Page 85 of Seas the Dating Coach

I rush back to the seat next to my sister, buckling quickly. “I love you. I can’t even—” Happy tears flood my vision, blurring the phone screen. “I’m supposed to hang up, but I don’t want to.”

Finn’s gaze softens, his playful expression dropping. “I love you too. Call me after the concert tonight when you’re back in the room. No matter the time. I want to hear about everything.”

As I hang up, I can’t help kicking my feet like a thrilled three-year-old. Around me, my sister and new friends share my joy, excitedly talking over each other. My cheeks already sting from smiling, and we’ve only just begun.

“My throat hurts,” I say, my voice little more than a scrape from scream-singing along all night.

My destroyed mascara is giving hungover-racoon vibes, my face in opposition to my beautiful midnight-blue, sequined fit-and-flare. I’m so glad that we met Raven before the concert when we were all glittering from prepping for the night in the sumptuous penthouse suite. The whole thing is larger than anyof our homes or businesses with a full dining room, en suite bedrooms for each of us, and a grand pianoanda fountain in the main living space.

I’m also glad I didn’t completely burst into tears when Raven hugged me earlier. Hearing her soulful voice as she kindly answered questions is one of the highlights of my life. She was so nice as we all took pictures and gushed over her influential career, her signing whatever we put in front of her. Our trip coordinator, Mateo, who’d been spoiling us since we landed on the private airfield, handed me a picture frame Finn sent for Raven to sign. That way, I could put the photo of the two of us in it with her signature across the bottom.

“I know we talked about ordering a pizza and chilling in the hot tub on our terrace after the show, but I’m getting a second wind,” Brynn tells us as we climb into the hotel golf cart waiting to take us back to our room.

“I’m game,” Cade says, beaming.

“Wherever you ladies go, I go.” Geneva tugs down the skirt of her tight black dress as she sits.

“I could arrange for a VIP table at any nightclub,” Mateo offers from the front seat beside the driver. “I can give you a rundown of each establishment’s merits to help you decide.”

Everyone looks to me, waiting. I’m a little emotionally exhausted from such an incredible evening, but the buzzing energy resonating down my forearms doesn’t make me want to turn in yet. Regardless, a nightclub sounds like a lot. But if everyone else wants to go, I’m not about to ruin the fun.

“Why don’t we save the night club for tomorrow,” Brynn answers, her eyes clocking my twisting pinky ring. “How about we explore the casino tonight. Maybe get some dessert?”

She says it as a question, her dark eyes simultaneously nurturing and assessing as they fix on mine. A wide grin splits my face. Though I used to get frustrated when Brynn wouldanswer for me, this time, my sister has suggested the perfect solution before my tired brain could think of it.

I cross my sparkly ballet flats at the ankle, leaning back in the leather seat. “That sounds like a perfect end to our evening…afterwe stop by a bathroom so I can fix this.”

My friends chuckle as I wave my hand over my face.

After Mateo coordinates a dessert-tasting table with a stop-by from the celebrity chef for whom the restaurant is named, we wander the casino floor, trying our luck at slot machines. Brynn is determined to win her twenty dollars back, not understanding that as much as she hates losing, her tenacity might not help her here. Geneva wanders toward a small circular bar amid the noisy floor where a boxing match is on two of the six screens behind the bartenders’ heads. Cade and I follow, both wincing when the redheaded man takes a hard punch to the jaw.

“Left hook,” Geneva barks at the screen. “Simmons is weak to defend on that side.”

A man at the bar, hunched over a fruit-topped hurricane glass, says nearly the same thing at the same time. When he looks over his shoulder, an unmistakable zip of electricity laces his gaze as it crashes with Geneva’s. A slight shiver racks her athletic frame before Geneva snaps her focus back to the two boxers on the screen.

“Did you see that?” Cade clutches my arm, giddy.

“Idid.”

“He looks familiar. Isn’t he the one that was dancing and singing behind us the whole concert?”

A noisy inhale fills my lungs. “Yes! With the Southern accent. He’s got quite a voice.”

The three women who were seated to his left leave their seats in a fit of giggles. Cade tugs me over, leaving the stool directly next to the stranger open. “Geneva, come sit. Let’s get another drink!”

We had champagne with dessert, but I see through Cade’s ploy. Geneva’s attention remains locked on the last round of the match, so she barely acknowledges the man—or us as we all do a shot of vodka. Cade gives me a defeated shrug, her gaze darting between Geneva and the stranger. I think she’s going to try something really outlandish to get the two to talk when a deep voice hovers over my ear.

“I was going to ask to buy you a drink, but it looks like I’m too late.”

I nearly topple the stool, jumping off it to wrap my arms around Finn’s neck. “What are you doing here?”

That captivating smirk lifts his beard scruff. “I realized that I could arrange a flight whenever I wanted, so I decided I’d rather hear about your concert experience firsthand.”

My mouth drops open, speechless, before I glance at Cade.

“Would you mind…”

She waves a hand. “Not at all. We’re good here. Mateo is hovering over there in case we need anything. Brynn is sucked into that machine. Go catch up.”

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