Chapter 3: An Unplanned Meeting
1702 Words
"Are you really thinking about this?"
Lara's voice buzzed in my ear as she pulled me through the busy casino floor. The lights that flashed by us made everything look blurry, and the club music behind us still beat like a heart.
"I didn't say that," I said, trying to keep up with her.
"You didn't say no either."
"That's because you didn't let me!"
She looked back at him with a smile that said trouble.
"That's the point."
As she pulled me past a row of slot machines, I stumbled a little. People shouted in excitement, coins clinked, and bells rang.
The deeper we went into Vegas, the louder it got.
Adrian walked behind me at a slow pace, his hands in his pockets, as if he found the whole thing funny.
I looked back at him.
"Are you having fun with this?"
"Very much."
"Why?"
"Because," he said calmly, "it's interesting to watch someone decide whether or not to make a bad choice."
"That's nice to hear."
"It should be."
"How?"
He said, "If you don't want to, at least the story will still be interesting."
Lara stopped all of a sudden.
I almost hit her.
"What now?" I asked.
She pointed ahead in a big way.
"There."
I didn't see it at first.
Then the crowd moved a little.
And all of a sudden, it was impossible to miss.
The bright pink neon lights made the chapel glow.
Chapel of Lucky Hearts
My stomach turned.
I said, "You have to be kidding me."
A small group of couples stood outside. Some people looked worried. Some people looked very happy. A couple was already taking pictures next to a white limousine parked on the side of the road.
The door swung open.
The woman held a bouquet of plastic roses and the man wore a crooked bow tie as they walked out laughing.
Lara gasped like she had just seen a show of fireworks.
"This is great."
I said, "This is crazy."
"Same thing."
I put my arms across my chest.
"We're not getting married tonight."
Adrian came up next to me.
"It sounded like you were sure about that."
Yes, it is.
"Okay."
I blinked at him.
"Okay?"
"Yes."
He looked at my face for a moment, and there was a very small smile on his lips.
"People shouldn't make big decisions too quickly," he said.
"That's what I said."
"Still," he said casually, "sometimes that's how the best stories start."
I squinted my eyes.
"You're impossible."
"I've heard."
Lara suddenly looked at Adrian.
"So you really mean it?"
He shrugged a little.
"I'm open to new ideas."
"That is the most mysterious answer I've ever heard," she said.
Adrian pointed to the chapel.
"Vegas loves mystery."
I let out a slow breath.
Outside the casino, the night air was warmer, but the city was still full of restless energy. There were neon signs flashing above us. Cars drove by on the street, and music came from open windows.
Everything seemed a little strange.
It could have been the champagne.
It could have been the music.
Or maybe it was because Adrian stood next to me like this whole night had been planned.
Lara said, "You two are thinking too much."
"We're thinking the right amount," I said.
"No," she said, shaking her head. "You're thinking too much."
She turned me around so that I was facing the street.
"Look around."
Yes, I did.
People walked by holding hands. A group of tourists laughed loudly while taking pictures of themselves under a huge neon guitar sign. Someone played a saxophone nearby, and the notes floated through the night air.
Vegas sparkled like a dream that wouldn't let go.
Lara said softly, "This city is here for times like this."
I looked at her.
"What times?"
"The ones where you don't have to worry about tomorrow."
I didn't say anything.
Because I understood a little bit of what she meant.
Adrian came closer to us.
"Your friend makes a good point."
"Oh, don't give her any ideas."
"I'm not encouraging," he said. "I'm watching."
"You like this."
"Very much."
Lara clapped her hands all of a sudden.
"Okay! A new plan.
I groaned.
"That sentence never ends well."
"We're not getting married," she said.
I sighed in relief.
"But," she said, "we're going to keep looking."
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
"Looking around?"
She nodded with excitement.
"The night is still young." This city is crazy. And Emilia deserves the best way to get her mind off things.
I laughed.
"That's a pretty good plan."
"Of course it is."
Adrian pointed to the Strip.
"Should we?"
Lara quickly linked her arm back to mine.
"Yes, lead the way, strange person."
We walked back into the crowd of people on the sidewalks. The Strip seemed even more alive now. People danced on the street under bright signs. Limousines moved by like dark shadows.
Lara pulled us into the next casino.
The place was full of colour.
There were huge chandeliers above the gaming floor, and their crystals reflected thousands of tiny lights. A live band played near the bar in the middle, and people gathered around the blackjack tables.
