“I figured you’d be more comfortable if we each had our own room.”
“I mean, yeah. But still. You didn’t need to do this.”
The two-bedroom suite is even bigger than it looked online. Striped carpet lines the room. A tacky gold mirror hangs on one wall with a TV directly across from it. A couch, complete with chaise and a small table behind it, fills the space. The windows beyond face the strip, the Eiffel Tower already lit up. There’s a door to each bedroom, and a small kitchen with a wet bar behind me.
Alice disappears into one of the bedrooms as I grab the bottle of champagne resting in a bucket of ice on the counter. There’s a congratulatory note sitting in front of it with two glasses. Popping the bottle, I fill each glass to the brim.
“I wanted to,” I say as she returns to the living room.
“I would have been just fine in a regular room.”
I shake my head and walk over to her. “I told you; this tripis on me. Otherwise you would have stayed at the hotel down the road in the smallest room they had.”
She winces and takes the glass from my hand. “I would not.”
“Really?” I quirk a brow at her. “I know you, Froggie. It’s exactly what you would have done.”
“Ugh, fine. You know me and my desire to not spend any money on extravagant things. Can we just toast to the weekend instead?”
I clink my glass against hers. “Cheers. Thanks for coming with me.”
“You’re welcome.” Alice takes a demure sip of her champagne before walking over to the windows. “Did you ever think you’d be here?”
I move to stand next to her, taking in the Strip below us.
Lights from all the hotels.
People filling the sidewalks as they go to and from hotels trying to win.
“No. I never expected to get traded, but you know how things go.”
I resigned myself to playing for the Knights, never even getting close to smelling the playoffs, let alone making them. First time I made it with the Black Diamonds and we won the whole damn thing. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to that.
“I’m glad we get one more weekend to celebrate. You deserve it.”
I wrap an arm around Alice’s shoulders. “Thanks for coming with me. It’ll be more fun with you here.”
She laughs, warm and sweet. It’s one of my favorite sounds. “Someone has to make sure you don’t get into any trouble.”
“I’m pretty sure you’re going to be the one getting us in trouble.”
“I doubt that.” Alice gulps down her champagne beforehanding me the glass. “I’m going to go change for dinner. Be right back.”
“Okay.”
I set her empty glass down and go to do the same. I have no idea where the restaurant is—at this point, I’m just along for the ride.
Changing into a pair of dark jeans and a white button-up, I roll up the sleeves and add a spritz of cologne. It doesn’t take much to finish up before I’m waiting on Alice. I pour myself another glass of bubbly while I wait. But when she comes out, I am not prepared for the sight that greets me.
“Holy shit. You look amazing.”
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Alice like this. It is not my best friend’s usual look at all. Being away from her all these years, hanging out wasn’t easy. With my hockey schedule and her working at the shop, it was hard to see one another. When we did, it was usually a T-shirt and jeans sort of meeting.
This? This little black dress leaves very little to the imagination.
“Really? It’s the only thing I had at home.” She brushes a hand over the fabric, looking down at herself.
Her hair is in a sleek, high ponytail. Her toes peep out of her shoes. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Alice show this much skin.
