Page 136 of Menace in Vegas

I grip the mic like I was born for this, strumming an imaginary guitar. “This is my first time doing this, so take it easy on me.”

The crowd laughs, putting me a little more at ease.

“I brought backup singers.” I gesture to Ford, Cole, Jake, and Daltyn, who look like an unhinged boy band that got lost on the way to rehearsal.

“Yeah, baby!” Gram yells. “Wiggle those hips for us!”

The opening notes of “Waking Up in Vegas” hit.

I launch into it, full volume.

Harper, Tara, Chloe, and Gram lose their minds—tears of laughter rolling down their faces.

Allie buries her face in her hands, absolutely mortified.

I double down. Elvis hips. Finger-pointing. Over-the-top dramatics aimed right at her.

She glares at me like she wants me dead.

I blow her a kiss.

The chorus hits. My backup singers jump in, swaying like synchronized idiots.

Allie mouths,I hate you.

I wink and mouth back,You love me.

Gram climbs onto the table, arms raised. “I NEED THIS AS MY RINGTONE!”

Phones fly into the air. The crowd eats it up.

By the time we finish, I bow like a rockstar and shout, “Thank you, thank you! Dedicated to my lovely wife, who clearly has excellent taste in men.”

Allie slides lower in her chair, but she’s smiling.

Harper raises her glass. “To Connor and his backup singers!”

“To Connor and his backup singers!” everyone echoes.

Then Ford’s smirk turns dangerous as he whispers in my ear, “Next song is ‘Blame It’ by Jamie Foxx. Let’s make it dirty.”

I lift the mic again and lock eyes with Allie. “This next one’s for my wife, too.”

The second beat drops, we go feral.

The bar is chaos.

The girls are screaming.

Allie’s eyes are locked on mine the entire time, and I’m already counting down the seconds until I can get her alone.

* * *

Later,we hit the bar for a quick drink before heading upstairs.

Only Gram is behind the bar, wearing a stolen apron and slinging cocktails like it’s her Vegas residency.

“You want a tequila sunrise, sweet cheeks?” she yells over the music. “Been making them since Woodstock!”

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