Lara walked straight to the bar.
"Drinks," she said.
The barman leaned in.
"What do you want?"
"Three margaritas," she said right away.
I held up a finger.
"Make mine smaller."
The barman laughed.
"Is this your first time in Vegas?"
"Is it that clear?"
"You're still going at your own pace."
Adrian leaned on the bar next to me.
"That's a good plan."
"You sound shocked."
"Yes, I am."
"Why?"
"Because you didn't seem careful to me."
I looked at him.
"What did I seem like to you?"
He looked at me closely.
"Someone who wants to do something dangerous."
My heart skipped a beat.
"That's very specific."
"Observation."
The barman set the drinks down in front of us.
Lara took hers right away.
"To the most absurd night ever."
We clinked our glasses again.
The margarita was strong and cold.
Lara said, "Okay," all of a sudden. "Time to ask questions."
I said, "That sounds risky."
"It is."
She looked at Adrian.
"First question." What do you do?
He thought about it as he swirled his whisky.
"Business."
"What kind of work?"
"The kind that keeps me busy."
Lara groaned.
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one you can have tonight."
She gave me a look.
"He is annoyingly secretive."
"I saw."
Lara moved closer to Adrian.
"Second question."
He nodded patiently.
"Why were you by yourself earlier?"
Adrian looked at me for a second before going back to his drink.
"Because I was curious about what the night would bring."
"And?"
He looked me in the eye again.
"I think it's been interesting so far."
The way he said it made my heart feel warm.
I quickly glanced down at my drink.
Lara's smile got bigger.
She said to herself, "Oh yeah." "This is going on."
"What's going on?" I asked.
"Chemistry."
"There is no chemistry."
Adrian chuckled softly.
"You really seem set on denying that."
"I'm going to make it through this weekend without doing anything dumb."
"That's great."
"Thanks."
"But probably not realistic."
I laughed.
"Why?"
"Because," he said calmly, "you came to Vegas."
The band near the bar suddenly started playing a louder song.
People cheered.
Lara drank her drink in one big gulp.
"Okay," she said. "Next adventure."
I groaned again.
"How many adventures will this night bring?"
"As many as needed."
Adrian stood up and put a bill on the bar.
"I think I know a place you'll like."
Lara's eyes lit up right away.
"Oh? "Where?"
He pointed to the exit of the casino.
"Rooftop lounge."
"Don't say anything else," Lara said as she got up.
I went outside with them again, and the warm desert air felt good on my skin.
It was oddly quiet in the lift going up to the roof.
Just the quiet hum of machines.
There was only a faint sound of music coming from above.
The view took my breath away when the doors opened.
The roof was wide and had glass railings all around it. The whole Strip below us sparkled like a galaxy of neon lights.
I moved closer to the edge.
"Wow."
Adrian walked up to me.
"Not bad, right?"
"Not bad?" I laughed. "It's amazing."
We stood there for a moment without saying anything.
The city throbbed below us.
Cars moved like lines of light that glowed. There was a faint sound of music coming from the streets.
I felt small.
But in a good way.
As if the world had suddenly gotten bigger.
Adrian said quietly, "You're smiling."
I took a quick look at him.
"So?"
"You weren't before."
"That was before the drinks."
"Are you sure?"
"Mostly."
His eyes stayed on my face.
"Emilia."
"Yes?"
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Depends."
"Why did you come to Vegas?"
I thought about it.
Then I told the truth.
"To forget someone."
His face got a little softer.
"Did it work?"
I looked out at the city once more.
The lights kept shining.
"Maybe," I said.
Then I said with a small smile,
"Or maybe I just found something else to do."
Adrian's eyes got a little darker.
"Thank you."
Lara suddenly gasped loudly behind us before I could say anything.
We both looked.
She was looking at something close to the entrance to the lounge.
"What?" I asked.
She had big eyes.
"You guys..."
"What?"
She pointed.
A man in a clean white suit had just gotten to the roof.
He looked str
aight at Adrian.
And his face quickly turned cold.
The man started to walk toward us.
Slow.
Think about it.
Adrian's body language changed right away.
The look of relaxed amusement on his face went away.
"Adrian Hale," the man said sharply as he got closer.
My stomach got tight.
Adrian let out a quiet sigh.
"Victor," he said.
The man looked at me.
Then to Lara.
Then back to Adrian.
And the next thing he said made my heart drop.
"I see you've already messed up tonight.”
- Writer
