Page 39 of All Bets Are Off

His lips twitched again. “Adele.”

“I like her, but she makes me want to take a long bath with a purple bath bomb and have a good cry.”

Zach swallowed hard at mention of me taking a bath, and I shot him a warning look.

“You like old stuff,” he said after a beat. “I believe I can get us Lionel Ritchie tickets.”

“Blah. It has to be good old stuff.”

“Like Cher.”

I extended a threatening finger in his direction. “Don’t ever call my Lord and Savior Cher old. She is iconic.”

“Well, when she comes back, I’ll see if I can get you and Tallulah tickets.”

“That does me no good,” I complained. “Tallulah won’t go. She’s much more Harry Styles than Cher.”

Zach looked exasperated. “I’m trying to help you here, Olivia. With the job and your current level of boredom. You have to meet me halfway.”

Blah. He had another point. “I think I’m just going to take a walk on the strip.” I was listless as I wandered toward my bedroom to grab a pair of shoes.

Zach darted a look toward the window. The sun hadn’t set yet, but it was no longer high in the sky either. “Don’t be out on those skywalks late,” he chided.

“Okay, Dad,” I muttered just loud enough for him to hear. If Rex was paying attention, he didn’t react at all. Apparently, he didn’t care if I was on the skywalks after dark.

“Just don’t be a pain.” Zach gave me a dark look. “Watch yourself. This is Vegas. It’s always smart to watch your back.”

I offered up a sarcastic salute before heading to the door. “I’ve survived in Vegas for my entire life,” I reminded him. “I think I can take care of myself.”

He just shook his head. “You drive me crazy.”

“Right back at you.”

I STOPPED IN AT THE PURPLE ZEBRA TO SEE TALLULAH.I could’ve been edgy and gone elsewhere, but the truth was, once Zach put the admonishment about the skywalksin my head, I couldn’t shake the idea that it was probably best I avoid them.

“Hello, Sunshine,” Tallulah drawled when she saw me hop up on one of the stools. “I can’t believe you remembered your best friend. It’s been hurtful thinking I was forgotten.”

I shot her the finger and then pointed toward whatever was in the purple slush machine. “That’s the one I want.”

“How do you even know what that is?”

“Why does it matter? It’s purple. I like purple things.”

“Name one purple thing you like.”

“Grapes.”

“It’s not grape.”

“Lilacs.”

“You’re going to eat a lilac?”

“No, but there are lilac martinis and stuff now.”

“Lavender,” she corrected. “They’re lavender martinis and lattes.”

“Oh.” My lips pursed. “I guess that makes more sense.” I pointed toward the machine. “Is that a lavender daiquiri?”

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