Page 10 of Gamble (Black Light #38)

REAGAN

M orning, baby. Just left the airport in an Uber. Will be there in a few minutes. I have a big surprise today!

Reagan reread the text from Tristan twice before she realized what was wrong with his message. Not once had he said he was sorry for arriving a full day late for what was supposed to be a romantic getaway. Not once had he even provided a sliver of a reason that made any sense for his delay.

It was going to take an awesome surprise to get him out of the doghouse with her this morning.

Despite the bed’s softness, her sleep wasn’t restful.

She’d seen two, four and six o’clock on the bedside alarm clock as she’d tossed and turned, dozing in between worrying about how today was going to play out.

This relationship was supposed to be the one that lasted, but today she knew it was on shaky ground.

Closing the room service menu, Reagan held off ordering breakfast. Maybe part of Tristan’s surprise was that he would whisk her away for one of the amazing brunch buffets available in Vegas?

Or maybe I don’t want to eat anything that will upset my stomach for when he dumps me?

Pushing to her feet, Reagan paced in front of the floor to ceiling window overlooking the famous Bellagio fountains. The sun was already bright, and it looked like a beautiful day to spend exploring the city’s varied attractions.

The knock on the door got her pulse dancing.

She wished it were because she was excited to see her boyfriend after two weeks apart but knew she would be lying to herself if she let that stand.

She was nervous… hoping she’d have the strength to stand up for herself as she made sure Tristan understood just how much he’d hurt her by delaying his arrival.

Her breath hitched at the sight of him. After all of their months together, how could she forget how gorgeous he was?

“I made it!” he said as he breezed into the room, dropping his carry-on bag to the floor and pulling her into a big hug.

It would be so easy to let his sunny smile and warm embrace smooth over her concerns, but it was too soon for that.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” she said, biting her tongue before adding how it would have been even better had he arrived the day before.

As they were pulling out of their embrace, she caught a tiny whiff. It was gone so fast, she hoped she’d imagined it.

“Did you order breakfast? I’m starving,” he asked.

So much for going out for a nice brunch.

“No. I was waiting to see what your big surprise was. The menu is there,” she said, pointing at the end of the bed. “We can place our order and then you can fill me in on everything you’ve been up to that kept you delayed while we wait for the delivery.”

Tristan crossed to the mini-fridge and pulled out a bottle of cold water that would most likely add five dollars to their bill. He guzzled half of the bottle before turning to answer her.

“We don’t have time for delivery. I need to jump in the shower and get dressed. If I hurry, we might have enough time for us to grab a coffee and sandwich at the Starbucks in the lobby.”

There was so much wrong with what he’d just said, Reagan didn’t know where to start.

“Why would you need a shower? Didn’t you shower at your hotel this morning before you left for the airport?” When he didn’t answer her, she added, “And what’s the rush? Do you have tickets for an attraction or something we need to be at soon?”

She hoped he was about to say the surprise was he’d booked them a couples massage at the spa.

“You won’t believe it.” His face lit up, and she could tell he was excited about whatever the surprise was, which helped smooth her irritation.

“We need to grab a cab and be over at Bally’s in an hour because…

I got a seat in the World Series Poker Tournament that kicks off today.

My friend Chris pulled some favors to get me a seat for only a $500 buy-in.

I know I won’t be able to make it to the pro table, but isn’t this going to be awesome? ”

Reagan’s heart stopped for a few long seconds. This was what had him looking like he was a kid on Christmas morning, and he’d just opened the brand-new bike that he’d always wanted?

He stood there beaming, oblivious to her true feelings about the day’s agenda.

Reagan cleared her throat, scrambling to find the right words. Catching another whiff of what she now recognized as a woman’s cologne wafting up from her soon-to-be ex-boyfriend gave her the courage she needed.

“Let me get this straight. You forced me to come to Vegas instead of Napa for what was supposed to be a romantic getaway. Then, you delay your arrival by an entire day only so you can show up here late smelling like a women’s cologne store.

“Then you tell me that your big surprise is that you want me to stand around watching you play cards from afar in a casino that you know makes me sick from the thick smoke. And to top it off, the casino is in a different hotel, so I can’t even come and go from our room to take breaks from watching. ”

His smile dipped. “Oh, come on… this is going to be so much fun. And I’ll make it up to you. We can go out for dinner tonight after I get eliminated from the tourney. Jeff and Jules already booked us a table at that new wave place they’ve been wanting to go to.”

“Wow… just wow.”

He was oblivious to how completely fucked up this weekend was from her point of view.

Am I being self-centered? Am I the one acting selfishly?

The immediate revolt in her brain was her answer.

“You know what, Tristan? I have a little surprise for you too.” She paused long enough to see him glance at his watch. Knowing he was more concerned with getting to the poker tournament on time than making sure she was happy gave her the courage to cut to the chase.

“This isn’t working. I moved from Seattle to L.A.

so we could spend more time together, not less.

I moved because I thought you cared about me, but it’s clear to me you don’t know the first damn thing about what it takes to make me happy, or worse,” she paused before adding.

“I think you know… you just don’t care enough to make it your priority.

“So, here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to take your suitcase and leave. Go take a shower in Jeff and Jule’s room since you seem to be more interested in making them happy this weekend than me. I’m going to order a nice breakfast for myself and then pack up and fly home.

“Don’t call. Don’t text. We’re done.”

“Seriously? You’re breaking up with me?” he asked incredulously.

It dawned on Reagan that with his looks and outgoing personality, this might be the first time someone had broken up with him and not the other way around. The realization should make her reconsider, but it told her she was doing the right thing.

“Are you going to stand there and act surprised?” Reagan asked. “If so, you haven’t been paying attention at all.”

“Of course I wasn’t paying attention. I had to tune you out after you started getting all clingy!” He countered.

Reagan couldn’t help but break out laughing, which was at least better than crying.

“You’ve literally been out of town over fifty percent of the time since I moved to L.A.

And even when you were in town, we only saw each other one night a week if we were lucky.

That is the antithesis of clingy, Tristan.

And if that is what you define as being too suffocating, then I have a piece of advice for you.

Stay single. You’ve got the playboy traveling salesman gig down perfectly, but you are terrible boyfriend material. ”

The couple stood for a few long seconds, giving Reagan enough time to waver. The last thing she wanted to do was let him see her cry.

“You’d better get going. You wouldn’t want to be late for your first card game.”

By the time he picked up his carry-on bag and glanced back at her, the brief bout of anger she’d seen on his face was already gone. His cheerful smile was back, proving that he was going to happily bounce along to the next event in his life as if he hadn’t just had a six-month relationship end.

“Take care, Reagan,” he said before leaving, letting the heavy hotel door slam closed behind him.

“Fuck off, Tristan,” she said to the empty room.