I was furious when my sister left the room. I felt like she had just thrown me away and crushed my dreams. Vegas was our experience. It was always supposed to be the place where we blossomed and saw all the places from the movies. We would be close enough for a day trip to the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon. We would stand on the roof of Caesar’s Palace and that was where I was going to have my first drink—just like in The Hangover. Granted, mine wasn’t going to be spiked with drugs. I just wanted to live it out—feel myself finally break out of my shell. Vegas had to happen. It was too important for her to dismiss it like it was nothing. I stared at the screen and hovered over the accept button on the reservation. There were a few friends from high school I kept in contact with, but none that I could really see myself going on vacation with.
Am I brave enough to do this on my own? Am I actually considering it?
Setting up the reservation was one of the most liberating experiences of my life. Vegas was no longer about bonding with my sister. It was about the independence she so eloquently claimed I needed while she crushed my dream. I didn’t care about saving it for someone else. She was the only one I ever wanted to go with. If it was no longer her dream, then I wasn’t going to waste a free trip. I had enough money saved up to gamble a few dollars at the casino, eat at a couple of nice restaurants, visit the sights, and tip frugally. It would have been much better to have my sister by my side for everything, but I had to make the most of the opportunity in front of me. The only thing standing between me and the vacation of my dreams was a plane ride—oh, and my parents.
“No, absolutely not!” My mother stomped her foot and I saw her face turning red. “You can’t do this on your own. Your sister told me that you lied on the application to get the trip in the first place.”
“We didn’t raise you like this.” My father folded his arms across his chest. “I thought your sister was the free spirited one—where is this coming from? Why do you want to go to Las Vegas on your own?”
“You wouldn’t understand.” I looked back and forth between them. “Bottom line is that I’m twenty-two years old, and if you’re not going to have me arrested, you can’t tell me where I’m allowed to go anymore.”
Wow, I’ve never actually stood up to my parents before. This independence thing is awesome.
“It’s not safe.” My mother shook her head angrily. “It would be bad enough knowing you were there with your sister, but on your own? That’s… ridiculous.”
“I’m not going to wander into the desert and get lost or get randomly kidnapped. I’m going to stay at the hotel, see a few shows, go on a couple of tours, and then come home. People do this all the time.” I shrugged and tilted my head. “I’m not asking your permission.”
“You’re not getting it, either!” My father raised his voice and glared at me.
“Then we’ll just have to agree to disagree.” I walked back to my room and closed the door.
My parents practically ignored me until the morning of my flight. My sister left a few days earlier for Carla’s wedding, so they were the last thing standing between me and clear blue skies. She sided with them, but they eventually stopped trying to fight it. I was going to Vegas, and they had no choice but to accept it. I took an Uber to the airport and when I watched the planes zoom overhead, I started to feel excitement. I had never been on a plane before. Heck, the only place I had been besides Tennessee was Florida—and the states we drove through to get there. After checking in with security, I got on the plane and took a deep breath. It lifted off the runway and a smile spread across my face.
Las Vegas—here I come!
I never really had a fear of flying. There was something exciting about it that I couldn’t completely describe. Watching the ground below disappear as we entered the clouds felt like real freedom. I was happy that I lucked into a window seat, because it was a marvelous sight. I stayed awake the entire time, just watching the world zoom by. When the clouds parted over Nevada, I got my first view of the Grand Canyon. I pressed my hands to the glass like a kid, smiling from ear-to-ear. The plane finally touched down in Las Vegas and my stomach was doing somersaults from nothing but pure joy.
Wow—I really am all alone.
I stepped out into the terminal and as I watched families walking together, it sank in that I really was on my own. It was a new feeling entirely and my first true taste of independence. I got an Uber to pick me up and asked them to take me to the Bellagio. There were a number of hotels that could have picked up the reservation once I confirmed it, and while I hoped for Caesar’s Palace, the Bellagio was definitely a great option. As soon as I arrived, I walked over to the railing and stared at the fountains. I couldn’t wait to see them when it got dark and the lights came on. I finally turned to the hotel and walked inside. The instant my feet hit the marbled floor, I was in awe. It looked like something out of a modern day fairy tale. There were expensive stores, slot machines, and restaurants as far as my eyes could see.
I might be alone, but it looks like there will be plenty of distractions to keep me entertained.
About the Author
Kelli writes billionaires, bad boys, and alpha protectors that are hot-as-sin and filthy to the core. If you want to stay up to date with all things Kelli, sign up to her mailings list here.
Club Endless Fantasy: Reverse Harem Romance (Haremworld Book 8) Page 17
