Rewrite the Rules

Moving On: Part 20

Suddenly, Daisy let out a gasp, her sharp eyes catching something on the screen. "Hey! Is that your hotel room?"

I glanced over my shoulder, a flicker of pride warming my chest. "Yeah," I said, turning the tablet fully towards them. "Carlos hooked me up with a suite! They've been treating me like royalty here." I swiveled the tablet again, revealing a breathtaking scene – a cascade of pink roses nestled on a coffee table, the vibrant color a stark contrast to the muted tones of my despair.

"Wow, those are gorgeous!" Samina exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine awe. "Your favorite pink, no less."

"I know, right?" I agreed, a hint of a genuine smile returning to my lips. "They arrived on Monday from the hotel. Can you believe they've lasted this long?" The vibrant flowers, a symbol of unexpected kindness, seemed to mock my earlier dejection.

Taking a deep breath, I walked the tablet over to the window, showcasing the Las Vegas skyline in all its glittering glory. The neon lights pulsed with a frenetic energy, a stark contrast to the quiet turmoil within me. "There's plenty of space," I announced, my voice regaining its strength. "King-size bed, plus this sofa pulls out. There'll be room for all of us when you guys come in two weeks."

The silence after my last statement stretched uncomfortably long. Samina, usually the first to pick up on a shift in mood, finally broke it. "You haven't breathed a word about the actual shows," she said, her voice laced with a hint of concern. "Were they at least a good distraction?"

"Spectacular," I mumbled, the word devoid of any real enthusiasm. The memory of the bright lights and booming music felt distant, a stark contrast to the turmoil churning in my stomach.

Daisy, ever the gossip queen, wasn't about to let the topic die. "And the kiss?" she pressed, her eyes sparkling with mischievous curiosity. "Are you going to keep us in suspense forever?"

I shook my head, forcing a smile that felt more like a grimace. "Nope, definitely not the topic of conversation tonight. But speaking of dilemmas," I continued, "a friend of mine needs some serious advice."

Samina chuckled, the sound warm and familiar. "Sounds like your friend has had quite the eventful week."

"Eventful might be an understatement," I agreed, a wry smile tugging at the corner of my lips. "So, this friend..." I began, taking a deep breath, "may have been asked out by the CEO of Kargoo Industries."

The statement hung in the air for a beat, then both Samina and Daisy erupted in a chorus of excited shrieks. The sudden noise jolted me momentarily, but a secret smile bloomed within me. Maybe a change of subject was exactly what I needed.

"Oh my god, is he serious?" Daisy squealed, already reaching for her tablet. "Let me see a picture! And is he single? How is a guy like that even single?"

Her fingers flew across the screen, her brow furrowed in concentration. A moment later, she held up her phone, a triumphant grin plastered on her face. "Wowza! He definitely lives up to the CEO title. And no wedding band in sight. Score!"

"Apparently, he just broke up with some pop star a few months ago," I revealed, the information gleaned from a late-night internet rabbit hole. "Let's just say I did a little investigating myself."

"So, how did you even meet this dreamboat?" Samina interjected, her voice filled with a mixture of curiosity and amusement.

"Work, actually," I admitted, surprised by the ease with which the words tumbled out. "Samina, remember Carlos, my VP? Well, apparently, Kargoo Industries has some... cybersecurity concerns. He asked me to stop by their headquarters for a consultation." A wave of self-consciousness washed over me as I recounted the whirlwind of the past few days. "Two hundred questions, endless meetings, the whole shebang. It's been a bit crazy."