“God, it’s hot,” Tiffany said, dragging her luggage with her.
“Don’t you start. You suggested Vegas,” Molly warned her, pulling her trusty suitcase.
“Let’s just get to the hotel. I want to get in the pool,” said Tiffany.
“I think I’m ready for some drinks by the pool,” Mackenzie added, grabbing the large, dark sunglasses from the top of her head then placing them over her eyes. “It is a tad bright here, though.”
“Gosh, so glad you guys convinced me to come.” Molly laughed as they emerged into a loud and crowded airport. The ringing of slot machines welcomed them properly to Vegas.
“Let’s get our car and get out of here.” Mackenzie led the way to the rental counter that had several people already waiting to be helped.
“What’s the game plan? You guys want to grab some lunch or something?” Tiffany was staring at her cell phone. “I’m trying to see what they have here. You guys feeling like a burger?”
“Too heavy,” Mackenzie answered.
“Pizza?” Tiffany tried again, not looking up from her phone, moving slowly in the line.
“Too hot,” Mackenzie replied, taking her wallet out of her large Chanel bag as they neared the counter, inching closer.
“And I’m the difficult one?” Molly teased. “You know what I could go for?”
“Hmm?” Tiffany looked up.
“Greek, like a falafel or something,” Molly answered.
“Only one place for that and it’s back home—the Grecian Corner by the Needle.” Mackenzie smiled as the line moved forward a bit more.
Molly’s tummy growled. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was. “Good point. I love that place. Their calamari is amazing.”
Tiffany turned her attention back to her phone, searching desperately for food options. “Seafood?”
“Not here. You guys keep picking stuff that we could eat back home,” Mackenzie complained when they finally reached the counter. Mackenzie gave the clerk her name and started filling out paperwork for the small sedan they would be renting.
They packed their suitcases in the trunk of the fire-engine-red car. It was incredibly compact, but it would do the job.
“Crank the air conditioning, please,” Tiffany begged Mackenzie, who was exiting the enormous rental car lot. “It’s insane how hot it is here.”
Molly sat in the back seat and gazed out of the small window. “What did you expect, Tiffany? We’re in the desert.”
“I know, but still… I’m not acclimated. I’m a Pacific Northwest girl. I don’t really do heat.”
“Then why did you drag us to Vegas?” Molly laughed.
“Because it’s going to be awesome, so you’re welcome for all the thanking you will be doing later.” Tiffany smirked and winked at Molly.
* * * *
Okay, so maybe Tiffany was right. The hotel was beyond plush. It was golden and regal. Molly felt like a princess, and that was just checking in at the lobby desk.
“This place is incredible, Tiff,” Molly whispered under her breath as they received the key to their suite.
“Oh, babe, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.” Tiffany sported a wide grin as she spun around with her arms outstretched and led them toward the elevator that would take them to their floor.
Elevators were not Molly’s favorite thing, but this one was grand. It had spotless mirrored walls, not a single fingerprint or smudge to be found, glittering tile, and she had to admit it was one of the smoother rides she’d taken.
Molly couldn’t believe her eyes as they exited. What she saw was almost too fancy, and it was just a hallway.
“Our castle awaits, my queens.” Tiffany slid the thin plastic card into their door until the lock glowed green. They all gasped when Tiffany pushed the door open.
“Oh my God.” Mackenzie’s eyes went wide as she headed straight for the giant window that offered a spectacular view of the best bits of Vegas.
Molly peeked into a door off to the side—a bathroom fit for royalty. A shower that was almost the size of her entire bathroom was already calling her name. “I call dibs on the first shower.”
Tiffany snaked her head into the bathroom and glanced around. “Wow, this is gorgeous.”
“Right,” Molly said.
They walked to where Mackenzie was standing and all stared out at the incredible view, linking their arms together.
Molly sighed happily. “This vacation is exactly what we all needed. Thanks for convincing me to come along.”
* * * *
Could one really have on too much bronzer? Each of them patted the glittery powder all over their faces and chests, almost to the point of sparkling more than that vampire from the movie that had been filmed near Forks, Washington.
