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I roll out my neck when we finally get to the hotel. It’s been a long flight from the East Coast, but we’re finally in Vegas, and we can finally let our hair down and enjoy a city built on sin and shameless fun.

“Holy shit, Thea! This place is huge!” my best friend says as she adjusts her ‘bride’ crown. Jamie is so excited to get married, and her copper skin glows under the shining sun and from the excitement of her last weekend as a ‘fiancée’ rather than ‘wife.’ “When you said your dad owned a hotel, I thought it was going to be a little motel or something.”

“Step-dad... ex-step-dad,” I correct.

Jamie rolls her eyes and bumps my hip. I laugh lightly as the other girls hurry out of the limo. The valets are already rushing forward to take care of our baggage. I force my strawberry blonde hair up in a pony to beat the heat and fan myself.

“So what’s the plan for this weekend?” Jamie asks.

“Other than drinking and male strippers?” Marlie demands with a loud laugh.

“Well, we know who’s already gotten into the drinking,” I giggle.

Jamie smirks and hands me a tiny bottle of flavored tequila. “And you’re going to get into drinking too.”

“Oh no. I’m the maid of honor, that means I’m the one who stays sober.”

“Not today!” she yells. “Come on, Thea. Have fun!”

Rolling my eyes, I force myself to down the drink, which doesn’t take much-it’s barely two swallows. The tequila burns hotter than the blazing sun, but I point at the entrance. “In.”

“What, we already have rooms?”

“A suite,” I answer, then swallow again. “Barry was kind enough to reserve us the presidential suite.”

She gapes at me, then narrows her eyes. “Which of your mom’s exes is this again? The sexy one? The balding one? Please don’t tell me he’s the one with the gold tooth and questionable tattoos.”

I wince at the memory of Emile. “No. This is Barry. He’s attractive, was a solid five years younger than mom, successful, actually a good guy.”

“No wonder your mom didn’t stay with him,” she says, then shoots me an apologetic look.

I wave my hand. Jamie knows my mom better than my other friends. My mom is all about feeling forever twenty, even though she’s now in her fifties. Her boyfriends and husbands keep getting younger and richer to pay for her plastic surgery and high-class living.

“He’s a good guy,” I say again. “He’s helped me plenty.”

“Oh yeah?” Jamie asks, barely containing her slyness.

“I’m serious!” I insist as we head into the hotel. “I’ve kept in touch with him because he knows plenty of people here, plenty of other hotel owners. It’s a good partnership that’s earned me more than one promotion and a whole lot of happy customers.”

“Sure, it’s just because you’re a travel agent,” Jamie teases.

I wiggle my finger at her, but don’t bother pushing the point as we head up to the presidential suite. Jamie can think whatever she wants. Barry has helped plenty with my clients and my job in general. He’s never asked me for anything, only been supportive and encouraging.

Which, of course, makes him better. I don’t bother to own up to the fact that I’ve looked up Barry plenty of times on social media. He’s aging like wine, getting better every time I see him. He’s only around forty-five but looks younger and takes care of himself. He’s muscular, but not in the gym rat way. He just looks good, like one of those movie stars who leans into their aging and doesn’t bother to stop it... only does what he can to make it look excellent.

It's been five years since I’ve really seen him in person. He lasted with my mom for a while, nearly four and a half years. I actually liked having him around. He made my mom nicer, was kind, encouraged me to have my own goals and chase them. He was the best influence as I went into college, even if he pointed out every issue with my two boyfriends. I hated him for doing that back then but looking back, I wish I had listened.

Barry has always seen people clearly, been able to see through masks, fake promises and façades.

“So…” Jamie says as we arrive on the top floor. “Where is Daddy?”

“Jamie,” I hiss.

She smirks at me. “Come on. The girls will love some eye candy.”

Before I can argue, I see Barry. His short dark hair, gorgeous green eyes, tan skin, lack of wrinkles, broad shoulders-he’s definitely eye candy. He smiles at me brightly.

“I didn’t want to miss you, ladies. You deserve a full tour of the suite. I’ve also included some extras.”