I wonder why Stacy and Blair are smirking in response to this answer. But before I can ask, Deanna links her arm in mine and pulls me away, dragging me across the marble floor and making a beeline for the tables in the room’s center. Today has been like an amusement park ride!
“Let’s roll!” She calls over her shoulder to her three friends. “Roulette it is!” She pounds her empty glass down onto the tray of a passing cocktail waitress, one of the many circulating the floor. The harried young woman almost drops the entire tray because Deanna slams her drink onto it with so much force.
“Careful!” I can’t help but say, feeling like the mom of the group. “You almost took the whole tray down.”
“No worries, Lilly. It’s part of her job. But wait…” She jerks to a stop and hurries after the cocktail waitress, dragging me with her since our arms are still linked. “Here.” She shoves a black chip—part of the day’s earlier winnings on the floor—into the girl’s face. The chip is emblazoned with a giant cursive F, the Fortuna Casino logo
“Thanks!” The girl, who barely looks old enough to drink herself, let alone serve drinks, quickly pockets the chip.
Blair’s voice comes from behind us as the others walk up. “What the fuck, Deanna, did you just tip that random cocktail waitress a hundred bucks?”
“Ah, we’ve got loads more!” Deanna shrugs. “Plus, I’m about to double my winnings at roulette. Trust me.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” I ask. Deanna is generous. She even paid for my ticket out here, insisting that we celebrate our birthday in style. But she’s also reckless, she’s always been that way. Those two traits can lead to trouble, especially when she’s in the mood to party.
“She’ll be fine!” Stacy squeals. “You need to loosen up, Lilly! It’s your first night in Vegas. Let’s get shots!”
“No, I’m—”
“Yes! Shots! Shots! Shots!” Blair breaks in, any concern as to Deanna’s throwing a $100 chip at the cocktail waitress quickly forgotten.
“One step ahead of you, ladies.” Brian has already managed to flag down a shooter girl carrying a huge tray and is thrusting some money in her hand. Vegas really is sin city. Every temptation you could possibly wish for seems to be within arm’s reach.
He grabs a shot and raises the glass. I hesitantly take a pink-hued shot, thinking that it looks more fruity and probably less dangerous than the others. I’m not sure whether it’s the booze or the general ambience, but my head is already buzzing.
“To our birthday babes!” Brian says, very casually, as if everything he experiences happens to him every day. I guess it does.
“Deanna and Lilly!” Stacy echoes him, sloshing her shot glass against mine as she gives me a squeeze.
“Cheers, girls!” Blair adds with a grin.
“Thank you so much,” I look at their excited faces with a smile. Deanna’s friends might be a little wild but they seem nice. Like her. I just arrived this morning and they’ve been nothing but welcoming. Stacy and Blair even accompanied Deanna to the airport to pick me up. I mean, Deanna couldn’t have driven to get me anyway. Apparently she lost her license because of a DUI a few months back, a secret that loose-lipped Stacy let slip while we were getting ready for our night out. But still. It was sweet of the girls to go through the trouble.
“I still can’t get over how alike you two are.” Brian pauses after the shot, quietly analyzing my face and then Deanna’s.
“I told you she’s my identical twin! What did you expect?” Deana says. “Come on. Roulette awaits!” She dashes quickly ahead to the nearest table, the rest of us trotting after her. By the time we catch up, she’s already placed a hefty bet and won.
Her victory shriek pierces the hubbub of murmuring voices and faint background music. It’s barely subsided before yet another smartly clad cocktail waitress appears behind us, a tray of glasses in hand.
“Complimentary champagne for the winning lady and her friends?” The girl asks, an inviting smile dancing across her lips.
“Don’t mind if I do!” Deanna grabs a glass and her friends likewise eagerly reach for theirs. Not wanting to be the odd woman out, I also take a glass but resolve to just take a sip or two. That innocent looking pink shot wasn’t so innocent after all—I realize—because an unusually warm feeling has settled over