Page 13 of Keep Vegas

“Sir. My boyfriend is about to bribe you and I think that’s the wrong approach. I’m not going to lie again, but it is very important we find our way up there. Like vitally important. But if we bribe you what does that say about your character? How much is your soul worth that you would take something as cheap and tawdry as a payout to let two people who are having a terrible date try to turn it around in the most romantic way? So can you let us up, for romance?”

He doesn’t hesitate, “My soul costs 200 euros.” Tony shakes his hand, and he steps aside as the elevator doors spring open.

I stare at both of them.

“Cynics.” They both laugh.

I lean against the back wall of the elevator and shake out my hair as I remove my hat. Tony stares at me as if I’m precious.

“You’re perfectly framed, and the lights and your hair. Jesus, you’re everything right now. If you were a spy, the door would slide closed, and you’d shoot me just as they meet.”

“And if this were a different kind of movie?”

He enters, his eyes flash darker, more sexual, then the doors slide behind him and he kisses me quickly and completely. I feel his scruff coming in and I like it. It’s odd, it’s not blond like his hair but darker as if he hides a secret. It’s a soft kiss that amps up until we begin to move, and the glass elevator is filled with the lights of the tower and the city. It’s beyond anything I’ll ever get to see or know. All the cracks of self-doubt and longing to be somewhere else or anyone else are filled with this light and the way he’s looking at me. The city of lights makes sense to me now, so bursting with beauty you can forget everything but light for a moment. For three minutes we stand side by side watching the tower in front of us and hold hands.

When the doors open, he kisses me quickly, winks and guides us to the bar.

No one is acting like we shouldn’t be here. I think the guard at the elevator does believe in romance, he must have called up.

Tony orders two glasses of pink wine. My aunt always drinks that kind of sweet swill and I’m not sure why they’d serve it here.

I don’t want to be rude, so I take the glass and raise it as Tony says, “To the best date ever.”

“Maybe not the best but it’s up there.” We clink and I take a small sip. “This is not sweet.”

“No, It’s a rosé.”

“I like it.”

He grins. “What do you like about it?”

“I don’t know.”

“Just say what you think it tastes like.” The bartender is listening.

“It’s not sweet but like strawberries and a little like, and this is going to be totally weird, but rocks.”

The bartender slaps a towel onto the bar, and it startles me.

“The mademoiselle is right; it has a mineral taste. Enjoy.”

“Mineral is a thing in wine?” I say.

Tony puts his glass down. “Apparently. Who knew?”

“I’m guessing you did but thank you for not patronizing me.”

He weaves his fingers through mine and says, “Not knowing something doesn’t make you anything less than spectacular. It just means you don’t know it yet.”

We’ve snacked on cheese, sipped our wine, and people are staring at him. He puts his head down a little. I don’t know if they know him or not. Or they just think he’s gorgeous like I do. I put my hands up like I’m framing a headline. “Bazillionaire Bad Boy, Blunders Bad Date with Gorgeous Enchanting Stranger.”

He laughs loudly, and the waiter takes his card.

“I feel shitty about all the money he’s spent. The rosé is great, but this was insane. I sip and say, “I promise this is a one-shot deal. McDonald’s on me, next time. It’s just down the street.”

“How do you know that?” I gesture to the hint of the Golden Arches. It’s a shame that’s part of the view, but it somehow sets me a little more at ease. That I belong a little more at this incredibly beautiful, expensive, and unique place because McDonald’s is here too.

“You seem as if you know everything.”