Lexi
Mornings on vacations were supposed to be sacred.
I believed that, right up until we arrived at the Orchid Royale’s breakfast buffet, where hungry guests converged over warm croissants while greeted by overly cheerful waitstaff.
“The breakfast buffet is nonnegotiable,” Gwen declared, piling fruit and pancakes onto her plate with alarming enthusiasm. “It’s Atlantic City. You survive on caffeine, carbs, and drama.”
“I prefer caffeine, cryptography, and avoiding people,” I muttered, but I had to admit the waffle station looked pretty good. “And it’s a miracle you’re even awake, Gwen. You slept through your alarm three times.”
“I got up at the third one,” she protested.
“After Basia whacked you on the head with a pillow. You could sleep through a nuclear blast.”
“Hardly. But sleeping deeply is a sign of good health, so I’m taking that as a compliment.”
Basia, looking radiant in designer maternity wear, walked toward us carrying a glass of orange juice and approximately twelve miniature muffins. “The baby is hungry,” she announced, utterly unapologetic. “Where are we sitting?”
Gray jerked her head toward an empty table with four chairs. She held a plate of eggs and bacon in one hand and a coffee mug in the other.
She and Basia headed that direction while Gwen added another pancake to her stack. I picked up a plate and headed for the waffles. After I filled my plate and got some coffee, I joined them at the table. Basia had already finished her twelve mini muffins and was getting up to get more food.
“The baby is still hungry,” she said, as if daring us to contradict her.
Wisely, we didn’t.
“It feels weird not to be at work,” I said, taking a bite of a waffle.
Gray lifted her mug of coffee at me. “I have to give it to you, Lexi. I was surprised you didn’t bring your laptop.”
“I did bring it.” I dumped syrup on the waffles and cut myself a bite. “I just haven’t taken it out of my backpack yet. I’m sure the casino Wi-Fi is a security nightmare, and I just don’t feel like dealing with it right now.”
Basia returned to the table with a plate loaded with bacon and bacon only. “Protein for the baby,” she said, staring at us. “And, Lexi, did I hear you say you don’t feel like dealing with the casino Wi-Fi?” she asked sitting down. “That doesn’t sound like the girl I know.”
I sighed and leaned back in my chair. “Okay. Full disclosure. Slash and I made a bet.”
Basia perked up immediately. “Oooh, I love a good marital wager. What are the stakes?”
“Bragging rights,” I said. “The deeply satisfying knowledge that one of us is objectively more fun than the other. Also, two weeks of dinner duty.”
“Now, there’s the prize I’d want. And the wager?” Gray asked.
“Guys’ versus girls’ weekend,” I replied. “Who has more fun. Obviously, Slash thinks the guys will win by default because they’ll be completely unsupervised by women, eating, drinking, playing poker, smoking cigars, and probably farting…or making whatever body noises guys like to do.”
Gray nearly spit out her orange juice but managed to lift the glass to me. “Wow, that image isn’t going to leave my mind any time soon. Bold strategy, Lexi. I commend you.”
“Yeah, but how will you measure fun?” Gwen asked. “That seems to be a pretty vague and unscientific criteria for you and Slash.”
“The parameters are flexible,” I admitted. “But the spirit of the bet is simple: Whoever has more fun this weekend wins. And I don’t want Slash claiming I cheated by spending the entire trip behind a screen.”
Gray seemed like she was trying not to laugh when she nodded thoughtfully. “So, the laptop stays buried unless the universe absolutely forces your hand.”
“Exactly,” I said. “If I pull it out too soon, Slash wins. And I refuse to let my own husband use my coping mechanisms against me.”
Gwen looked at me in surprise. “So, you’re intentionally handicapping yourself for fun?”
“Yes,” I said. “Which should tell you how seriously I’m taking this.”
Basia raised her eyebrows. “I don’t know whether to be impressed or deeply concerned.”
