Nothing Stays In Vegas (23 page)

Chapter Twenty-One

I raised my glass in a toast. "To my best friend and her handsome new husband. Congratulations to you both. May your lives together be blessed with a lifetime of happiness and love."

"Cheers," Ryan said and everyone reached to the center of the table and clinked glasses. 

The newlyweds kissed. They'd always been a showy couple, but matrimony had taken their passion to the next level. I felt a little like a voyeur sitting across from them, so to distract myself, I took a roll from the bread basket and broke it in half.

"It was a beautiful ceremony," Andrew said to me. He sat tense, uncomfortable. I couldn't be sure if it was because of the amorous display across the table, or the tension between us. 

"It was." I put a piece of bread in my mouth. 

"Look, Lex." He shifted so he was facing me. He was calmer, but I could see the anger from earlier simmering just under the surface. "Are you going to tell me what the deal is with the wedding planner?"

I swallowed the dry bread hard and reached for my champagne. After a sip, I cleared my throat and whispered, "I don't really think this is the right time to talk about that." 

"Fine," Andrew said and then turned to the couple and said, "Do you two want to cut this dinner short or what?"

They broke apart, Nicole made an attempt to fix her hair and they both adjusted themselves in their seats. 

"Sorry, guys," Ryan said. "I just can't believe this stunning creature finally agreed to be my wife. And there's just something about knowing that she's mine for the rest our lives that makes it hard to keep my hands off her. You must know how it is?" he asked Andrew.

Andrew flicked a glance at me and said, "Yeah. I remember those days."

"Let's have cake," I declared eager to change the topic. Andrew and I both knew how long it'd been since we'd had sex, let alone been in a stage when we couldn't keep our hands off each other.

Had it ever been like that between us? My thoughts flashed to Leo, the way it felt to look at him and yearn for his touch. The way my body reacted with a heat that was almost violent when he kissed me. Yes, it had been like that for me. Once. 

"Lexi." Nicole's voice jerked me from my thoughts. "We haven't even finished our meal yet." 

"Right," I said. I hoped my confusion wasn't obvious to everyone, but a quick look at Andrew confirmed that he at least thought I was acting strangely. He raised his eyebrow at me in question. I ignored him. "I just thought maybe you two were in a hurry to get on with your wedding night," I said to Nicole.

They both laughed. 

"I think we can wait a little while at least," Ryan said. 

Everyone turned back to their meals. I poked at my steak a little bit, before spearing a piece of asparagus. 

The conversation turned to the details of the ceremony. Nicole and Ryan each toasted each other, and even Andrew stood and gave a short but thoughtful speech to the happy couple. The champagne flowed and I probably drank more than my share. But it was Nicole's wedding and the alcohol muted my feelings. I kept thinking that with one more glass I might stop thinking about Leo. 

The champagne made it worse. He occupied every thought. 

Moments after the servers cleared our dinner plates, the object of my distraction came into the room, wheeling the cake we'd seen at the ceremony. 

"How was dinner?" Leo asked.

"Everything's been awesome," Ryan said and wrapped his arm around his new wife.

When Andrew's hand squeezed my thigh, it was so unexpected that I let out a small squeak which I tried to cover by coughing into my napkin.

"Jesus, Lex," Andrew said under his breath. 

"Are you okay?" Nicole said. 

Andrew's hand slid further up my leg. 

"I'm fine," I said and reached for my champagne. I took a sip and the bubbles hit the back of my throat. Leo looked at me, his face was worried with concern. When Andrew's thumb began stroking lazy circles on the silky fabric of my dress. I almost choked, but swallowed hard instead.

I turned to my husband. "What are you doing?" I hissed.

"Showing you some affection," Andrew said. "You're my wife." He emphasized the second word.

So, that's what this was about. Possession.

"Cut it out."

"Lex, there's nothing wrong with letting you know I care."

"That's not what you're doing and we both know it."

Andrew removed his hand and I breathed a small sigh of relief but then he moved his chair so it was closer to mine. "That's exactly what I'm doing," he said as he dropped his arm lazily over my shoulder. His finger tips dangled along the crest of my breast. 

