“If it makes you feel more comfortable, we can have breakfast. Avenue Cafe is delicious. Is that alright?”
“It’s perfect. So tonight? Wait, if it’s a breakfast restaurant, they may not be open tonight.”
“You let me worry about that.” He smiled, showing off his grill.
Kier exited down the hall. When I closed the door, Treasure and Tara stared at me. None of us said anything until Treasure broke the silence.
“You’re one lucky bitch!”
“Girl, stop it!” I laughed her off. “But this is pretty nice though. Okay, I say we take a nap and maybe hit the strip later.”
“A nap? Baby, we’re in Vegas!” Treasure shouted, looking out the window of our suite.
“Yes, but it’s 10 am.” I reminded her.
“Listen, we are in the city that never sleeps. Come onnnn, Sibley, don’t turn into an old lady on us now.” Treasure pouted, making a sad but annoyed face.
“Yeah, Sibley, I only got four days with you guys, then I have to get back to the city. We need to do something every minute of every day.” Tara added.
“Alright, I think bellhop said something about a day party at the Mandalay. Let’s do that, then y’all are on your own. I have a date with Kier tonight.”
“Is it really over between you and Damien?” Tara asked.
“It is. I told him I was done, and I took my apartment keys back from him.”
“As you should, friend.” Treasure snapped her fingers. “Yes, I’m star-struck because I am a Kier fan, but I’m a Sibley fan too. The shit Damien pulled on Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and your birthday is crazy to me. It’s like he goes out of his way to not make you feel special. I’ve kept my mouth closed, but I didn’t like that shit. So now that we are on the same page, it’s fuck him forever. Period.” Treasure stated confidently.
Tara said nothing, instead she kept scrolling on her phone. I had warned her about being team Damien, and I assumed she took heed to it.
We all quickly freshened up, changed into fresh outfits, and headed out to soak up the sun. By noon, we were on our way, brewing with excitement to hit Daylight Beach Club at Mandalay Bay. As soon as we arrived at the pool, we were hit with the full vibe. The sun was blazing, the music was pumping, and the crowd was pure fire. Beautiful people were everywhere, and the energy was sky-high—this day party was everything. Without hesitation, we grabbed the first available seating area and made ourselves at home.
Treasure was on it! The minute we got comfortable, she took over, ordering round after round. The first two drinks hit mysystem fast. The crazy techno music sounded better, the crowd didn’t feel as tight, and everything started to feel magnetic.
We didn’t stay in one spot long. Tara, Treasure, and I were out there dancing, laughing, and letting the moment carry us while the drinks kept coming. Between the music, the pictures, and the constant motion, time kind of blurred together. At some point we realized we were starving and paused just long enough to grab something to eat, but it wasn’t a real break. As soon as we were done, we were right back at it.
We went nonstop for hours, and by the time it caught up to us, it hit all at once. My feet were tired, my head was light, and Treasure was worse than me, still trying to keep the energy going when it was clearly time to sit down somewhere. I texted Kier, and he had his driver come get us. I don’t even remember the ride back. I slept in the car and slept more once we made it back to the suite.
When I woke up, it was quiet again. A solid three hours had passed, and it was just enough to reset me fully. I got up and started getting ready for my breakfast date with Kier. It took forever for me to get ready, and I realized that was becoming a trend. I didn’t want to look like I was doing too much, but I wasn’t about to look thrown together either. After going back and forth a few times, I decided on a pink-and-white romper. It was cut low in the front, and fitted just enough to do what it needed to do. I paired it with white strappy sandals and a matching clutch.
By the time I stepped out, Tara and Treasure had woken up, getting ready for round two, and bless their hearts. I didn’t want to see another drop of alcohol. Kier met me at the door, greeting me with a hug and complimenting my appearance. I was expecting the usual: security, maybe even his entourage, considering we were going to a public spot. But it was just us.
When we walked into the cafe, it was a ghost town. Kier walked in calmly, just like any other guest, and the hostess casually escorted us to our table. It was a low-key vibe, nothing like I’d imagined for a night out with him.
“Kier, this is a little insane,” I said, raising an eyebrow.
“What’s wrong?” He pulled my chair out, and I sat, glancing around the empty restaurant before scooting closer to the table.
“There’s no one here.”
“That’s exactly how I like it,” he said with a small grin. “I love my fans, don’t get me wrong. But I’m not one for the spotlight. Especially when I’m trying to get to know you without all the distractions.”
I couldn’t help but smile a little, liking the idea of him wanting a break just for me. “I get it, I guess. If this is your way of keeping yourself happy and safe, I’m all for it. But just so you know, I’m not expecting you to go all out for me.”
Casually, I flipped through the menu, not letting him see how much his words were affecting me. I wasn’t sure if he was playing it cool or if he was genuinely this intense. He still hadn’t picked up his menu, which either meant he wasn’t eating or he was familiar and didn’t need to. Instead of reaching for the menu, he locked his gaze on me, and I felt a sudden heat creep up my neck. It was almost too much, making me a little uncomfortable, but I couldn’t look away.
Just then, the chef came over to take our order, and I was grateful for the distraction.
“Mr. Stone, it’s an honor to serve you again. You’ll be having the usual, I suppose—steak and eggs? And you, Miss?”
