Page 76 of All Bets Are Off

“Travis Scott,” John says, at the same time as I say, “Taylor Swift.”

I fix John with a glower before I turn to Trina with a sweet smile. “I’ll tip you more if you play Taylor Swift.”

Trina laughs as she scrolls through Spotify on her phone. “I’ll alternate, okay?” she says, just as the opening lines of “The Man” vibrate through the cabin.

“Fucking Taylor Swift!” Liam scoffs, rolling his eyes and taking a swig of the cocktail Trina has handed out to everyone.

“Only men who feel threatened by powerful women hate on Taylor Swift,” Connor says, his tone easy, his body language relaxed. “Hey, Trina, can you turn it up? I love this song.”

Liam doesn’t miss a beat on that jab. He tenses slightly as his eyes narrow at Connor, trying to get a read on him and his intentions, but Connor simply turns away to gaze out of the windows as the LINQ Promenade drops away below us.

“What brings you all to Vegas? Are we celebrating something special?” Trina asks.

“These two are getting married,” Evie says, reaching out for mine and Liam’s arms and thrusting us forward. Today is the first day I haven’t worn my bridal sash. I didn’t feel like broadcasting the fact I’m an upcoming bride anymore, because just the notion of walking down that aisle toward Liam makes my stomach churn with bile. “We’re on a joint bach.”

“Congratulations!” Trina says, and even though I already have a cocktail in hand, she pours two Fireballs and hands them to Liam and me. “Cheers!”

Oh, God. I know it’s an open bar, but I expected the bartender to be stingy, purposely pouring the drinks slow, restricting how much we can actually drink. But no, not Trina—she appears to be on a personal mission to make sure we all get our money’s worth.

When I look at Liam, his eyes have lit up. So much for no shots today. “Love you, babe,” he says, tapping his shot glass to mine.

I don’t say it back. I just swallow back the cinnamon whisky and smile, but dear God, it’s strong—I immediately chase it down with the cocktail, which is sweeter, fruity, and delicious. “Can I have another one of those, please?”

“Yeah, me too,” Theo says, stepping forward with his empty cup, and we exchange a glance with one another and laugh.

We have been on this wheel for approximately six minutes. I dread to think what kind of state we are all going to be in twenty-four minutes from now if this is how quickly the drinks are going to be consumed.

As we smoothly ascend above the Las Vegas strip, the three-sixty glass walls offer unparalleled views of the sights below. The Greek marble columns of Caesar’s Palace, the Eiffel Tower replica at Paris, the wraparound LED display of the Sphere, the stretching desert on the horizon. I take so many photos and videos, but nothing can beat seeing these same sights from the skies overhead in the helicopter with Connor last night. Trina curates the perfect playlist that keeps both us girls and the guys happy, empty cups are immediately refilled with the next drink, and the vibes are immaculate. It feels so private and intimate, with Trina being our own personal bartender, working exclusively for us.

While most of us are onto our fourth drinks by now, Hailey is still nursing her second. I can’t even tell if it’s because she hates the taste of alcohol or if she’s genuinely too distracted by Theo to remember to drink. They take selfies together, get lost in their own private conversations, and laugh often.

Evie, similarly, is glued to Jameson. They gaze out of the windows together, pointing out landmarks. Sometimes they catch one another’s eye and just stare at each other, smiling, not a single word required to be said between them. Yes, he’s older than her. Yes, she’ll never see him again after tonight. But my firecracker of a little sister is completely smitten, and that’s something I’ve never seen in her before.

My observations turn to Liam, and he’s at the other side of the cabin with Tyler, chugging beers, while I’m standing on my own. Maybe if I still loved him, that would hurt me, but right now it feels like a gift.

“You’re still drinking Trina’s signature cocktail?” Connor asks, appearing from behind me. He nods at the drink in my hand, my fourth duplicate drink in a row.

“It tastes amazing,” I say as I take another sip, enjoying the sweet punch of pineapple juice. “Why mix it up?”

“Try this,” he says, offering his drink. “I think you’ll like it. It’s basically a mango margarita.”

I love anything fruity, so I take his cup and taste-test his drink for myself. The tequila is strong, but the mango delicious. “Mmm. Yeah, I like it.” Licking my lips, I turn toward the bar cart and wiggle Connor’s cup in the air. “Trina, can I get one of these? The mango margarita thing?”

“Coming right up!” Trina says, plucking a bottle of tequila from the selection of liquor on the cart.

I quickly finish off the drink already in my hand and then switch it out for the new one. Drink number five. I can feel all the liquid swirling in my stomach and my head buzzes as all of my anxieties are slowly stripped away.

“I don’t know if I’m still going to be standing by the time we get back down to the ground,” I say with a small hiccup, “let alone if I’ll make it out tonight for Magic Mike. Do you feel drunk, too? Please tell me you feel drunk, too.”

Connor laughs, his hand clasping my wrist to steady me as I stumble ever so slightly. “Yes, I feel drunk, too. Well, tipsy.”

We reach the crest of the High Roller, suspended hundreds of feet in the air as Vegas shrinks away below us. The observation wheel hums mechanically around us, the AC keeps us cool, the music thumps loudly.

“You are officially at the highest point of your ride today, so bottoms up for the bride and groom!” Trina cheers, moving around the cabin to distribute some mystery shots.

Liam regroups by my side. I flinch as he snakes an arm around my waist and jerks me closer to him. He taps his plastic shot glass against mine, then Connor’s. “You heard the bartender. Bottoms up!”

My gaze is on Connor as the three of us awkwardly take our shots together in sync, because Connor and I know there is nothing to celebrate here. Nothing; yet Liam grins as he wipes his mouth, enjoying himself.