“Oh my God, we are going to have so much fun,” Tiffany exclaimed, reaching for the glass containing her pre-drink—rum and Diet Coke, to be exact—for their night out on the town.
They were all lined up in front of the giant mirror with the best lighting Molly had ever seen in a bathroom—the kind where every selfie would come out looking damn near professional. Molly had captured several great pictures of them as they’d gotten ready. It felt so much like old times. The nostalgia was hitting her hard and making her a sentimental mess.
Her cell phone vibrated in the rear pocket of her skinny jeans. Retrieving it would be a little difficult. When she finally did, she noticed that Owen had messaged her, and Molly let out a soft huff.
Shoving her phone back into her pocket, Molly polished off her drink, feeling the sting of the rum that had settled at the bottom hitting her throat. “Ick, that was rough.”
“Stir your cocktail better next time, love,” Mackenzie advised as she added more mascara to her already-long lashes.
“I did.” Molly carried her glass to the sink and washed her hands.
“Was that Owen?” Tiffany asked, while she applied lip liner, enhancing her perfectly shaped mouth.
“Yeah.” Molly didn’t want to get into a conversation about Owen, about why she kept ignoring his calls and texts. She didn’t want to dig deep into her psyche. No, she wanted to escape, to party like she was in her twenties with her girls. That wasn’t asking too much, was it?
“You need to at the very least tell that poor man where you are,” Mackenzie insisted, as she dabbed a pale, nearly sheer pink gloss along her lips.
“He knows where I am, Mackenzie.” Well, okay, that isn’t entirely true. He did know that she was busy and out of town. Molly didn’t feel like she needed to tell Owen every bit of her business. Guilt started to creep in. Did she owe him that, at the very least? Didn’t he deserve to know that she was safe and sound? Wasn’t that what real couples did—tell each other where they were, who they were with and what they were doing? She wasn’t sure that was even what she wanted.
Molly shooed the feelings away and scrunched her hair, adding some more curl to the wavy locks. As she looked in the mirror at her reflection, she saw a woman who was trying desperately to look young. Squeezing into the tight jeans should be considered a week’s worth of cardio in her book. She kept fussing with the cleavage-revealing top that Tiffany had told her would look great on her. It all screamed, I don’t want to grow old! I can still be young and fun. But the truth of the matter was that as Molly looked at all three of them in the mirror, she saw they were aging. They weren’t quite cougars, but they were definitely not the youthful bunch they once had been.
She examined the reflection of the women they had become. Mackenzie wore a slinky black top that exposed one of her thin shoulders. She had on stark white capris with strappy wedge sandals, causing her to tower over them even more. Tiffany was decked out in yet another pair of studded jeans that hugged the curves of her hips. She had paired a mauve silky top with a short leather jacket, one that Mackenzie had warned she would get overheated in, but it looked cute and Tiffany was willing to suffer all in the name of cuteness.
All three looked back at her in this w
indow of vanity. Mackenzie smiled, her smoky eyes still sad from the recent loss of her sister. Tiffany’s pouty smirk was the same one she’d always sported, yet the faint but visible, creases around her mouth were evidence that she was no longer that fresh-faced teen Molly had grown up with.
It seemed like only yesterday they had hit up clubs, dancing the night away, out on the prowl for hot guys then getting up the next day like nothing had happened. Now it took her days to recover from a night of partying. She had grown a little wiser and was not rockin’ her heels tonight. Instead she was wearing flat boots with her jeans tucked into them. They did nothing for her height, but the black leather that stretched mid-calf was pretty damn sexy.
They put on their final touches and were off for the night, tasting all that Vegas had to offer. They had a great time ducking into lounge after lounge.
Vegas was not like Seattle. It roared with an odd energy, mixed with crazy and sin. Seattle might feel a little weird, but it possessed a whole lot of charm. Perhaps it was the calming effect of the Puget Sound or the laid-back attitude of all the Seattleites. Either way, Molly felt like a fish out of water, a foreigner in this massive, high-wattage city.
“Did you guys just see that?” Tiffany’s cocoa-brown eyes were wide, her eyeliner slightly smudged from the heat that was cooking them, even though it was nearly ten at night.
