My arms shoot into the air. “Yee-Haw! Vegas baby!”
The other passengers who, let’s face it, should probably be annoyed with me by now, clap and laugh.
“Why didn’t you tell me where we’re going?” I ask as I rescue my headphones from the floor. Ew. It’s icky down there. I wonder what— Nope. I am not going to think about what could have possibly made the yucky mess. Note to self: Never, ever drop anything on the floor of an airplane again.
Grayson shrugs. “I wanted to surprise you.”
I normally hate surprises. Seriously, they freak me out. But I’ll have to forgive him this one time and one time only since this is the best surprise ever. A weekend away in the city of entertainment. Yipee!
“Mission accomplished!” I grab my phone to start researching all the fun stuff we can do but then realize I don’t have any connection.
“Here.” Grayson hands me a guidebook for Las Vegas.
I snatch the book from him. “How did you know?”
“It’s a four-hour flight. I knew you’d need something to keep your mind busy.”
I frown. What does he think? I can’t sit still for four hours? I look down and notice my knees are bouncing up and down. Unfair! It’s not because I can’t sit still. I’m excited is all.
By the time, the captain does his little prepare-for-landing speech, the guidebook is practically bleeding blue from all the notes and underlining I’ve done. Too bad I didn’t have a highlighter. I store the book in my bag and take Grayson’s hand.
“I can’t wait! I’ve never been to Vegas before. Have you been to Vegas before? Did you book a hotel? Should we book a hotel? There were tons of recommendations in the book.”
Grayson leans over and kisses me. I can feel him laughing through the kiss. I slap his shoulder and push him away. “No laughing. I’m excited. Isn’t it good I’m excited? Would you rather I didn’t like your surprise?”
He kisses my forehead. “I’m glad you like your surprise. And yes, the hotel is booked.”
It doesn’t take long before our taxi is pulling up to a hotel on the strip. My mouth drops open when I see which hotel it is. The freaking Venetian! Holy moly!
“Are you out of your mind? How much is this costing?”
“Since someone won’t let me pay my share of the mortgage, I thought I’d splurge.” Notice he didn’t answer my question.
When we walk into the lobby, I start to worry I’m going to get lockjaw from my mouth gaping open like the village idiot. The Venetian seriously looks like an Italian palace with marble everywhere. There are even murals on the ceiling. On. The. Ceiling. This is so cool!
While I look around like a fish out of water, Grayson checks us in. He hands me the hotel brochure as we walk to the elevator.
“Did you see this? There are forty restaurants onsite, ten outdoor pools, and a fitness center, which has a forty-foot rock-climbing wall. Forty feet!”
Grayson shakes his head as the doors open and we walk onto our floor.
“This is our room.” He waves the key card in front of the electronic pad and pushes the door open. “After you.”
My feet immediately carry me to the window where the city is displayed. “Wowza. This place is the bomb.” I turn around and notice a garment bag draped over the sofa. Yes, there’s a sofa in the room because it’s a freaking suite.
“I think we’re in the wrong room.”
“We’re not.”
“Um, dude, do you not see the bag that is clearly not one of ours? It’s right there.” I point to the bag.
“Look at me.”
“Look at you? Why? Are you making funny faces?”
I turn back to the window where Grayson is now down on one knee. I start backing up. No, no, no. I don’t want this. Shut up, Adult Suzie says, and act like an adult for one minute. Little Susan nearly swoons. She places the back of her hand on her forehead and everything. Isn’t this romantic?
“I know you’re scared.”