For all my other readers: I'm still working on my other stories, but I needed a momentary mental gear-shift. This idea was too fun not to start. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: All of the characters, personalities, and backstories belong to the delightful Janet Evanovich.
I stood in the hotel room admiring myself in the mirror. It was like looking at a princess from a fairy tale. The person staring back at me was wearing a flowing white gown, simple yet elegant. Her typically wild hair had been tamed into soft curls with help from a stylist, and part of it was pulled back and accentuated with a sparkling hair piece. An exquisite necklace hung around her neck and classic diamond earrings sparkled from her ears. I held up my left hand and stared at the rock on my finger. How had I let things get so out of hand?
Somewhere in the room I could hear a clock ticking. Or maybe it was my heart pounding in my ears. I started pacing nervously around the room. There was still time to think about all of this, right? I glanced at my phone. Ok, so not really. I was due downstairs is less than half an hour. Time for more pacing.
What to do? If I hadn't overheard the tail-end of that conversation, everything probably would've been fine. I would've gotten married and been in a first-class seat on a jet heading to the Caribbean for my honeymoon. Those tickets were nonrefundable, dang it! Of course the honeymoon could have been just part of the act too…
Maybe it was all a big misunderstanding. I probably owed it to him to at least talk about it, but I knew by the time I'd slumped on the bed that I'd already decided what I needed to do. I grabbed my suitcase from the side of the bed and started shoving my things into it. I frowned when I caught sight of the bikini I'd picked out specifically for the trip. Now I'd probably never get to wear the stupid thing.
With one last glance around the room, I sighed and shut the door. I poked my head into the hallway and made sure the coast was clear before heading to a side stairwell and slipping unnoticed out an emergency exit.
The hotel parking lot was bustling with arrivals and departures, and for a moment I wondered why I hadn't thought to change before leaving my hotel room. Thankfully since it was Vegas, the streets were often scattered with oddly dressed people. So basically I fit right in. I hailed a cab and asked to be taken to the airport.
The cab ride took forever. It was oddly quiet and gave me too much time alone with my thoughts. I didn't want to think about how close I had been to being an actual bride, to being a wife. It made that all-too familiar feeling of failure flood to the surface.
I arrived at the airport and used what I had left in cash to pay for my cab fare. While waiting in line to purchase a plane ticket, I felt my phone buzz. "Where are you?" the text read. Apparently my hasty departure had been discovered. Hopefully it would take a while for him to figure out where I'd headed.
"I need to get a one-way ticket on your next flight to Newark," I said at the ticket counter. The attendant eyed my gown. She gave me a brief look of sympathy then typed a few things into her computer.
"The next flight that's not completely full is a red-eye," she said.
I frowned handing her my ID and my credit card. "Whatever."
She typed in my information and tried running the card. "I'm sorry…the card's coming back as declined."
I handed her another one. "Here, try this one."
She swiped it and shook her head. "Sorry."
I glanced around looking for the nearest ATM but already knew it was pointless. The meager balance in my bank account wasn't going to cover my expensive escape flight home. I was beginning to understand why they recommended having some emergency funds in a savings account. Getting stranded really sucked.
I gathered my things and headed over to the lounge. My phone buzzed again. "We need to talk." I debated calling him for a moment and considered my options, but my mind was still flooded with all those things he'd said. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I'd been played. Big time. I slammed the phone on the table attracting the attention from several drinkers and diners nearby.
I hung my head in my hands. The bartender walked by and set a drink in front of me. I glanced up at him. "I didn't order anything," I mumbled.
He pointed to a man across the lounge who looked to be probably twice my age. "The guy over there says it's on him," he said turning back to the bar to fill another drink order.
Maybe he had a daughter my age or maybe he was hoping with a few more drinks his age really wouldn't be that noticeable anymore. I took a sip then subtly raised the glass his direction and mouthed "thank you." He smiled then returned to reading his book. Apparently he was just being kind.
