“Paul Revere Williams?”
“Yes! Did you already know this, and I just explained this to you for no reason?”
“Architect is on my parents’ list of acceptable careers, so they reread his picture book biography to me often as a kid.” Ethan bit down on his lip sheepishly. I pointed to the wall. “Okay that, and the sign.”
“Well, that is one way to know his name.”
“I still appreciate the enthusiasm.” I nudged him with my hip. “Oh, and thanks for earlier.”
Ethan quirked an eyebrow.
“When you called me smart and funny and talented.”
“Oh.” His cheeks reddened. “Well, I wouldn’t thank me just yet. I did leave a quality off the list.”
“Is it my stunning fashion sense?” I smiled, spreading my arms wide to model my giant sweater again. “Because I think we thoroughly covered that already.”
“No.” Ethan laughed and shook his head. Looking directly in my eyes, he said, “I forgot to add that you’re beautiful,too.”
Now my face was hot. I opened my mouth, then closed it again, willing my brain to think of something clever or cute to say.
“Everyone here for the eight-fifteen tour?” A voice rocketed around the lobby, causing both of us to jump and saving me from myself. Next to me, Ethan’s hand flew to his chest. It was an extremely dainty gesture for someone who I could have used a lot of adjectives to describe—enthusiastic, hot, thoughtful, hot (again)—but definitely not dainty.
Ethan threw a look at me as the people around us nodded at the tour guide. “What?”
“You clutched your pearls like Buzzy,” I said, trying to get my laughter under control.
“Someone dressed like their grandma shouldn’t throw stones,” Ethan said in mock offense, a smile creeping into the corners of his mouth as he let his hand fall away.
After a few half-hearted mumbles, the guide grinned. “Alright, then let’s get started. We are standing in the lobby of the old La Concha Motel, designed by Paul Revere Williams…”
“Shoot,” I whispered to Ethan, trying to keep my voice down even as regret snaked its way through me. “I left my gear in the car.”
“Oops.” Ethan shrugged as if I hadn’t spoiled his whole plan.
“I can try—”
“Don’t worry about it.” Ethan gently bumped his shoulder against mine, his voice low in my ear. “We’ve got our phones if we want them. If not, we’ll just enjoy ourselves.”
I watched his face for a sign that he was upset, but if anything, he seemed almost happy about it. As if taking a night off from the internet and filming had been his plan all along…
If that was his plan, then this was most definitely a date. I grinned up at him.
“Ready?” Ethan asked as the people around us started moving, confusion lacing its way into his expression.
Great. Now I was staring at him with emoji heart eyes like that would compel him to kiss me. Not weird at all.
“Yup.” I nodded with too much enthusiasm and tried to wipe the absurdly big smile off my face. “Let’s go see some lights.”
“Okay.” Ethan eyed me like my sudden burst of enthusiasm was making him suspicious, then followed the crowd out the door.
“Wow.” I exhaled. “This is gorgeous.”
“Right,” Ethan whispered back, his face tinged with the same wonder I felt.
Outside was like stepping into another world. On The Strip, all the neon lights were overwhelming. Like my attention span was being torn into fifty-eleven different pieces. But here, in the quiet of the night outside the city’s main hustle, the neon was magical. Like someone had cast a spell over us.
As the guide started to explain all the vintage signs, from the Moulin Rouge, the first desegregated casino on The Strip, to the Red Barn, one of the first gay bars in Las Vegas, my perspective on the city shifted. Sure, it was still chaotic, but there was a heartbeat here. Like a hundred other cities, Las Vegas, beneath all the glitter, was deeply human.
