Page 65 of About That Pact

He reached for her hand to hold, and she gave it to him. They interlocked their fingers as they walked down the strip. “Let’s end at our hotel because even if we miss the water show tonight, we have four more days to catch it. It’s almost eleven at night, so let’s do the viewing deck at Paris tomorrow.”

She nodded, liking his logic. “And we can’t ride the roller coaster until tomorrow because it closed at nine.”

“What shit is that to have an attraction close at nine in Vegas?” Rafe mocked the schedule.

“I agree, but I don’t work for the hotel, so who knows. Let’s walk to the Venetian and do a gondola ride.”

“This is your big list and we’re only knocking one off of it tonight.”

“I don’t mind. Honest, I wasn’t sure I was going to do anything. You know,” she gave him a gentle squeeze on his arm, “with your whole I’m ignoring you thing.”

“Oh, that was the only reason you thought you weren’t doing anything on this trip?”

“Well, that and how I’ve been since…well, since things ended between us. I haven’t felt like doing anything,” she shared. “I made a list, and I wasn’t sure I would check anything off. The fact I’m getting to do one thing is good.”

She and Rafe crossed the street to get to the Venetian. “Those are the only five things on your list? I expected more out of you.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know, something more daring. Your list is like we’re in Disneyland, not Vegas.”

He had a point.

“What would be on your list, if you had one?” She was curious what he would want to do in Sin City.

He had a devious look on his face. “Something I am keeping to myself, for now.”

“Spoilsport,” she teased.

They walked into the hotel and both stopped talking, taking in all the detail of the Venetian. It was beautiful, even with the noise surrounding them from the casino. They got to the area to ride the indoor gondola, Rafe still holding her hand. A woman who worked for the casino took their picture.

“Now, look at me so I can get one of you love birds smiling at the camera,” she said, snapping away. Then, she gave them a ticket to pick up the pictures once they were off the gondola.

“Are we allowed to have mementos from this trip or is that against the rules?” Charlotte was curious of his answer.

He pulled out his phone and took a selfie of them while he kissed her cheek. “We absolutely are.”

She snuggled close to him. “Thanks for agreeing to be my partner in crime on the trip.”

He kissed the top of her head this time. “I don’t know if gondola rides and fountain shows count as crime, but I’m glad I’m here too.”

The ride was oddly peaceful, and they sat together with Charlotte relaxing in Rafe’s arms. It was natural to her. Once the ride was over and they picked up their pictures, they strolled hand in hand again back to the Bellagio. Music boomed from the speakers, and people crowded around the hotel just in time for the fountain show. Charlotte bounced up and down with excitement.

“Oh, the lights,” she gushed. “This is perfect!”

The show was better than she’d expected. It was amazing to watch the water jump around in time with the music. She was mesmerized the whole time. After fifteen minutes, people cheered at the end of all the magic.

“Can you believe it!” She squeaked with joy. “We got to see the show. It was amazing. I bet we’ll see it again after we tell everyone how great it was.”

She twisted back around to look at him, but he was staring off like he was in another world.

“Rafe, are you okay?”

“Yeah, tired.”

She didn’t believe him, but didn’t want to push. Ever since they decided to let this vacation be something for each other, she had been ecstatic. Arguing wasn’t on the menu. Besides, they’d done a lot of walking, so maybe he was telling the truth.

They rode the elevator up to their rooms and neither of them spoke. Slowly, it was like the romance of the evening was being sucked out of the elevator. Even walking to their rooms, which were right next to each other, was draining.