I’ve never been to a casino before, so I almost feel like I’m back on a TV set as we enter the huge space. There are people everywhere, slot machines line every wall and create aisles with bright flashing lights that seem like a maze I could easily get lost in. There are also tables everywhere for cards and dice, and I honestly have no idea what anything is called.
“Whatever you want. I still can’t really wrap my head around the idea of throwing money away like this.”
He squeezes my hand. “Don’t worry about it if you’re having fun. But yeah, gambling has never really been my thing either. Liv insisted we go to Atlantic City for her birthday weekend in college, and I’ve been to Vegas for acouple of award shows and events, but I’ve never gotten into it.”
“It looks like John and Chad went to a table, but Liam and Blake went straight for the slot machines, maybe we follow them?” I suggest. The slots seem way easier than learning a game in Vegas of all places.
“Works for me,” he agrees, already leading me in their direction. I end up in front of a machine themed after an old movie with Liam to my right and Kieran to my left. I use the card Chad gave each of us, preloaded up with money so we could play. Each time I hit the button, it makes it seem like I’m getting closer and closer to winning on the screen, but I know it’s all bullshit. Does anyone ever win anything on these machines?
I turn to Liam. “Are you a big gambler?”
He laughs. “Nope. I’m just doing this to say I gambled in Vegas because there’s no way I’m embarrassing myself at some sort of table.”
I let out a relieved sigh. “Okay cool, glad we’re on the same page.”
“We usually are,” he agrees with a smile. “But Blake is thriving, and I think they walk around with drinks so I’m sure it’ll still be a great night.”
As if summoned, a waitress approaches us. “Can I get you anything to drink?”
“Hey, thanks, I’ll take a beer. What do you want, baby?” I ask Kieran. “A negroni?”
“Yes, please,” Kieran replies.
“I’ll take a whiskey and Coke. Thanks,” Liam says.
“Sex on the beach for me,” Blake pipes up.
“I’ll be right back with those,” she says, turning to leave.
Liam hits the spin button again. “I swear these machines are rigged to make us think we’re close to winning.”
“Yeah, right before they steal all your money,” I joke. “Good thing for these prepaid cards. Honestly, I still can’t believe we’re here.”
“At a casino?” Liam asks.
“More like at a bachelor party for a friend I met on a dating show before I got married to the love of my life.” I smile.
Liam huffs out a laugh. “Yeah, reality TV really did a number on us, huh?”
“Yeah.” I laugh. “It’s hands down the best decision I ever made.”
Blake’s machine dings loudly, lights flashing at him as he screams, “Oh my god, did I win?”
Ash comes up, already holding a drink, and looks at the screen. I feel Kieran crowd my shoulder, leaning over to look as I do the same, trying to see around Liam.
Liam squints at the text blinking on the screen. “Uh… baby? It says you won ten dollars.”
Blake pumps his fist anyway. “Hell yes! And I only had to spend, like, fifty.”
“And that”—Liam gestures toward Blake dancing in his seat while looking at me—“is the love of my life.”
Kieran laughs under his breath. “This is going to be the highlight of his night, isn’t it?”
“Sure is.” Liam grins. “He doesn’t even care he’s in the red.”
“Vegas is cruel with these ratios of winning,” Blake says, shaking his head, continuing to hit the slot machine button. “You have to press it, like, a hundred times to win anything, but I don’t care. This is fun!”
“That’s kind of the point, Blake,” Ash says, clapping him on the back.
