Page 58 of Snowed In With the PUCK

And looking into those soulful, hopeful eyes of his, I can see that he really means it.

Chapter twenty-nine

Eric

The city of LasVegas is a riot of color and sound, and I feel a buzz of excitement as we get ready for New Year’s Eve. Meeting my mom yesterday knocked the air out of me, but I’m feeling better than ever now that I’ve processed her truth, her story about her life. I feel free, having some of the answers.

Tonight is supposed to be a night of celebration, laughter, and new beginnings for me, and I’m eager to embrace it all with my friends. After the emotional rollercoaster of meeting my mom, I’m ready to kick back, laugh, and enjoy the company of the people who’ve become my family here.

Jake and Allie are already buzzing with energy, their excitement infectious. Jessica looks stunning, dressed in a sleek black dress that clings to her curves, and her smile lights up the entire room. I’m glad to have her by my side tonight. After everything that happened earlier with my mom, I know she’s a strong personand an excellent support to anyone lucky enough to have her in their life.

“Are you guys ready to party?” Jake calls out, raising a bottle of champagne he had stashed in his hotel room. Allie giggles beside him, practically bouncing on her heels.

“Let’s do this!” I say, pumping my fist in the air. We head down to the lobby, where we’ve arranged for a taxi to take us to one of the hottest restaurants on the strip. The night is young, and I can already feel the energy coursing through me.

But the first hiccup comes when we step outside to wait for our taxi. After a few minutes, Jake checks his phone, frowning. “Uh, I think I messed up the reservation. It says we need to be there at the restaurant at six, but I thought it was for eight!”

Allie’s eyes widen. “What? But it’s already almost eight! How did you manage to do that?”

“Listen, it’s been a long day!” Jake insists, throwing his hands up defensively. “It’s New Year’s Eve! It’s supposed to be chaotic!”

“Yeah, well, let’s add to the chaos,” I chuckle. “I’ll call for a rideshare. We’ll figure it out!”

I pull out my phone and tap the app, feeling confident. It’s a minor setback. What’s a New Year’s celebration without a little bit of drama?

“I’ve got it covered,” Jake insists, pulling out his phone to make a new reservation at a different restaurant.

After another ten minutes, I see the rideshare car pull up and wave my arm, feeling triumphant. But as we pile in, the driver looks at us with wide eyes. “Uh, are you sure this is the right car for you all?” he asks hesitantly. “Because I have a pickup here for a different restaurant.”

“What?” Jake laughs. “No! Take us to the Mirage!”

The driver shakes his head, and we all start to panic. In a flurry of hurried apologies and frantic phone calls, we manage to cancel the ride, only for Allie to exclaim, “We’re literally going to miss our new reservation!”

“Not if we run,” I say, adrenaline coursing through me. “Come on!”

We take off running down the street, dodging pedestrians and trying to navigate the chaos of the Strip. There’s a certain absurdity to it all; laughter bubbles up inside me as I see Allie trip slightly, Jake catching her just in time. We run past neon signs and throngs of people, all of us laughing like idiots, our plans completely derailed. I reach out and, just like magic, Jessica’s hand finds mine. We share a smile.

After what feels like an eternity, we finally reach the restaurant, panting and out of breath. Jessica and Allie make us stop for a moment while they arrange their hair and make themselves presentable. I love seeing his giggly side of her. The warmth ofthe city is so different from the dark cold of Denver in winter. It’s rousing and exciting. I feel like tonight, anything is possible.

As we sit down at the end of the bar, Jake orders a round of cocktails, but when they arrive, we quickly realize something is off. “Um, these look like mocktails,” I say, eyeing the fruity drinks garnished with little umbrellas.

The bartender looks at us, bemused. “Well, sir, this is what you ordered. The margaritas are virgin, as requested.”

“No!” Jake groans, throwing his hands up in frustration. “We ordered actual cocktails, not this juice!”

“Well, it’s the same ingredients without the alcohol,” the bartender replies, shrugging. Then he winks, pulling out an expensive brand of tequila. “Here, let me help you with that.”

We all burst into laughter at the ridiculousness of the situation. “So we came all the way here, running through the streets, only to almost end up drinking fancy juice?” Allie chuckles, shaking her head.

“Happy New Year to us!” I say, lifting my freshly tequila-ed up drink as if it’s champagne. “To the most unusual night out ever!”

Our spirits rise despite the setbacks, and we toast to the chaos. We share stories and joke about the ridiculousness of it all—like how we probably looked running through the streets like a bunch of maniacs. Jake does an exaggerated impression of me almost freaking out over the taxi, and we all crack up. It’s arefreshing break from the earlier emotions of the trip, and I find myself grateful for their lightheartedness.

Just as we’re getting into the groove of laughter, I notice a guy lingering near the entrance. He’s wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses, and he keeps glancing in our direction, fiddling with his phone. My instincts kick in, and I squint at him, curiosity prickling my skin.

“Do you guys see that guy?” I ask, nodding discreetly toward him.

“What guy?” Jake asks, looking over my shoulder. “The one in the hat?”

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