Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
RUBY
Slot machines, music, and stale air surround us as we step into the MGM. We form a line at the check-in desk, with Hudson and Sadie in front. In fact, it’s a line of couples until you get to the end, where it is me and Declan pulling up the rear.
Just like at the airport and just like when I was seated by him on the plane.
I glance over my shoulder to see him following, but he’s looking at his phone. It is as if the noise of the casino didn’t faze him at all. Me, however? Although excited to be in a different world for the weekend, my overstimulated anxiety kicked in the moment our Uber turned onto the Strip.
“I’ll go check us in since I put all the rooms under my name to get a block together,” Luca says. Shay’s hand is basically glued to his as the next open receptionist waves them over.
“What should we do first?” Brooke asks, gazing around the room. Her eyes settle on one of the roulette tables closest to us.
“Gamble and have a couple of drinks?” Grace offers.
“Okay.” Brooke nods. “But I gave myself a gambling limit, so if I blow it all in the first five minutes, I need a backup plan.”
“Don’t blow it all then,” Dutton says.
Brooke flashes him a glare but doesn't respond. She turns and starts talking quietly to Grace.
I try not to smirk at how the two of them sound awfully similar to Declan and me, except I'm not so sure that's Declan and me anymore. Sharing a roof these past couple of weeks has shown me a different side of him.
And then there was the couch moment.
And last night.
And he bought me a new computer out of pure kindness.
And he was pretty sweet on the plane.
And as much as I hate to admit this, Declan Young might actually be friend material.
Except the things we have done and the things going through my mind aren’t things you do with your friends.
“So, there is a slight hiccup,” Luca says. “We are short one room.”
It’s clear that his comment is directed at me.
“How?” I ask “And why are you looking at me?”
“Because he suggested that you and Declan share a room,” Shay answers for him.
“What? No,” I say with a little too much squeak, drawing attention from the group.
“What’s wrong?” Declan asks. He clearly didn’t hear my brother.
“Nothing. Just my brother losing his mind.”
Luca ignores me. “The other option is that one of you gets a room to yourself while the other tags on as a third in another room or stays at another hotel.”
“Who are we talking about?” Declan asks.
“Us, and no.” I cross my arms. “We can get another room.”
Luca scrunches his nose. “They are booked.”
“Doubtful,” I say and move to march around him, but Shay stops me.
“Do hotels here really run out of available rooms?” Grace asks.
“Yes,” Luca answers. “They have suites open, but it’s only two nights, Ruby. The cost isn’t worth it.”
I sigh. “Who is rooming with who?”
“Me and Shay, Miles and Quinn, Hudson and Sadie, Dutton and Linc, Grace and Brooke, and then Carver and Archer from Hudson’s old team are here later. That leaves the last room for you and Declan.”
“Linc,” I pull out my motherly sweetness for him since he’s already talking to a waitress to get a drink, “Can Declan room with you and Dutton?”
“That’s about one too many dicks for me in a small room, Ruby,” Dutton cuts in.
“Is that honestly the only way you could have answered that?” Brooke snaps.
Dutton ignores her.
I smirk. They're cute.
“I could room with Brooke and Grace, right?” I glance at my girls.
Grace smiles. “Of course, but keep in mind that’s three girls to one bathroom, and it can get crowded fast. But I’m good with that if you two are.”
Brooke nods, but Grace is right. Getting ready would take twice as long. I could sleep in their room and then get ready in Declan’s. I’d have to haul my things back and forth, which is fine. Or at least keep my toothbrush in my purse so I don’t forget it.
I let out a breath and look at Declan.
“I’ll splurge for a suite so you can have the room,” he says, moving toward the reception desk.
Of course he would. Of course he would jump to be the one to make me feel comfortable right now.
I let him take about two steps.
Luca intended for the block of rooms to be together, and if Declan gets a different one, that will defeat that purpose.
And what if he does get a suite alone and then it’s weird between us because I couldn’t find it in me to be kind and share a room, and we go back to how things were before he moved in?
Do I want that?
“Wait. I mean, we already live together, right? The least complicated answer would be to just ... suck it up and not be upset over this.”
He chuckles. “You’re the only one who is upset about this, Ruby.”
“You’re not?”
“It’s like you said, we already live together. What could you possibly do in this place to surprise me that you don’t do at home?”
After the text I accidentally sent him, the living room, and then the vibrator incident …
there are a lot of things I could do to surprise him here, but it’s silly to even think about that kind of connection with Declan.
He’s barely my friend and what? I just want to skip all that to jump his bones?
All because I’m in Vegas.
With no kid.
And about to be sharing a room with him.
Don’t forget he had the opportunity to kiss you and didn’t take it.
I nod slowly. “Right. Then it should be no problem at all.”
“Great! Because I already told the receptionist yes, and here are your keys,” Luca says and sticks both his hands out.
“If you already told them, why even ask?”
He shrugs.
“I figured that one of you was going to be in that room either way. It just makes sense to share it.”
I roll my eyes as he and Shay turn away.
“Wait, aren’t you going to give him a speech on don’t touch my sister and treat her kindly or whatever?”
Hudson, who must have been listening, breaks into a fit of laughter, followed by Luca and Declan.
“I think that’s the last thing we need to worry about,” Hudson says, sharing a look with Declan that I don’t care for before he then claps his hands together.
“Let’s all go get settled and then meet down here in an hour.
We have an early dinner and the first show.
Possibly a club and drinks after if we are all up for it. ”
“Oh, I’m still up for it,” Sadie says.
She’d mentioned at girls’ night once that a club was her one request.
Hudson slips his arms around Sadie's shoulder and leads her toward the elevators. Quinn is laughing at something Miles said as he whispers in her ear as they follow. I have no idea where Brooke or Grace went, nor do I see Dutton and Linc now.
I sigh, following behind Declan, who still seems to be completely unfazed by all this.
Which is the normal way to go about it, obviously. I’m just overthinking.
Sharing a room for two nights is going to be no big deal. It’s not like we have to share a bed or anything. I can change in the bathroom since it has a door, and my things will stay on my side of the room.
All is going to be fine, and this weekend is going to be great.
The elevator doors open, and the eight of us try to pile in, but with a rolling suitcase per person, Declan and I don’t make the cut.
“Sorry, see you soon!” Sadie says just as the doors close.
I’m too stunned to speak.
This might be my overthinking brain again, but it sure feels like this trip has been filled with moment after moment of Declan and I unexpectedly ending up alone together.
“Everything okay?” he asks.
“Everything is fine.”
“When was the last time you took a trip without Max?”
I let out a laugh. “Never. I've had my weekends here or there when Colt wanted him or when I needed to get things done, but for an actual vacation, nope. Never.”
“Well, that’s the problem then. You just need to remember how to relax.”
The doors open on our floor and I head for our room.
I refrain from a comeback because the truth of the matter is, I do have a problem.
It’s just not what he thinks it is.
And, at this moment, my brain can think of only one way to relax.
Despite what I’m saying, I can’t remember the last time I was as excited as I am right now to be sharing a room with Declan.