With his back turned to us, Leo had positioned the cart with the cake next to the table and was unwrapping a silver knife from a cloth napkin. 

He was close. Andrew was too close.

I pushed back my chair, ducked under Andrew's arm and stood. "You can't cut the cake here, Nicole."

Everyone looked at me as if I'd lost my mind. 

Maybe I had. Having Leo and Andrew in the same room, my marriage spinning further out of control, was making me crazy. 

"Let's move it over to these flowers, without the table in the background," I said.

"I think it's fine," Ryan said.

"Of course it's not fine. You need flowers for the pictures," I snapped and grabbed the cart. 

"I've got it," Leo said. His voice was a soothing balm that covered me. I looked into his eyes and felt calm settle over me. "It's okay. You can let go."

"Thank you," I said. His eyes held me and I didn't move.

Nicole broke our connection. "I think that sounds like a fantastic idea, Lex." She put her hands on my shoulders and pulled me upright, forcing me to let go. I turned and looked at her. "It's a good idea," she said again, but I don't think she was talking about the cake. 

I nodded. 

Nicole leaned in and whispered in my ear, "You need to calm down. Do you need a minute?"

I shook my head. "I'm fine," I said. 

"Lexi, you don't seem fine. Take a breath." 

I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and pulled away. Her pretty face was crumpled with concern. "Honestly," I said. "Everything's fine."

"Is Andrew-"

"It's fine," I repeated but when Nicole gestured towards the table I turned. 

Andrew's seat was empty. 

I turned back to Nicole. "I'm sorry," I said. "I don't know where-"

"Are you ready, Nic?" Ryan called.

Leo had already moved the cart and the cake was now framed by tropical flowers and palms. Ryan was waiting, the knife in his hands.

###

Later, after she'd happily smooshed cake in her husband's face, Nicole wrapped me in a hug. 

"That seemed so silly," she said. "It's not like anyone saw it."

"I saw it."

She laughed. "You know what I mean."

Her happiness was contagious. "It doesn't matter if anyone saw it. Your wedding wasn't about anyone else. It was totally for you guys. That's what I loved about it."

"You really think so?"

"Absolutely," I said. "It was a beautiful day."

Nicole unwrapped herself from my arms and pulled back. "Are you okay? I mean, Leo? I had know idea he worked here. It's so crazy and I know you said you're fine, but-"

"Nic, I'm okay." I forced the smile on my face to stay put. "Stop worrying about me."

"Andrew was acting weird. And where did he go? You didn't tell him about...well, things? I mean, that would be pretty hard to hear. Leo was, is...what I mean is, I remember how you felt back then. How are you feeling now? You don't still feel..."

My smile slipped. 

"Lexi. You can't be-"

"Oh, stop it. I don't have feelings for him," I said. "That's crazy. It was a lifetime ago. Besides, we only had one night together. It's not like it was a relationship."

Nicole shook her head. "I don't buy it, Lex. There was always something more between you two. And then there's Ben..."

"Ben has nothing to do with this," I said trying to control the tremble in my voice. 

"Yes, he does, Lexi. It's okay. I know."

"There's nothing to know," I said.

"But...you and Leo, you-"

"You and Leo, what?" Andrew said having chosen that moment to reappear.

Nicole's face turned an unnatural shade of red and with her back turned from Andrew, she mouthed, "I'm sorry." 

"Come here," I said and pulled her into a hug. "Don't worry," I whispered into her ear. "Go. Enjoy your wedding night." 

I gave her a gentle push and with a slight wave to Andrew, she slipped away and into Ryan's arms. 

"Are you ready to tell me what's going on?" Andrew asked. His face was a carefully controlled mask of fury. "I think I have a pretty good guess."

I turned so I was facing him head on. "There's nothing going on."

"Don't lie to me," he said through clenched teeth. "Do you think I'm stupid? That I can't see the way he looks at you. Like he's imagining you naked in his bed."

"Andrew."

He ignored me. "But what's worse is the way you look at him. Like you
want
to be naked in his bed."

"That's enough."

