Take Two

Chapter 21

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Whitney rested back on her bed and relished in the quiet. She was planning to meet up with Piper at the pool while Ryan and his two friends, Marty and Kristine, toured the hotel. "They're going to hit the slots," Piper whispered to Whitney with a laugh.

She knew she needed to get up and get dressed. She sort of expected Piper to show up at her door any minute now, but she was enjoying the peace and quiet. Eliot and Rob had dropped off their bags and went right out to grab a bite to eat.

The blonde had already hung up everything that needed to be taken out of the suitcase. She grinned at the dress that Piper picked for her to wear at the wedding. She laughed at how her best friend played it off; she was planning a quick ceremony and then wanted to party.

Whitney sighed. She mentally compared her wedding with Mason to the small one Piper was planning. Mason came from a line of LAPD members, and it was a big deal that he was getting married. Whitney was complacent with any decisions that his mother had made. When she tried to speak up about what she wanted, Mason urged her to appreciate what his mother was doing for them.

She did her best to entertain the near three hundred people that were invited, but she had never felt so lonely in her entire life. Whitney was allotted two tables for family and friends, the rest were co-workers and friends of Mason's and his father's and their family.

Piper was the complete opposite – she just wanted to get it over and done with. She joked that it was a good excuse for a vacation. She only wanted the closest people in her life to be included, but ultimately was just ready to party and celebrate.

Whitney turned her head at the sound of an incoming text message on her cell phone. She braced herself for a text from Piper saying that she was coming down from her hotel room to meet Whitney.

Glad you made it. Call me when you get a chance.

She felt like her face always lit up whenever she spoke with Derek, even if it was just by text message. She had sent him a quick message as they Uber'ed from the airport to their hotel.

She nibbled on her lower lip as her thumb hovered over the 'call' button. She knew she needed to get ready to meet Piper, but she was anxious to hear his voice.

"Hey pretty lady," he crooned into the phone as he answered.

Her lips immediately turned in to a smile at his voice. "Hey yourself," she answered.

"How was the flight?"

She tried to ignore the commotion in the background, but knew she was going to have to savor the few moments she had with him on the phone. "Uneventful," she replied. "Besides Piper controlling my caffeine intake."

His laugh caused the butterflies in her stomach to start flying. "Sleep on the plane so you can party all night," he reasoned.

"That was her plan," she replied with a sigh. Whitney forced herself to push up from the mattress. "How's everything going?"

Inwardly, she wished he could just leave the case they were on. When she mentioned Vegas to him, it had been by accident after talking with Piper and Eliot, but now that she was actually there, she missed being around him.

"This is a tough one," he answered. She frowned at his answer. "But it's all starting to come together."

Whitney had to laugh at the knocking on her hotel room door. "I need to get ready. Piper is at the door."

She stood from the bed and started towards the hotel room door. Whitney maneuvered her cell phone in between her ear and her shoulder as she unlocked the door without checking the peep hole.

"Surprise," Derek said as he stood on the other side of the door with his phone at his ear.

"Hi," she squeaked as she brought her cell phone down from her ear and clicked end on the call. She slid the device in to the back pocket of her jeans. "What are you doing here?"

Derek could not help the laugh that escaped his throat. "I told you I would see if I could swing coming out to Vegas with you guys." Whitney had to purse her lips as to not jump him right that moment. "I think by the look on your face that I did good."

She nodded excitedly before lunging in to his arms. "So good," she mumbled against his neck. When she lowered herself down from her tip toes, she straightened out the t-shirt she wore. "Want to come in?"

He shrugged. "I was wondering if you wanted to leave this room to Eliot for the weekend and bunk with me a few floors up."

Whitney beamed. "Are you trying to save me from 'new love' over here?"

Derek chuckled and nodded at her nickname that she gave Eliot and Rob. She was texting him before they boarded their flight about how 'sickly sweet' the new couple was.

"I don't know if I can make it a whole weekend around this," she texted him with a laughing face.

"Please," she begged with a grin. "Of course I just hung everything up."

Derek adjusted his duffle bag as Whitney stepped back in towards the hotel room. "Let's bring it upstairs, and then get ready to hit the pool," he offered. "Piper said she'd kill me if I didn't get you up there."

"Sounds like her," Whitney said with a laugh. She was thankful that she had only taken out things to put in the closet but everything else sat in her suitcase. "Let me grab this stuff if you can grab my stuff from the closet?"

Derek nodded. Whitney had to force herself not to grin like she felt like. She could not believe that Derek was really there. "Is this yours?" he asked cautiously as he took a pastel colored striped button up out of the closet.

"Does that look like mine?" she asked with a laugh. "It's Eliot's."

Derek gingerly placed the piece back in the closet. "I think I've got everything else," he said softly.

Whitney zipped up her carry on bag after putting her cell phone charger back inside. "He'll let me know if I forget anything."

Derek reached for the duffle bag just as she was going to sling it over her shoulder and then held his hand out for the rolling suitcase. "Ready?"

She nodded and tried to pull the suitcase behind her, only to have Derek take it from her. "I can handle one of them," she insisted.

"I know," he answered as he held the door open for her.

Brazenly, Whitney reached over and laced her fingers around Derek's. "I hope you don't mind," she said softly.

He shook his head as they started down the hallway. "I don't mind at all," he answered as he tightened the hold on her hand.

-xx-