Small Town Girl, Big City Dreams • Kate Martin

Chapter 5: A Night to Remember

Inspiration Song: Waking Up In Vegas by Katy Perry

Dinner was fantastic. Jade wouldn't let me pay, claiming that we were celebrating me. While I really appreciated it, I wasn't used to anyone doing that for me. Caitlin and I always took turns paying for things, and mostly everyone else let me handle paying for stuff. It's just who I was as a person. Jade, however, insisted. She didn't even let me get my wallet out of my pocket before she shot me down.

After dinner, we went to the casino. Jade and I each had had a couple drinks, which was a couple more than I ever really had. I was usually a one drink girl, but we were having a good time, and suddenly, I was three or four drinks in. The liquor was definitely hitting. I had lost the $300 I had already pulled out and I was watching Jade still playing. She seemed to be having good luck. She was up $75 on Buffalo when she pulled her money out.

"Wanna take a shot?" she asked with a grin. How could I refuse her? My heart was beating abnormally fast, something I hadn't felt from anything other than basketball for a while.

"Sure," I agreed with a smile. "What did you have in mind?"

"Tequila?" she asked with a smirk.

"Oh?" I voiced though I hadn't mean to. Then shrugged, "Why not."

"Gold or silver?" she questioned.

"Silver, for sure," I responded as we walked up to the bar. She nodded her head approvingly before ordering two shots of Patron for us. I was standing behind her because the bar was packed. Once she was served the shots, she spun around to hand me one and started to stumble. To be fair, she was a clumsy person. I had seen her get caught up on her own feet at work a couple times already in the few weeks that I had gotten to know her. I chuckled and grabbed her by the waist to steady her.

"Easy there, Tiger," I said. I watched a blush grace her face.

"I'm not drunk, I promise," she answered, guessing where my head had gone. "I've only had one drink compared to your four."

"You're right," I agreed, smiling. It was hard to keep the smile off my face when I was around her. Plus, I was still buzzing with the news that I was officially a professional basketball player.

"So..." she started, taking a step out of my embrace and holding out the Patron for me. "Shot?" I took it with a blush. Maybe I had overstepped her boundaries. Maybe the alcohol caused me to misread our connection. I wasn't sure.

"Dressed or naked?" Jade smirked again while making eye contact with me.

"W-what?" I stuttered out. I could feel myself getting flustered and the heat rushing to my face.

"Dressed or naked?" she asked again, holding my gaze. "Your tequila."

I laughed uneasily, "I'm not sure I understand."

"Do you want salt and lime like a pussy or are you going to take it plain?" she laughed, obviously understanding the effect she was having on me.

"Well, when you put it that way, I don't want to be a pussy. I guess you and I are doing this naked, huh?" I swear I saw her blush in return. We clinked our glasses, and I felt the tequila burn its way down my throat.

"Wanna watch me run some tables?" she asked as she grabbed my hand and started dragging me toward the blackjack table. Little did she know, I was starting to feel like I'd follow her anywhere if she'd ask.

***

After a few more hours, Jade had successfully conquered the blackjack table and ordered me a few more drinks in the process. She had more than doubled her money and she was confident while doing it. Vegas suited Jade. She fit in here. She looked comfortable and poised under all the city lights. I wondered if I would ever fit in the same way.