“What did I miss?” Mackenzie spun around, surveying everything in their radius.
Tiffany’s mouth was parted in shock. “That was a flippin’ hooker, you guys.”
“No…seriously?” Molly tried scanning the people that were all about.
“Yep, like right out there in the open.” Tiffany pointed and started to wobble. They had just entered a small bar, downed a drink then decided it was a little too seedy for their taste.
“Stop pointing,” Mackenzie scolded. “Oh crap, I think I see her, or wait— Is that a guy?”
They all laughed and entered a club that was right off The Strip. It was jam-packed with people. Tiffany was like their leader, seizing control of where they went and not tolerating any belly-aching. She led them to a table that was just being vacated then flagged down a server for drinks.
“Vodka, girls?” Tiffany asked as the server, wearing the shortest skirt that Molly had ever seen, smiled patiently.
Mackenzie held up two fingers and nodded. Molly raised one finger. She was starting to feel a buzz and didn’t want to get full-on tipsy. It was early yet. The server returned with record speed and Tiffany lifted her slender glass, a small amount of the clear liquid splashing out as she toasted. “To friendship. I love you guys.” She downed a large swig after they all clinked their identical glasses.
The lighting inside the club gave off a purple hue. Not quite like a black light, but it was dark. Loud music poured from enormous speakers stacked on a stage where a DJ wearing large headphones was working what looked to Molly like a spaceship. He masterfully manipulated knobs, lights and buttons galore to please the swarm of people on the dance floor.
Tiffany chugged her drink. “Wanna dance?”
Mackenzie nodded and quickly swallowed both drinks, causing Molly to groan. Mackenzie wasn’t a lightweight when it came to holding her liquor. Being of Scottish descent, she always teased that she could drink most men under the table. It was the dancing. Molly didn’t want to admit it, but she was already exhausted and so ready to call it a night. Getting old sucks.
“Molly?” Tiffany raised one eyebrow and extended her hand to Molly.
“Do I have to?” Molly remained in the comfortable and plush chair.
“Uh, yeah. Woman, we are on vacation. Get your ass up,” Tiffany ordered firmly.
Molly whined, “Can’t I just rest a little longer? You guys can warm up the dance floor for me.”
“Nope, not an option, cupcake. Get your ass up.” Mackenzie reached for her and yanked Molly out of her seat.
Damn. For being a tall and skinny thing, Mac sure was strong.
“Fine, bossy-pants.” Molly inhaled sharply and readjusted her too-tight jeans that were now feeling like a sticky second skin. She grabbed what vodka was left and downed it in a single motion. After wiping her mouth, she said, “Let’s do this.”
They danced their butts off for what seemed like an eternity, but Mackenzie assured her it had only been a little over an hour. Somehow, Molly convinced them to head back outside. She desperately needed some air. With the combination of dancing her tail off and chugging a few more drinks, she was burning up.
Molly closed her eyes as the cool late-night air hit her. Relief. Tiffany was starting to giggle and act obnoxiously, not totally out of the norm for her when she’d had a little too much to drink.
“I’m hungry,” Tiffany whined, but Molly wasn’t so sure that putting food in Tiffany’s stomach would be the best idea. She was fairly certain that Tiffany would be getting sick tonight. Oh joy.
Mackenzie looked over and shrugged when Molly shook her head. “I think I saw a hot dog cart back that way.” Mackenzie pointed to the right.
“I don’t know if eating a hot dog is such a smart idea,” Molly countered. How many times had Molly cleaned up puke—in her car, off her floor…heck, even off her?
“I’m hungry too.” Mackenzie looped her arm around Tiffany’s and they set off in the direction of said mystery hot dog cart. Molly didn’t recall seeing one and could only imagine that chunks of hot dog and relish would be splattering the asphalt at some point tonight. Molly trailed behind them as they searched through the array of vendors that lined the street. Molly pulled out her cell phone and snapped various pictures. There were so many lights and people. Tomorrow she would need to venture out and take some decent photos with her camera.
