving to get me ready for my big night. The wedding was to start at six, followed by a small reception at the location. The final headcount was fifteen and that included Avery’s parents if they showed.
“I wanted to see a little of Vegas before the wedding, but since it’s already eleven, how about we order room service and just relax before we need to head over?” I suggested.
“It’s your big day,” Brooke replied. “I’ll do whatever you want to do.”
“What I want is for my headache to go away.”
She got out of her bed, walked into the bathroom, and then returned. “Take these.” She held out her hand.
I sat up and took the pills from her. I threw them into my mouth and tossed them back with a swig of water from the bottle on the nightstand. “What if I feel like shit when I
’m saying my vows?”
Brooke walked over to the desk and grabbed the room service menu. “We better get grease into you so there’s less of a chance.”
“Yes,” I agreed and fell back against the pillow.
“You want me to order you a cheeseburger or do you want to look at the menu?”
“Bacon cheeseburger, fries, and a chocolate milkshake. I need all the grease and carbs I can get to soak up the booze.”
By the time Brooke and I made it to the venue, my hangover wasn’t subsiding. In fact, I felt worse.
“Hey, Nicole. Ready for your big day?” Jessica, my wedding coordinator, asked.
“Yep.” I tried to put on a happy face, but I also wanted to puke. When in Vegas, right? Sigh.
She frowned slightly. “Are you okay?”
I looked at Brooke, sighed, and then back to Jessica. “Just hungover.”
Jessica smiled. “Party a little too hard last night?”
“I don’t remember,” I admitted with a shrug.
“We tried to soak it up with grease and aspirin, but it didn’t work,” Brooke groaned.
Jessica chuckled. “Grease doesn’t work like people think. You need a banana and water, or eggs, salmon, or avocados.”
“Had your fair share of hangovers?” I asked.
Jessica smiled. “Had my fair share of brides with hangovers.”
“I can go find us bananas and guacamole,” Brooke suggested.
“How about you go into the bridal suite and start getting ready? I’ll get our chef to whip you up something, or I’ll find you those bananas,” Jessica proposed instead.
I blew out a breath. “Thank you.”
Jessica escorted Brooke and me to the suite. The hair stylist and makeup artists were waiting, and while they did their thing to make me look like the princess I’d always wanted to be, Jessica brought us chips and guac. After we scarfed it down, I started to feel better.
“All set,” Laney, the hair stylist, said.
I looked in the mirror and saw the elegant updo that made me feel almost like a bride. “Time to put on my dress?”
She smiled. “I’d say so.”
I turned to see Brooke holding it up on the hanger. “Yep, it’s time.”
As I reached to take the dress from her, there was a knock at the door. She handed me the dress and then went to see who was at the door.
“Oh, hey.”
“Is Nic ready?” I heard my mom ask. She walked into the small room, and we smiled at each other. “You look so beautiful, honey.” She reached out her arms, and I stepped into them.
“But I don’t even have my dress on.”
“Doesn’t matter.” She waved me off as we broke apart. “You’re already radiant and the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen.”
“Thank you.” I smiled.
“Avery looks handsome too.”
I silently chuckled. “I guess that means he’s here.”
“Of course he is.”
Slipping the sleek, lace dress from the hanger, I handed it back to Brooke and then stripped out of the robe I was wearing. “Are his parents here?”
Mom scrunched her brows. “I don’t recall seeing them, but I met Easton’s parents.”
My heart fell. I was seriously hoping they’d show. Their son was a good man—the best man. I didn’t understand how parents could turn a blind eye all because he didn’t fulfill their dreams for him. That was the thing: it was their dream, not his. And did it really matter that he wasn’t a professional baseball player? He was a successful bar owner in New York City—a city that had over ten thousand bars.
“Let’s get you in your dress,” Brooke spoke up. “Today is your day, and you don’t need to worry about Avery’s parents.”
“Brooke’s right, honey. If his parents don’t show, don’t let that bring you down. No one likes their in-laws anyway.”
That wasn’t necessarily true because we all loved Easton’s parents, but I understood what my mother was saying. I nodded, took a deep breath, and stepped into my dress. I slipped the ivory lace on and let everything clear my mind except for the fact that I was about to become Mrs. Avery Scott.
The sun had fully set by the time I stepped out of the bridal suite. It was a crisp night, but I was on cloud nine and the cold wasn’t phasing me. The white lights illuminated the courtyard, and I knew that just beyond the trees blocking my view of the gazebo, Avery was waiting for me.
Avery.
The man who I’d met on a cruise ship. The man who had fallen in love with me. The man who had cared for me through everything we’d been through in the short amount of time we’d been together.
