“So, I think Royce is hilarious. Why do you hate him so bad?” Campbell asks. “Aaaannd Carly practically drooled all over him and his doll, so you better have a good reason to hold up her much needed cougar prowl.”
I choke and spit alcohol out all over myself and my towel. “I did no such thing,” I say through coughing fits.
“There will be no naked time happening on this trip with that man. Royce is an irresponsible asshole, who cares only about himself and what he can get from someone. You just stay far away, Carly. We will find you a scrumptious man, just not that one.”
I wiggle in my chair, uncomfortable with the topic of conversation. I feel like I’m on display and everyone is trying to fix me, the poor divorced woman, up. The last thing I need is a man to complicate my life even more. A one-night stand is nowhere near my radar. I never had one before I was married and there is no reason why I should start now that I’m newly single.
“There’s no need to worry about me. I’m good with actual alone time,” I explain. “I’m in no need of a male attention.”
“Bullshit,” Vivian says. “Even the best LELO in the world isn’t going to replace some good old fashion lovin’.”
Jen giggles. “There’s no need to leave the LELO out of the mix just because a friend arrives. Broaden those horizons, ladies.”
We all laugh and ease back down into our chairs. “I appreciate the thought, but I think I’ll pass either way,” I tell them all. “There is just too much going in my life to complicate it even more with a man.” I look to Campbell, hoping she gets the hint as well, but she diverts her eyes away from me and changes the subject.
“What is the plan for tonight anyways?” Campbell asks. “I know tomorrow is the actual bachelorette party, so what is in store for this evening?”
Jen and Vivian both look to each other, and when Vivian cringes, I know our foursome is going to shrink by two. “It’s so rare that we have our husbands alone, we thought that tonight we could have a date night,” Vivian attempts to explain as compassionately as possible; you know, you’re getting ditched and this is why.
“It’s not like it’s a complete waste. I thought you girls could go to a show or something,” Jen chimes in.
I’m not exactly thrilled with being brought to Vegas to then be dropped like a hot potato, but I do understand. Jack and I never got to have time for just the two of us once Olivia came along. Maybe that’s where the problem lied with us, not devoting enough time together for our relationship. We co-existed, but we didn’t really exist together as a team.
How can I fault my friends for doing something I should have also taken time to do?
I look to Campbell, who looks equally thrilled, so I take the lead on smoothing the awkward moment out.
“There are some shows I would love to see. We’ll have tons of fun, Campbell.”
She smiles and steals Vivian’s hat. “When you guys hear how cool our night ends up, you’re going to wish you hadn’t ditched us.”
“Nothing you can say will tempt me away from a night alone with my fiancé,” Jen says with all seriousness. “That man will be wearing my ass as a hat tonight,” she adds, tapping Viv’s floppy hat on Campbell’s head.
Everyone takes their turn displaying grossed out expressions, snorting with laughter.
“Oh, good grief,” Vivian chuckles with a sigh after catching her breath. “I was just hoping for a quiet dinner.”
“I say we meet for breakfast tomorrow and fill each other in on our wild night. Deal?” Campbell suggests.
“Deal,” we say in unison, clinking the glass of our drinks together.
Carly
Well, that’s just great. First, I was ditched by Vivian and Jen, and now I’ve been stood up by Campbell. I had spent an hour picking out a cute dress and heels, then doing my hair and makeup for this evening. If I was going to have a night on the town, I figured I should look the part.
But now, the longer I sit here, the more worried I am that my effort screams working girl. I shift in my dress to cover more of my legs and adjust the straps that crisscross at my shoulders. The bartender notices my discomfort and makes his way to my end of the bar once again.
“You need anything else, doll?” he asks with a light smile.
I’ve been waiting at the hotel bar alone for thirty minutes and every time the bartender asks if I’m doing all right, I feel his judgement and sympathy.
My phone dings, and I momentarily ignore the bartender to read the message. I can feel my brows pull together when I read the message.
Campbelclass="underline" I’m so sorry. Something important came up. Raincheck?
If it’s important, I don’t want her to feel bad about leaving me behind, so instead of the single response of “K” that I want to send her, I take the high road.
Me: No worries. I’ll catch up with you in the morning.
I exhale loudly and slam my phone back down on the bar top. I don’t notice the bartender still standing there until his voice cuts through my mist of disappointment.
“That bad, huh?” he says.
“Any day that my pants haven’t caught on fire from my legs rubbing together, is a good flipping day,” I spout out.
The middle-aged bartender looks at me like he’s been painted into a corner and may have to chew off an arm or something to save himself. His discomfort is clearly evident, and in his head he’s quietly wishing he hadn’t asked, screw the tip.
“I’m sorry,” I resign. “I’ll take a shot of whatever you have that will not make me feel like such a loser,” I tell him, stuffing my phone into my small purse.
Without another word, he pulls some liquor out from behind the bar and lines up a shot glass on the wood along with a few wedges of lime.
“Tequila is always good for short-term memory loss,” he says, pouring the golden liquid into the glass.
“I’ll take it.”
“Me too,” a smooth voice announces behind me. I look back to see Royce pulling out the chair beside me. “If the night has gone to such shit that the tequila shots have been brought out, I might as well join the party.”
Initially, I’m speechless at his intrusion. I’m not sure whether I want him to leave because, well, his presence will only find me in trouble, but on the other hand, do I really want to sit here and wallow with a bottle of liquor alone?
I look him up and down, taking in his gorgeous physique and intoxicating cologne. How could I say no?
Jen would have a fit…but she’s not here. None of my friends are here. They have all run off and left me to my own devices, and if I want to hang out with this attractive man who throws caution to the wind and enjoys life, so be it.
That’s what I need tonight…fun. And Royce offers just that.
“You know what?” I say, scooting over to make room for him. “You and I are going to have a blast tonight.”
The bartender pours another drink for Royce and he slams it back without using the lime as a chaser.
“It’s going to be a fantastic night.” He grins, smashing the glass back to the bar.
Lakin
“I can’t even tag along?” I shout from across the suite. “You bring me to Vegas, make me get my own room, and now I have to roam the strip alone?”
Am I whining? Probably just a tad, but I can’t help but want to spend the extra time with Campbell. As much as I understand her need to spend it all with the girls, I still want to be selfish with her.