“There he is!” Tiffany and Mackenzie both screamed as they found the small stainless-steel cart with a cleverly painted red and yellow striped umbrella. They each ordered a hot dog with everything—onions, relish, mustard and ketchup. Tiffany even added sauerkraut. Molly begrudgingly ordered one as well, but she added some bottles of water to her purchase.
Tiffany plopped down on the curb, Mackenzie joined her and eventually Molly did, too. Cars cruised by slowly. The foot traffic from the tourists moved all around them. The concrete curb had been cooked all day, and the warmth still radiated so much that Molly felt it heat up her bottom.
Molly glanced over and noticed that Mackenzie and Tiffany had practically scarfed down their food in record time. “I got you guys some water.” She tried passing them each a bottle but both refused. “You guys need to hydrate,” Molly insisted as she uncapped one and started to guzzle it. Now who is the mother hen?
“It’ll kill my buzz,” Tiffany explained as she crammed the last piece of bun into her mouth. “Besides, we’re headed over there next.” She pointed to a bar across the street. Patrons were spilling out into a roped-off outdoor beer garden. Rock music could be heard from where they were seated.
More partying? Molly didn’t want to ruin their fun, but she would have loved nothing more than to crawl into bed. She yawned and suggested, “Maybe we can check it out tomorrow?”
“Don’t be a Debbie Downer or, I guess, in this case, a Moping Molly,” Tiffany joked, causing Mackenzie to laugh so hard she snorted and dropped the last bite of her hot dog onto the ground.
“Oh no,” Mackenzie cried and stared at the hot dog on the filthy street. Tiffany swooped down and grabbed it.
“Here…five second rule.”
“Uh, no. I don’t think so.” Molly slapped it out of Tiffany’s hand.
Tiffany glared at her and whispered something into Mackenzie’s ear.
“Seriously, Tiffany?” Molly was starting to get more than a little annoyed.
“What?” Tiffany’s voice faked a shocked expression, Tiffany widened her eyes and her voice was high pitched. It started to grate on Molly’s nerves.
“You know very well what.”
“Moll, just pull the stick outta your ass.” Tiffany got off the
curb and dusted her butt off, then reached for Mackenzie. They both wobbled for a moment, then steadied themselves by leaning on each other for support.
Tiffany’s words stung a little. Molly used to be the fun one, and now she felt boring, and she was keeping them from having a good time. Maybe she should go back to hotel and leave them to their fun.
Mackenzie looked at her, as though she were trying to figure out what Molly was thinking. “Molly, you okay?”
She nodded. She was anything but okay. Molly felt like a third wheel for the first time in their friendship. She felt tired, like everything was changing and that she had no way of stopping it. She even missed Owen, a lot. What am I running from? Why am I so scared of everything that life is throwing at me? Because being an adult is terrifying. Molly was far from okay.
“Then let’s go,” Mackenzie prodded.
Molly rose off the curb and tried to act happy. Fake it. Don’t ruin this for them, especially Mackenzie.
Mackenzie grabbed her hand and all three skipped across the street to the bar with the beer garden. They entered the overly crowded venue, and Molly couldn’t help but wonder what the fire marshal would think. There were so many people inside. In order to gain access to the garden there was a small fee, then you were rewarded with a bright orange paper wristband and a couple of drink tickets. Tiffany spotted a plastic table that was unoccupied and Molly was relieved they would be sitting.
After they got situated, a waitress wearing short shorts that looked like sparkly undies took their drink order. People were milling around and dancing. The energy was relaxed. Laughter and drunken chit-chat surrounded them. People were having one helluva time. It had that comfortable house party feel, despite being filled to capacity, and Molly wished they could have spent their evening here instead of all the trendy nightclubs they had suffered through, filled with overly expensive drinks and snotty attitudes. No, this was much more Molly’s style.
Tiffany pounded down a couple of beers, even though Molly had insisted she stick with the same kind of liquor. Everyone knew that you never mixed beer with hard alcohol. It was like a drinking rule that everyone lived by. Mackenzie and Molly had stuck with vodka. Mackenzie was starting to slur her words, but she seemed to be enjoying herself.
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