I bumped her shoulder, and we walked closer to the floor, the fountains forgotten for now. “I’ll spot you ten, and when it’s gone, we’ll check out the water feature.”
She yawned and covered her mouth with her hand. We’d gotten a few hours of sleep on the plane but didn’t want to waste any of our time in Vegas with sleeping. We only had a few days. “Okay. Let’s do it. Maybe I’ll win a million dollars.”
Doubtful, but we’d have fun losing ten bucks.
Hope stepped onto the gaming floor and a large man in a suit stepped in her way. “Identification, ma’am.”
Hope’s mouth fell open. “You’re carding me?”
The bouncer widened his stance as Hope dug out her license. “Look at this, Chance. I’m not so old now. Am I?”
The bouncer, who had at least twenty years on us, scowled at her and checked both our licenses before stepping away and letting us enter the casino. People filled seats at the slot machines and we weaved between the rows looking for two seats by one another in the busy casino.
The sound of dropping coins played from the overhead speakers as we finally found one open seat. “You take it and I’ll watch in support.”
She plopped her butt in the chair. “You sure?”
“Absolutely.”
Hope played for less than five minutes before a waitress in a short skirt and a cut-off shirt approached me. “Would you like a mimosa?”
She had one tall orange juice drink on the tray, and I lifted it from her hand. “Sure. Thanks.”
“If you need anything else, my name is Emily, and I’d be happy to help you personally,” she said, and laid a hand on my shoulder.
“Um, sure. Thanks again.”
I fiddled with the glass as she ran her fingers down my arm. “Anything at all.”
“Right. I’ll let you know,” I said, handing the drink to Hope, who turned to watch my exchange with the handsy waitress.
Hope liked orange juice more than I did.
“I don’t want your flirty liquor,” Hope said, trying to pass the glass back to me.
“What?”
She rolled her eyes. “You are clueless, Chance. That woman was so flirting with you.”
“She was not.” They were probably paid in tips, and if she flirted, she got more tips. Simple as that.
“Whatever,” she said and drank half the mixed drink before returning to the slot machine. “What do you want to do in Vegas? We should do something from your list.”
“Fancy finding some buried treasure?” I asked.
Hope finished the drink, set the empty glass beside the machine, and pulled the handle. She didn’t need to use the handle, but she said it made it more fun. “That sounds weird, but sure.”
“Then let’s go see the show at Treasure Island.”
I’d always wanted to see it after my cousin told me all about the half-dressed females during family Christmas six years ago. Originally, I’d tried to book a room there, but they were sold out so close to the New Year.
“Well, I just wasted all ten of your dollars, so let’s go see these slutty pirates,” Hope said and stood up.
“I didn’t say they were slutty.” They were, but I hadn’t said it.
She laughed and walked around me. “We’re in Vegas. It’s a given.”
3
