Page 87 of One Night in Vegas

I had to pinch myself to make sure it was real. Him. Of all people, him. I showered and dressed in casual jeans and a T-shirt for the short flight to Vegas. “Be good, Handcock. If you’re mean to Trisha, she is not going to feed you. I know you. There is no way you can survive two days without food. So be nice. Don’t shit in her shoes and don’t scratch her.”

Meow.

He was incorrigible. I took my suitcase to the door. After saying goodbye to Trisha, I took a cab to the airport. When I got there, Jon was standing near the ticket line.

“Good morning,” he greeted me.

“Good morning. Am I the first one?”

“Nope, lazy bones,” he said with a laugh. “They already went through security. There’s just you and a couple others.”

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I thought I was early.”

“You are early,” he said, smiling. “They were just earlier. I guess they were excited to get here.”

“I am as well.”

“I sent you your boarding information,” he said. “You can go ahead and go through.”

“I’ll wait with you,” I offered.

“Thank you, I would like that,” he said.

The others arrived and we all went through security. I stopped to get a bottle of water and we boarded soon after. I wasn’t sure if it was by design or an accident, but we ended up sitting together. I was a little surprised he was sitting in economy. I expected a man like him to be in first class. I was pretty sure he did it to be a part of the group. He was very humble, making sure he didn’t separate himself from the rest of us.

“I brought snacks,” I said once the plane was in the air.

“You know the flight is just over an hour,” he said.

“I know, but it’s a flight. You have to have snacks or it’s just not the same.”

He grinned. “What’d you bring?”

“Doritos, gummy bears, and chocolate-chip cookies,” I announced proudly.

“Trying to put yourself in a sugar coma before we land?” he teased.

“Don’t act like you don’t have a candy bar stashed somewhere on you,” I retorted.

“I’m offended you would suggest such a thing.”

“But you know I’m right,” I said.

He reached into his jacket and pulled out a Snickers. “I stopped at the vending machine.”

“I knew it,” I said, laughing. “What is with you and your need for chocolate?”

“I don’t know,” he said, shrugging. “I’ve always liked it. I think my addiction has gotten worse because everyone tells me I can’t have it.”

“We want what we can’t have,” I said.

“Maybe, but I know I want it.”

“It’s Vegas,” I said, shrugging. “A weekend of debauchery and overindulgence is on the agenda. Monday, we go back, and all is well. I’ll be forcing you to drink water.”

“I’m going to need it,” he said.

“I’m glad you decided to come,” I told him. “I think everyone is pretty happy to have you along.”

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