Within minutes, our cabbie has us parked on the street that will lead us on the short walk to Fremont. Up ahead the crowd has overtaken the area to watch a band playing on the main stage and onlookers stare as people fly above the crowd on the zip line.

A pissed off Seiger bursts out of the cab slamming the door behind him. He catches Sally’s head in the car door, popping the plastic. She deflates immediately, air hissing in the back of the cab, with no way of saving her.

I jump out and race around to see her flattened head hang out of the car door.

“Dude! There’s no reason to take out your anger on Sally,” I say as the cabbie drives away with her head flapping in the wind.

“Yeah, she was an innocent bystander in all of this,” John teases.

“I betcha that cabbie can get you a new one,” Seiger says. “You guys are assholes.”

His lack of humor toward the situation makes us laugh even harder. “Sorry, man,” I tell him. “We couldn’t pass up the chance.”

He crosses his arms across his body, sulking. “You’re fucking hilarious,” he steams.

Lakin pulls out his phone and sends a text to the rest of the crew. Hopefully, we can catch up with them. “Come on,” he says as he puts his phone back in his pocket. “I’ll buy you all the first round. It will only take a couple of drinks for that ride to be funny, Seiger.”

Lakin was absolutely right. Three drinks in and the cab ride was an epic story, which Seiger felt free to share with anyone who would listen at the bar.

Somehow, amongst the crowd, we managed to find the other carload of our group, but I didn’t get to spend any of our time out with Carly. Jen made sure to keep the girls partitioned away from us, and it became a look but don’t touch situation in regards to Carly. After my buzz began to wear off and I realized none of my efforts were going to be aimed at the one girl I actually wanted to talk to, I caught the bus back to the strip.

The girls left long before I did, and none of the guys were ready to leave, so the bus ride home is a lonely one. Although the bus would take me all the way to my hotel, I decide to hop off on one side of the strip and enjoy the long trek back to the hotel. I could use the fresh air to think about how I’m going to get another chance with Carly.

I make it all the way to the Bellagio before I stop to see the water display. The crowds have thinned, so finding a spot along the stone edging in the middle is easy to find. I lean on the cooled rock and wait, and wait.

After several minutes of no show, I look around for any clues as to why nothing is happening. Looking down the edging, I notice Carly leaning against the stone just as I am, a mere fifty feet away.

She hasn’t noticed me.

I close the gap between us and scoot in close to her, staring out at the water, when I finally reach her.

“Did I miss a memo or something?” I ask.

“By about two hours,” she responds without missing a beat, making me think she did see me and just chose not to acknowledge me.

She turns and smiles at me, which puts my fears to rest. “I googled it. They turn the fountains off at midnight. We’ll have to catch it tomorrow before we leave.”

I zone in on her use of the word we, and I absolutely love the sound. “We’ll have to do that,” I say, adding my own we into the conversation.

She nods and turns her back to the water, leaning against the rocks. “What happened to Sally? I noticed she didn’t make it to the bar, but I didn’t get a chance to ask.”

“It’s a long story,” I laugh. “Let’s just say the old girl has been laid to rest.”

“Ah, I see.”

I look out at the water and let silence take over the moment.

“I really am sorry about this morning,” she finally says. “I enjoyed being with you last night, and I hope it wasn’t the last time.”

A sense of relief overtakes me. She says the exact words I was hoping for. Carly is a force I would struggle to stay away from. So to hear her say that she would like to see me again, even if it’s in a non-romantic capacity, well, it’s something. I struggle with my need to push the envelope, push her toward something more with me.

Throwing caution to the wind, I grab her waist and slide her body in-between mine and the rocks, caging her in. Pushing her silky brunette hair away from her face, I cradle her face in my hands. Leaning in, I lightly rub my lips against hers, not kissing, just tempting, teasing her. When I finally hear the begging whimper I’m looking for, I plunge ahead, devouring her mouth.

She feels just as good as I hoped she would, a sensation I could come to crave. I could spend every day for the rest of my life touching these lips, and it wouldn’t be enough.

I finally pull away and tuck a loose strand behind her ear. “You won’t be getting rid of me anytime soon.”

Two Weeks Later

Campbell

Lying by omission is still lying.

That’s what I’ve been told at least. But there is no malice or deceit in my omission; it has been a necessity. The girls can’t know I’m married, and so far Lakin and I have done an impressive job at hiding it. Everyone is still adjusting to the idea of he and I being in a relationship, so I don’t think the news of our marriage would be well received.

While I spend a great deal of my days with the bands or the kids at the foundation, my nights are devoted to my husband. For now, I’ve maintained my own apartment, but I’m not really living there; Lakin’s apartment is my home. The secrecy of our situation has been something I have found comforting. It’s special and it’s mine.

My only other focus right now is someone I see as a younger version of myself…Leah. Carly agreed to show up at the foundation today to meet her. If they click, then she will look into moving forward with getting approval as a foster parent.

Carly steps into Vivian’s office fifteen minutes earlier than I am expecting. She looks apprehensive and timid, and I completely understand. She’s preparing to possibly step across hot coals, and is hopeful she doesn’t end up scorched. I wish I could reassure her that she’ll safely make it to the other side, but that’s not a promise I can make.

“Hey,” she says. “I just got back from my lawyer’s office and I didn’t have time to go home, so I thought early was better than late.”

I stand up from the couch to greet her and offer as much support as I can. “It’s no problem; Leah is here already. She’s talking to some kids in one of the conference rooms.”

Carly fidgets, each of her hands wrestling the other. “What should we do, wait here for her or should I go out to the commons area? I guess I’m not sure what to do.”

“Car, you need to relax and breathe a bit, girl,” I tell her. “Leah is wearing some cut off jean shorts, a purple tank, and has a bright pink backpack. You can’t miss her. Go out to the activities area and hang out with the kids; when she comes out, I’ll find you and introduce you.”

She nods, closing her eyes and breathing deeply. “I’m just worried,” she finally says.

I tilt my head, looking for further clarification. Nervous, anxious, yes, but worried? I can’t imagine what she would be worried about.

“I don’t want to mess it up,” she explains. “If she needs a home and I’m a good fit, then I want to help. What if she doesn’t like me? What if I’m not strong enough to pull this off?”

“How could anyone not like you? You are the most selfless, most compassionate person I know. Leah, isn’t going to like you; she’s going to love you, just like I do.”

I mean every word I tell her, and apparently they provide the courage she needs because she smiles and turns to leave the room.

I’m tempted to go with her, be her bridge, her crutch to meet the kids at the foundation, but I know better. She needs to gather her own bravery, otherwise the kids will see right through her and she will be of no use to any of them, including Leah.