The man who I loved more than anything.
“Are you sure about this?” Dad asked from beside me.
I looked up into his blue eyes that were like mine. “Never been this sure about anything else.”
“It’s not too late.”
“I know. But Avery’s the one. My one. The one who makes everything better.”
Dad stuck out his arm for me to hook mine in. “Then we better get you married.”
“Thanks, Daddy.”
He kissed the top of my head, and I caught Jessica’s eye. I nodded to her and a few seconds later, “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri started to filter in from the speakers. Then I took my first step toward the man who I knew I would love for more than a thousand years.
The moment Avery came into view, dressed in a black tux with a white dress shirt, everything around me disappeared. I thought that only happened in romance novels, but it was true. It was him and me and no one else. The smile he gave me was the one I knew I could count on for the rest of my life. He made me happy, made me strong, and while I didn’t understand why we’d lost our baby, I knew that no matter what, we’d always have each other. He was my prince, and I knew that we’d eventually fill our castle.
Maybe we weren’t meant to start our family yet. Life was weird like that. Maybe God was waiting to give us one when Brooke and Easton decided to grow their family. Maybe I would get pregnant tonight. Maybe. I didn’t know the answers other than Avery Scott was my soulmate. He was the reason I got up each morning. The reason I breathed. We’d fought for this moment through the ups and the one down that still crushed me every time I thought about what we’d lost. But I knew there was a reason, and I was excited to find out what our future held.
Today was the first day of the rest of our lives.
I’d heard that saying before, but now, I understood what it meant. We were becoming man and wife. We were becoming Mr. and Mrs. Avery Scott. We were becoming one.
Dad gave me to Avery, and as I turned to look up into Avery’s azure eyes, he wiped a tear from my cheek. I hadn’t realized that I was crying.
“Don’t cry,” he whispered.
“These are happy tears,” I assured him. Anyone could make me smile, and people could make me cry, but it was Avery who made me smile with tears of joy in my eyes.
“Good, because I didn’t get cold feet,” he teased.
I smiled. “I didn’t either.”
The minister, who was not Elvis, began the ceremony. I wasn’t sure what he said because as far as I was concerned, Avery and I were the only ones in the courtyard. I stared into his blue eyes the entire time.
Avery cleared his throat and began to speak. “Nic, my beautiful bride, my one and only, today and every day I promise to love you, to honor you, to make you laugh. May the way I look at you and treat you reflect the truth that I’ve loved you since the first time I ever laid eyes on you in the middle of the ocean. You’re the light to my darkness, and I never truly understood what love was until I found you. You make me the happiest man in the entire universe, and today I vow that I will love you until my dying breath.”
More tears streamed down my face as all of his words sank in. I swallowed, trying to remember what I wanted to tell him. Finally, as I looked into the eyes I wanted to bare my soul to, I was able to find my words. “Avery,
I searched for you my entire life. While I always wanted the fairytale that most girls wish for, I’ve realized that life isn’t always unicorns and rainbows, and I know that love isn’t always perfect. Love is overcoming obstacles, facing challenges, fighting to be together, and holding on and never letting go. Love is realizing that every hour, every minute, and every second was worth it because we did it together. We’ve had our heartbreak, but we made it through, and today I vow to you that I will love you through the good times and the bad. I will love you until the day after forever.”
The minister spoke again and we said our “I do’s.”
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
Avery grinned, and the moment his lips touched mine, I felt the love, the passion, the desire. I was so thankful that we’d chosen to get married at a venue where the wedding wouldn’t last hours. I wanted to run down the aisle, hand in hand, and go directly to our suite where we wouldn’t leave until it was time for our week-long honeymoon. However, we had an hour to eat, drink, and be merry.
“I missed you,” Avery whispered into my ear as we stood near the gazebo to take pictures.
I smiled warmly up at him. “I missed you too.”
“Did you girls have a fun night?”
“Met some ladies who got male escorts to marry them.”
Avery balked. “No shit?”
I nodded. “Fascinating stories, and made for a fun night.”
“Easton and I partied with Jason Black.”
I drew my head back. “You’re joking, right?”
He smiled as the photographer continued to take candid pictures of us. “Not joking. He signed a bar napkin for you.”
“And you couldn’t call me?”
Avery shrugged. “We were doing our own thing.”
“But … But that’s Jason Black. You know I have a hall pass for him.”
“And that’s why I didn’t call you.”
I took a deep breath. “I can’t believe you didn’t text me.”
“In all fairness, you didn’t miss much. We played craps and won some money. The end.”
“I’m still bummed you met him,” I admitted.
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