29. Eric
Chapter twenty-nine
Eric
T he city of Las Vegas 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 person and 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 of the 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 a refreshing 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?”
“Yeah,” I say, trying not to be too obvious. “He’s been staring at us for a while.”
“Maybe he’s just a fan,” Allie suggests, brushing it off. “You know how it is here in Vegas.”
“I don’t know,” I reply, feeling a prickle of unease. “Something feels off about it.”
“Dude, you’re imagining things,” Jake says, in high spirits. “It’s Vegas! Everyone’s taking photos of everything.”
“Right,” I mutter, not entirely convinced. I focus on our drinks again, shaking off the nagging feeling in my gut.
As the night continues, we head to a nearby bar that just opened. Allie and Jessica rave about the photos they saw online. But when we arrive, we’re informed that the place has a strict capacity limit, and the line is out the door and down the street.
“Let’s try the casino!” Allie suggests, her eyes shining with excitement. “We can at least gamble!”
As we head inside, we notice the chaos of the casino floor, people laughing, clinking chips, and the beeping of slot machines. I’m suddenly reminded of why I’m not really into gambling. It feels overwhelming, the noise and lights disorienting.
“Let’s just hit a few slot machines,” Jake suggests, his enthusiasm unphased. “We might win big!”
We gather around a slot machine, and after a few rounds of playing, we lose all our change. I lean back in my chair, throwing my hands in the air. “Guess we’re officially broke!”
We laugh at my words, and at that moment, I realize that despite the chaos, despite everything that hasn’t gone according to plan, we’re all here together. There’s something beautiful about it, the way we’re laughing and just enjoying each other’s company despite the series of unforeseen events.
Finally, after what feels like hours, we find ourselves back at the hotel. We head to the lobby to finish off the night with a nightcap, and I can’t help but smile at what a good idea this was. To come here with friends, with Jessica. To finally face Linda. I feel like I’m on cloud nine.
“So let’s have a toast to friendships, to a new year, new beginnings, and happier days ahead,” I say, chuckling as we settle around a table, drinks in hand from the bar.
“Absolutely! In life, it’s the memories that matter,” Jessica says, leaning back and grinning. She holds her pink cocktail up with a smile that I wholeheartedly return, fighting the urge to kiss her.
“Agreed,” Jake adds. “Next year will be the best year yet for all of us!”
I look around at my friends, feeling a warmth in my chest. I was anxious about the trip, but it turned out to be one of the best nights in recent years. We toast again and again, each one getting goofier than the last. I let myself get lost in the moment, surrounded by my chosen family.
I raise my glass up silently, giving my late grandparents a silent cheers for their courage in handling my mom’s struggles, raising me, and above all else, trying to always do right by me. I see it clearly now, and I’ll never forget the sacrifices they made for me.
As the clock approaches midnight, we share our resolutions for the coming year, laughing and teasing each other.
Jake’s is to grow a thick mustache, which Allie groans at.
Allie’s is to paint her home office bubble gum pink, which Jake gags at.
Jessica’s is to escape Allison the PR lady, a joke only she and I really get.
And for me, mine is to appreciate every moment of happiness that comes my way.
We toast, but as I sip my drink, I get this strong, weird feeling that something’s not quite right. It’s that nagging sensation that we’re being watched.
I lean closer to Jessica, catching her gaze. “I swear, I think we’re being watched. I can’t explain it, but it feels strange,” I say quietly, glancing over my shoulder.
She raises an eyebrow, a smile still on her face from something Allie just said. She’s clearly unconvinced. “Eric, you’re imagining things. There’s lots and lots of people out tonight—it’s NYE!”
“No, seriously. I noticed that guy earlier, and he hasn’t left us alone,” I insist, gesturing subtly.
“Probably just someone who recognizes you,” she shrugs. “You’ve got a following and thousands of fans, remember?”
“Yeah, but he looked sketchy,” I reply, my brow furrowed.
Before she can respond, the countdown to midnight begins, and we all turn to the clock, excited voices counting down together. The air is charged with anticipation, and I’m pulled into the moment.
As the clock strikes midnight, we cheers and clink our glasses together. “Happy New Year!” we shout, the laughter and energy flooding us with happiness.
In that moment, surrounded by friends, I feel a sense of hope for the year ahead.
“Thanks for being here for me tonight,” I say softly to Jessica, who’s sitting close by. “After everything with my mom, it really means a lot.”
“Always,” she replies, her eyes sincere. “You’re not alone, Eric. You’ve got me and the rest of the crew here.”
“I mean it. I would never have met Linda without you. I needed you, and you were there for me.” I lean in and give her a quick, chaste kiss. When I pull back, her cheeks are flushed pink, and it’s not from the alcohol in her drink.
At that moment, Jake stands up, pulling Allie to her feet. “Okay you two lovebirds. Looks like it’s time for us all to call it a night.”
I share a look with Jessica that says Jake couldn’t be more right. The rest of the ways I want to show Jessica my feelings most certainly cannot be done in public. For us, the night is just beginning.