Funny how convincing a smile could be

By the time the wedding was over, I was definitely more than tipsy.

Three Mai Tais.

At least three shots of... honestly, I had no idea.

Maybe tequila.

Maybe vodka.

Whatever it was, it had done its job.

I wasn't much of a drinker to begin with.

In fact, I could probably count on one hand how many times I'd gotten drunk in my life.

It didn't take much for me. A couple of drinks was usually enough to make my cheeks warm.

Tonight?

Let's just say I was way past my limit.

From everyone else's perspective, I'd had the time of my life.

I'd danced until my feet hurt, laughed with friends I hadn't seen in years, and smiled in every photo. If someone had asked, they probably would've said I was one of the happiest people at the reception.

Funny how convincing a smile could be.

"Darlene..." I groaned as we stepped out of the ballroom.

"I'm never drinking again."

She laughed so hard she nearly snorted.

"Sure you won't."

"I mean it this time."

"Mylene, this is the third time you've said that tonight."

"I've only said it twice."

She raised an eyebrow.

"Exactly."

A few minutes later, I found myself leaning over a trash can outside the hotel.

Darlene stood behind me, holding my hair away from my face without a single complaint.

"I am so glamorous," I mumbled once I finally stood up.

"Oh, absolutely," she teased. "Very red carpet."

Despite everything, I laughed.

I was grateful she had stayed with me all night.

She could've gone back to enjoying the reception, but instead she'd spent the last hour making sure I drank water, finding me crackers, and reminding me to breathe whenever I insisted the world was spinning.

Unfortunately...

The night wasn't over yet.

I'd waited too long to book a room at the Bellagio, and by the time I'd checked a few weeks ago, every room had already been sold out.

Luckily, I'd managed to book a room at Paris Las Vegas, just a short walk down the Strip.

Unfortunately, walking there suddenly felt like a marathon.

"You good?" Darlene asked.

"I think so."

She looked down at my bare feet.

"Where are your shoes?"

I lifted my hand, dangling my heels by their straps.

"My feet filed for divorce."

She burst into laughter.

"Come on."

We slowly made our way through the Bellagio.

The casino was still alive despite how late it was.

Slot machines chimed nonstop.

Cards slapped against green felt tables.

Dice rolled across the craps table as cheers erupted from every direction.

The air smelled of perfume, expensive cologne, and cigarette smoke.

I wasn't paying much attention.

My hair was a mess.

My makeup had definitely seen better days.

I was barefoot, carrying my heels in one hand while trying not to trip over my own dress.

Then...

Something changed.

I stopped walking.

"What?" Darlene asked.

I didn't answer.

The noise around me faded.

The cheering.

The music.

The ringing slot machines.

Everything disappeared beneath the strange tightening in my chest.

It was impossible to explain.

I hadn't seen anyone.

Not yet.

But every instinct in my body suddenly felt... awake.

Like it recognized someone before my eyes ever could.

My heart skipped.

No.

I shook my head and let out a quiet laugh at myself.

Get a grip, Mylene.

Taking a deep breath, I tightened my grip on my heels and forced my feet to keep moving beside Darlene, leaving the feeling behind.

Or at least...

I tried to.

The next thing I remembered...

I was opening my eyes to complete darkness.

For a second, I had no idea where I was.

The room was quiet except for the soft hum of the air conditioner. My head pounded like someone had decided to hold a construction project inside my skull.

I groaned and buried my face back into the pillow.

What happened?

I tried piecing the night together.

The wedding.

The dancing.

Three Mai Tais...

Maybe four.

A few mystery shots.

Throwing up.

Walking through the Bellagio with Darlene.

After that...

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

"I blacked out," I muttered to myself.

Apparently, I had.

I glanced toward the nightstand and reached for my phone.

The bright screen nearly blinded me.

12:47 p.m.

Well...

There went half the day.

I slowly sat up, instantly regretting every life decision I'd made the night before.

My head throbbed.

My mouth felt like sandpaper.

And my stomach was still trying to decide whether it hated me.

"I deserve this," I whispered.

I wasn't built for drinking.

I hardly drank at all.

Last night had been the exception not the rule.

Eventually, I managed to shuffle over to the curtains and pulled them open.

The Las Vegas sun flooded the room at **Paris Las Vegas**, making me squint.

Today's original plan had been simple.

This trip wasn't just for Sophie's wedding.

I'd purposely taken the entire week off.

For once, I wanted to do absolutely nothing.

A little sightseeing.

A little shopping.

Maybe spend an afternoon by the pool.

Just... breathe.

I'd earned it.

Leaving San Diego for college in Washington hadn't exactly gone the way I'd imagined, but it wasn't a waste.

I earned my degree in marketing, and after graduation, I landed a great job with a large company.

The downside?

The job had slowly become my entire life.

Late nights.

Weekend emails.

Back-to-back meetings.

Deadlines that never seemed to end.

Somewhere along the way, I stopped taking vacations.

Stopped making time for myself.

Work had become the easiest distraction from everything else.

This week was supposed to be different.

I looked longingly at the bed.

Today would be my recovery day.

Room service.

A long shower.

Maybe binge-watch terrible reality TV while ordering enough food to feed a family of four.

My phone rang.

I frowned.

"Darlene?"

I answered with a raspy voice.

"...Hello?"

"There you are!" she laughed. "I was starting to think you were still unconscious."

"I might be."

"You sound terrible."

"I feel worse."

"Good. You deserve it."

I couldn't help but laugh.

"So," she continued, "get your puking out, wash your face, and wear something nice."

I blinked.

"...Why?"

"Because we're going out tonight."

"We?"

"Me, you, and some of the girls from the wedding."

I groaned.

"Darlene... I don't think I can survive another night."

"Oh, come on."

"I can barely survive this morning."

She laughed.

"Mylene, we haven't seen each other in years. We finally get the chance to hang out, and you're going to spend the night hiding in a hotel room?"

I smiled despite myself.

"When you put it like that..."

"Exactly. Who knows when we'll all be together again?"

She had a point.

"We're just going to have fun. Dance a little, catch up, make some memories. No pressure."

I hesitated.

"And no forcing shots down my throat?"

She laughed.

"I make no promises, but I'll keep you away from the mystery liquor this time."

I shook my head, smiling.

"You are a terrible influence."

"I prefer 'fun friend.'"

I sighed dramatically.

"Fine."

"I knew you'd say yes."

"I didn't say I was happy about it."

"You will be."

After we hung up, I set my phone on the nightstand and let out a small laugh.

Maybe spending another night with everyone wasn't such a bad idea.

After all, we hadn't been together like this in years.

I had no idea that by saying yes to one night out...

I was about to come face-to-face with the past I'd spent seven years trying to leave behind.