Epilogue Eleanor
I’m not entirely sure how I was convinced to come back to Las Vegas.
One would think after my last experience in Sin City, I would have had the good sense to stay away.
And yet. Here I am. In the strip club, no less, sipping on a cocktail Tyler ordered for me.
I’m not sure what’s in it, but… a lot of vodka, would be my first guess.
At least this time I’m not going to spend half the visit stuck inside a conference hall and the other half running around the city on the knife’s edge of an anxiety attack.
No, this time I am here to have fun.
Which I am. I’m having a great time. I’m surrounded by all of my closest friends, watching a dancer who is legitimately one of the most attractive people I’ve ever seen in real life slide down the pole wearing only a pair of mesh boy shorts.
I’m pleasantly buzzed, but not too far gone—I won’t be making that mistake again—and for once, everything feels like it’s falling into place.
I have a job I love, working for a woman I respect.
I have a new apartment with floors that are only a little bit crooked, and a new roommate who has become my very best friend in the world.
And I’m on vacation, staying in a posh hotel suite Iris booked, using some combination of sweet talk and sorcery to get us an unbelievably low rate.
She acquired this negotiating superpower while planning her wedding, and she jumps at any chance to put it to use.
The point is, everything is exactly how I want it to be. Exactly how Iris and I planned it. So I have no good reason to feel so restless.
While the woman onstage collects her tips and the DJ introduces the next dancer, I pull out my phone. I keep it low by my hip, so that none of the bouncers see it and confiscate it. So that Tyler doesn’t confiscate it, for that matter.
I bite my lip and find Adam’s name. Take another sip of my cocktail.
I miss you, I type out, and hit send.
I stare at the screen as three dots appear, hovering at the bottom of our text chain. I wait, ignoring the new dancer who comes onstage, even as Iris and Tyler lose their minds over her impressive climb up the pole.
The three dots disappear.
I frown and shove my phone into the pocket of my dress. I’m not supposed to be texting him, anyway. And it’s ridiculous for my attention to be diverted when there’s a perfectly good striptease going on right in front of my face.
I settle in and try to enjoy it. Try to remember this is supposed to be a celebration, and that Adam and I both agreed we were going to do our own thing for a little while.
A moment later, someone slides into the empty chair beside me and presses in close. I look over, expecting it to be Tyler with another round of drinks, but instead find Adam grinning back at me.
“Miss you too.”
A wide grin splits my face and I practically lunge over to kiss him. “We’re so gross. Can’t even watch strippers without you.”
Adam shrugs. “This is kind of our spot. Besides, what’s the point of a joint bachelor-bachelorette party if I can’t come over and kiss you now and then?”
I hum in agreement and tip my head onto his shoulder. He nuzzles the top of my head for a second, then pulls back to whisper in my ear.
“You wanna get out of here?”
I cock my head and eye him. “What’d you have in mind?”
“Thought we’d pay an old friend a visit.” He matches my grin and downs the rest of his drink. “Meet me out front in five.”
I watch him head back over to the second stage near the back of the club and say something to his friends, all of whom seem entirely unfazed when Adam walks away again. I didn’t see him say any goodbyes, so I take my cue from him, and tell Iris that I’ll be right back.
When I step outside, Adam already has our limo waiting at the curb.
He opens the door for me and I slide into the back seat, waiting for him to get in after me. “You sure they won’t miss us?”
“I can’t speak for your sister, but I’m pretty sure the guys won’t even notice we’re gone. Anyway, this won’t take long.”
Adam tells the driver our destination, then turns to look at me. “What do you say?”
I curl my lips between my teeth and nod. “Yeah.”
Adam laces our fingers together, and I rest my head on his shoulder, grinning into his shirt over the sheer ridiculousness of this decision.
But it pretty much epitomizes the past year of my life: learning to trust my instincts without veering into reckless or irresponsible territory.
Learning to be a person who is fully capable of doing things myself, but who is okay with letting someone else take the lead now and then.
We pull up to Happily Ever After and look out the window at the neon sign.
“You’re sure you want to do this? You only get married once.”
I snort and elbow Adam. “Three times if you’re lucky.”
A month from now, I’ll wear a white dress with a sweetheart neckline and a small train that made my mother cry the first time I tried it on. We’ll exchange vows on a hilltop overlooking a vineyard. It will be the intimate wedding I’ve dreamed about, and it will be perfect.
But coming back to this spot where everything changed for Adam and me feels perfect too.
Adam slides out of the car and I follow him across the leather seats. Out on the sidewalk, with the night air cool against our skin, Adam takes my hand and we turn to face the chapel.
“What do you think the odds are that Beatrice remembers us?” I ask.
“Slim,” Adam says. “Five bucks says she tries to upsell you on a photo package.”
“Ten says you’re the one who caves.”
“I’ll take that bet.”
I grin and give Adam’s hand a little tug, steering him toward the entrance.
As we walk inside, I think about the last time we were here, how it felt like I’d just made the biggest mistake of my life.
How it’s always a gamble, taking the plunge and putting your trust in another person.
Putting your heart in their care. But it’s a gamble I can’t wait to make, every day for the rest of my life.
I’m all in.