As I walked outside, I swear I could hear laughter following me out.
As the afternoon passed, we continued shopping, taking pictures, and finally eating dinner. We returned to the hotel with full stomachs and collapsed on the penthouse sectional after throwing our coats and purchases across the table and chairs.
“I’m kind of glad I’m banned from the casino,” I said, taking off my shoes and socks and wiggling my toes. “Playing against a dealer was more stressful than fun. And frankly, it wasn’t as challenging as I was expecting.”
“Well, you’re a card-counting legend now,” Gray said, rising from the couch. “Who wants a drink?”
I declined and Basia asked for water, but Gwen said she’d have a glass of the pinot grigio. Gray began assembling our orders at the suite bar while Gwen pulled out her phone again.
“No more pictures,” I begged. “You must have over a hundred already.”
“I’m not going to take any more pictures,” Gwen said, rolling her eyes. “I want to tell you the plan for tomorrow. We’re leaving the casinos behind and going on a cultural and historical expedition.”
“A cultural and historical expedition?” Basia asked.
Gwen swiped on her phone. “Yes, we’re going to a place called…Batsto Village.”
I immediately perked up. “The preserved ironworks place?”
“You know of it?” Gwen asked in surprise. “It’s located off Route 542 in New Jersey’s Wharton State Forest.”
“Wait. New Jersey has forest?” Basia quipped.
“Very funny,” Gwen said, pursing her lips. “It’s supposed to be quite interesting.”
“I’ve never been there, but I’ve heard of it,” I said. “It’s best known for its historic ironworks, which produced vital supplies for the Continental Army during the American Revolution.”
“Sounds cool to me,” Gray said, handing Basia a bottle of water and Gwen her wine. “I’m always into checking out weapons.”
Thank God everyone seemed on board. Finally, an activity I could fully get behind. “It sounds fascinating, Gwen. Good call.”
“It’s about a forty-five-minute drive north of Atlantic City,” Gwen said. “You okay with that drive, Gray?”
“Sure. Why not?”
We talked a bit more before Gwen picked out a movie to stream. While the others started watching it, I retreated to the bedroom to call Slash.
He answered on the second ring, voice warm and sexy. “Hello, cara. Still alive? Casino still standing?”
I lay down on the bed, stretching out. “Ha-ha. Yes, I’m obviously still alive and the hotel casino is still standing. However, I may have been banned from it.”
A beat of silence. Then…laughter. Deep, rich, unfairly attractive laughter. “You got kicked out of the casino? That’s my girl. Card counting?”
“More like strategic arithmetic. However, the girls say I’m a legend now and intend to write it as my epitaph. I won a boatload of money. Thousands. And Basia hit a jackpot on a slot machine in an ice cream store. She won a hundred bucks. There was confetti. You have your work cut out for you if you intend to win our wager.”
“Pregnant luck and geek math,” he chuckled. “Atlantic City never stood a chance. But don’t worry, I’m confident in my own luck. Remember, money isn’t everything on the fun meter.”
I smiled. “True. But speaking of the fun meter, we strolled along the beach and boardwalk. I won’t lie; it was chilly. Gwen took a ton of photos, we ate ice cream, and a dressing room curtain and rod fell on my head in a boutique, but I’m okay, and I bought a new blue sweater.”
There was silence and then he spoke. “Sounds eventful.”
“And fun,” I added. “Really fun.” I watched the moonlight glint off the casino towers outside. “But that’s not all the news. Gwen asked me to be one of her bridesmaids. She asked all of us. Angel will be the maid of honor.”
“Whoa, congratulations.”
“Our dresses will be pink. I’m not crazy about the color, but it will be okay.”
“You’ll look stunning.”
