Page 52 of What Happens In Vegas
Bonni began to move past her, reaching for her wallet.
‘No, you’re not. No way.’ Ava held her ground. ‘You’ve spent too much already. Down-payment-on-a-house money, remember? This is on me.’ A few minutes later she waved the tickets. ‘Okay, we’re good to go.’
At the top, they were able to see the whole strip.
‘This view is the same as our hotel, only from a different angle,’ Fredi pointed out.
‘Yes, but it’s from the top of the Eiffel Tower.’ Wistful longing echoed in Celia’s voice again.
Bonni wondered if Quinn had ever been to Paris. Had he stood at the top of the real Eiffel Tower with a glamorous beauty on his arm? One who wore designer dresses effortlessly and didn’t assess every person she metfor a potential threat. Fredi had wandered over to a bench and was now scribbling in her sketchbook, likely working on her elopement wedding dresses ideas. Celia was now playing around with the straw in her drink and taking slightly obscene selfies. Bonni really hoped she wasn’t sending them to Landon.
Ava came up next to her. ‘You doing okay, Bonni?’
‘Yeah. It’s just been so great spendingtime with you guys, I’m sad that it’s almost over.’ Bonni crossed her arms over her chest, nearly bonking her chin with the Fat Tuesday glass as she leaned against the railing.
‘This is all about creating memories. Everything we do, we’ll remember later on in life. So we need to enjoy each moment,’Ava said. ‘Besides, it’s not like we’ll never see each other again. Unless, of course, it’s notus you’re worried about saying goodbye to.’
‘This tripisall about memories,’ Bonni said. First Quinn, and now Ava talking about memories. Memories are what carry us, and now she was realizing it even more. So, even if she never got to see Quinn again, even if their talk tonight didn’t go the way she hoped it would, she would always remember him. Ava shifted over and wrapped an arm around Bonni’sshoulders, and she leaned into her friend. ‘C’mon, bitches, the hunky employee said there’s a bakery in the lobby. Mama wants some macarons!’ Celia’s exuberant cry broke the moment and Ava gave Bonni a final squeeze before they turned to face their friend.
To keep herself from reaching for her phone again, Bonni sucked on the straw of the drink, but got nothing except empty cup. She desperatelyneeded another one. Somehow, she had to put Quinn – and their inevitable conversation – out of her mind for now, and the only possible way to do that was booze. A lot of it. ‘I need to find another Fat Tuesdays,’ Bonni announced, holding up the empty cup.
‘I think we’re in for a night, ladies.’ Fredi nodded knowingly and hustled Bonni into the elevator. ‘Don’t forget, there is now a dual wager. . . a Bonni Pukes pool and a Celia Pukes pool, both still active and acting wagers.’
The strip was with humming with people and Bonni spied a Margaritaville.
‘Oh! It’s five o’clock somewhere! Wehaveto go have a margarita and a cheeseburger in paradise. Fin’s Up!’
‘I have no idea what you’re talking about,’ Fredi said, while Celia belted out the song lyrics in a decent alto.
‘That’s becauseyou only listen to classical music and boybands.’ Bonni found four seats at the bar and ordered them each a margarita. ‘Jimmy Buffett style, kind sir,’ she said to the bartender. Bonni planned to give her future self an epic hangover to drown out the pain of her likely-soon-to-be-broken heart.
