What Happens in Vegas

Paying Mama D Back

"I'm glad you could make it." Nini smiled, opening her front door wider to let Ricky in.

"Of course." He smiled back. "The place looks different."

"I cleaned." She laughed. "It's usually always this clean... when Parker isn't around."

"Boys will be boys." He added.

"I'm sure you weren't this bad when you were a kid."

"I was probably worse." He laughed. "Anyway, you ready to go over this?"

"As I'll ever be I guess..." She sighed.

"Don't be nervous. This is a good thing, right?"

"It is." She nodded. "I still don't get why you're being so nice to me though."

Ricky sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not a bad guy, Nini... and believe it or not, I care about you I guess."

"Thank you." She let a small smile creep through.

"So... I gathered everything they've ever sent me." She said, sitting down on the couch.

"Alright, so how much do you own in total?" Ricky asked sitting beside her.

"Just under five thousand..." She watched his facial expression change from happy to shocked. "It's too much, forget it." She said quickly.

"No no." He stopped her. "It's not too much. I have it. Well... not all of it in total, but I can get it. Just pay it off in installments."

"I don't know about this anymore, Ricky. I mean, I'm grateful that you're willing to help, but I feel bad taking this much from you. It's gonna take me a while to pay it back." She sighed.

"You need this. It's really not a big deal to me. Honestly." He said.

"Okay... okay." She threw her hands up and resigned.

"Great." He smiled. "I'll get it sorted for you."

"Thank you." She said softly.

"It's alright." He shrugged.

"No, seriously... I can't thank you enough. This is going to change my life. No one has ever been this kind to me."

"Bring it in." He said extending his arms.

"What?" She looked at him in confusion.

"Give me a hug." He chuckled.

"Oh! If you insist." She laughed a little and hugged him.

"This isn't so bad."

"I guess so." She sighed into him.

Ricky didn't want to say anything that might ruin the moment. Unfortunately, he didn't have to.
Her front door swung open and she pulled away from him as fast as she could. "Nina Isobel Salazar-Roberts, I have given you plenty of time." A dark haired woman exclaimed, barging through the front door.

"Moms! You can't just barge in!"

"You should lock the door then." Dana said. "Who is this?" The women looked Ricky up and down as they knit their brows."

"I'm-" Ricky was about to introduce himself but was cut off by the short haired lady.

"I don't care. Nina, I need the money for that hotel room."

"I don't just have a grand lying around mama D."

"You've had days to go to the bank and get it." Dana shook her head.

"Actually, that's why I'm here." Ricky stepped in.

"What?" Dana and Nini both asked in confusion.

"The hotel room... I was in desperate need of a room and Nini was kind enough to pay, so I'm here to pay it back." Ricky smiled.

"Exactly." Nini smiled, playing along, though technically that was true. They were desperate... at the time.

"I thought you said you couldn't remember what happened that night." Dana looked between the two.

"It all came back to me a few days ago." She lied.

"Uh huh. Well, do you have the money?"

"I have some of it." Ricky said taking his wallet out. "I'll get the rest to you as soon as I can."

"Right, thank you." Dana said, taking the money from him. "Are you married?" he asked noticing the ring.

"No." Ricky said. "I mean yes, technically." He sighed. "It's complicated."

"Sounds like it." Dana nodded, agreeing. "I'll see you around... whats your name?"

"Ricky. Ricky Bowen."

"Bowen? As in Bowen Motors?"

"Yeah... that's my dads company."

"You guys are like one of the biggest car retailers in America." Dana said.

"Tell me about it." He muttered.

"Well, I should be going. And Nina, dear, please feel free to bring Parker over for a visit sometime. We do like seeing him you know."

"I will." Nini nodded.

"See you later, dear." Dana said, blowing her daughter a kiss before leaving.

"She was nice..." Ricky said after a moment.

"She has her moments. You didn't have to do that. I could have paid for the room."

"Well I'm guessing it was our room. I'm totally fine with this, trust me. I wouldn't be doing it if I wasn't, okay?"

"If you say so."

"So when do you need to pick Parker up?" He asked.

She glanced down at her watch. "Not for another two hours."

"Great, so you're free to do lunch?" He smiled.

"Again?" She asked.

"Why not?" He shrugged. "I want to be friends, so as your friend, let me take you to lunch... again." He laughed.

"I suppose I have nothing better to do." She shrugged.

"Yeah?" He asked, genuinely surprised. He thought for sure she'd push him out the front door. Instead, she gave a small smile and nodded her head.

"Yeah."

"Awesome." He smiled as they made their way towards his Tesla.
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Short little filler.