"Is it? Because I thought this weekend was supposed to be for us," he said. "So we could reconnect. But instead you're lusting after some hotel employee and not even bothering to hide it."

"Andrew, stop."

"Not until you tell me what's going on between you two. Did you sleep with him, Lexi? Is that it? Is that why he looks at you like that, because he's already had you in his bed? Tell me Lex. Did you fuc-"

My hand flew out and slapped him across the face. It was a solid contact and my fingers stung from the force.

Andrew clutched his cheek. His green eyes narrowed and blazed with anger. He brought his right hand up and for a moment I thought he might hit me. 

He dropped his hand and started to stay something. Changing his mind, he shook his head and turned on his heel leaving me standing alone.

###

I let him go. It was best if I didn't talk to him right now. Besides, what would I say? 

Ryan and Nicole were gone. Probably back to their suite to celebrate. Leo was gone too. Just the bus boy, clearing the table and the photographer who was packing up his equipment, remained. I grabbed my purse from under the table and slipped away. 

I walked as quickly as I could in my heels. I needed to get away but had no idea where to go. Could you ever really be alone in Vegas? There were people all around me. Laughing, celebrating, having fun. My head was spinning. I couldn't get the image of Andrew's face when he asked me about Leo out of my mind. What could I tell him? What was there to tell? I needed to calm down. 

Ben. 

I needed to talk to Ben. I stopped in the middle of the casino floor and dug through my purse for my cell phone but before I could dial the number, I noticed the time. He would be asleep. With the hour time difference, I would wake him if I called. And for what? To tell him that his mother was doing a terrible job of keeping their family together? Hot tears pricked at my eyes and I blinked hard, forcing them back.

"Lexi?" 

Leo's voice, warm like my favorite quilt, wrapped around me from behind. "Lexi, are you okay?" Reaching me, he touched my shoulder and  it took everything I had not to collapse into his touch. The need for him to hold me overwhelmed my senses. 

I shook my head, pulled just out of his reach and turned to face him. His handsome features were creased in concern and hurt. 

He pointed to my phone. "It can be hard to get reception inside. Do you need to make a call?"

"No," I said. "I shouldn't disturb him."

"Your husband, you mean?"

I sighed and said, "I can't talk about this right now."

"Then when, Lexi? What's going on?"

I turned away so I couldn't look at his face and see the raw emotion there.

"There's nothing going on," I said. "Everyone needs to stop asking me that."

He reached out and touched my bare arm. The touch was tender, loving, more than friendly. "Okay, I won't ask anymore," he said, his voice only a little more than a whisper. "Come. You look like you need some fresh air."

I couldn't argue with that. There was nothing I wanted more than to get out of this casino. The lights, the noise, the smells and the people made me want to scream. I couldn't think surrounded by all of the activity. And I needed to think. 

I nodded my response. He led me out the front door of the casino, his hand just hovering, not quite touching on the small of my back.

Leo spoke to the concierge who hailed a limousine for us and I got in without a word. We didn't speak as the car inched through traffic down the strip, eventually turning off and pulling into a small parking lot. 

I was numb, and my feet moved automatically as Leo led me into the restaurant. It was the complete opposite of anything I'd seen on the strip. Instead of the over the top flamboyance of everything else I'd seen in Vegas, this place was tiny and dark. There were no pretentious waiters strutting around, or artsy walls made out of water. Each table was decorated simply with a white table cloth, and a candle. Black and white photos of landscapes dotted the walls. 

The maître de led us through the dining room and outside to a patio area where there was a table tucked in the corner. The fountain burbling nearby, managed to block out what little noise there was from the other tables. There were mini-lights strung through potted shrubs and vines that created an easy atmosphere, and I could feel myself starting to release some of the tension I'd felt earlier. Leo asked for a bottle of red wine and then we were alone.

"I hope it's okay that I brought you here," Leo said. "I don't want to cause you anymore trouble."

I shook my head. "Don't worry about Andrew."

"I can't help it, Lexi." He reached across the table and took my hand. I let him. "I know I shouldn't be with you like this. I know I shouldn't be thinking the things I'm thinking. If I were your husband, I would be insane if another man was feeling this way towards you."