I finished the drink and started scrolling through my contact list. Surely someone in here wouldn't mind blowing a few hundred dollars to bail me out, right? My parents were the obvious first choice since I was their daughter and they've gotten me out of some sticky situations in the past. But the questions… This wedding had kind of been a semi-spontaneous affair. I was bound to get the third degree from my mom on this one for sure. And I just wasn't ready for that. Not yet.
After flipping through the majority of my contacts, I realized that I'd feel terrible asking any one of them for money. Probably because I'd done it so many times in the past. Maybe I could drain what was left of my checking account and win big in Vegas? Ok, obviously the thought was ridiculous, and I knew it.
I played with the little straw in my drink. There was that other number; a number that was no longer in my phone. That person wouldn't ask questions. But there was a good chance that person wouldn't answer a phone call from me either. We hadn't exactly parted on the most amicable terms.
The numbers suddenly appeared on my phone screen. Apparently I'd typed them in without even thinking. It was kind of strange. Maybe I'd never be able to forget their combination. How many times had I called this number before? Too many maybe. Could be part of the reason I was in this mess in the first place.
"Just one last time," I thought to myself. "If he even answers…" I took a deep breath and dialed. It rang and rang. With each ring I felt a little more anxious. Of course he wasn't going to answer. Why should he? I was about to close the phone when I noticed the call had connected.
"Hey," I said quietly. Several moments of silence passed before I realized I wasn't going to get a response. "I'm stranded in Vegas," I started. "I could really use a plane ticket home. I'll pay you back," I added quickly. "With interest." I tried to smile a little. Still no answer.
"I'm a little desperate here." The tears started to well up in my eyes. "I swear it's the last time I'll bother you…for anything. It's just that I'm stranded, and you were the only person I could think to call, and I've made a mess of every…"
"No," he said. The answer was short and abrupt. I felt like the wind had been momentarily knocked out of my lungs.
"Yeah," I said choking back tears. "You're right. I shouldn't have called. Sorry." I pressed the "end" button.
Today was starting to feel like the worst day of my life. And here it was supposed to have been one of the best. Life's ironic like that sometimes. I guess I'd spend the night in the airport and call my parents in the morning. Or if I absolutely had to, I could probably hitchhike my way back. It'd be an adventure, right?
After staring at the wall for twenty minutes musing about all the psychopaths that could pick me up along the road from here to New Jersey, I was surprised to feel my phone buzz. It was another text. But not from who I expected.
It was a flight and confirmation number! I was suddenly flooded with so many emotions that I didn't even know what to do. I thought about calling him back, but what would be the point? I wrote "thank you" in reply and tried to find a suitable emoji face. Apparently there wasn't one for being indebted to someone forever. I went with a batman face instead and hit send.
The flight departed three hours later, thankfully without any sign of my thwarted groom. By then, it was getting late, so I spent part of the flight sleeping. The rest of it I spent staring at the drawn shade over the window reflecting on the last several months of my life. I'd only met Ben Johnson ten months ago. Was that even possible? Ms. Commitment Issues engaged and almost married in ten months? That should have been a red flag right there. But it had all felt so right, so perfect. I guess the old adage is still accurate: if it seems too good to be true, then it probably is.
The landing was uneventful, but I was definitely starting to feel the effects of pulling an all-nighter. My eyelids hung half-mast and my legs felt like they were stuck in thigh-deep mud. It probably took thirty extra minutes to make it to the baggage claim. I grabbed my suitcase and hoped I had enough on one of my credit cards to pay for a cab ride back to my apartment.
Cool morning air blasted me as I walked through the automatic doors giving me a momentary jolt out of my sleepy stupor. A dark car flashed its lights and headed toward me. It took me a moment to realize I recognized the vehicle. The black Porsche was kind of hard to miss. Ranger got out and tossed my suitcase in the back.
"Thanks for coming to get me," I yawned before opening the passenger door. Ranger stood and stared at me for a moment. I forgot I was still wearing the dress. I crossed my arms across my chest uncomfortably then slid into the passenger seat.
"Want to talk about it?" he asked starting the car.
I shook my head. "Maybe eventually," I sighed. "But not right now." Between the hum of the car, the swirling warm air from the heater, and the lingering scent of Bulgari in the air, I was asleep before we even pulled into traffic.