Page 78 of Gin & Jewels

“We’ll miss you too,” I assured her as I grabbed our luggage.

“Maybe you can visit us in Vegas?” Cassie suggested.

“I would love that,” Mom gushed.

“I’ll set it up,” I said.

Cassie and I waved goodbye to her and then entered the terminal to check our bags. “Holy crap, this place is huge,” Cassie stated.

“Yeah, but not the biggest airport in the US.”

“Really?”

“Yep.” We stepped in line to check in. Seth had overnighted Cassie’s ID, and he’d confirmed that her house was still standing. He didn’t say what state it was in, and I didn’t ask because I didn’t want Cassie to be stressed.

“Ready for your first plane ride?”

“Yes. Surprisingly, I’m not nervous at all.”

I didn’t tell her that she might change her mind once we were on the plane. That was where people tended to freak out because there was no turning back once the door closed. “Good, and once we’re on the plane, we’ll be in Vegas in less than four hours.”

“I can’t wait.”

After we went through security, we grabbed a bite to eat before heading to the gate. The attendant started boarding passengers, and I asked Cassie, “Ready to go home?”

“Beyond ready.”

We boarded the plane and found our seats. She still didn’t seem nervous, and I didn’t ask again.

“Want to watch a movie?”

Her eyes lit up. “You can watch movies?”

I pointed at the small screen in front of her seat. “Yep.” I got it set up for her, and while she watched some romantic comedy I didn’t know the name of, the plane took off, and she was calm as a cucumber. That didn’t stop me from grabbing her hand and holding it while we soared through the air.

Cassie was happy, and so was I.

After we landed, we took an Uber to my place. Cassie didn’t want to deal with her roommates or her house immediately, and I didn’t blame her. While the driver drove, I called Mom to let her know that we’d made it. She was already looking at dates to come visit.

The driver pulled up to my two-story house, and Cassie and I got out. “This is your house?” she asked.

“Yep.” I grabbed our bags from the trunk, and the driver drove off.

“And you live here alone?”

“I do.” My house had three bedrooms, and it was big for just me, but I had the means and had purchased it for a good price.

“Wow,” she breathed. “I couldn’t even imagine living in my house alone. Does it get lonely?”

I unlocked the front door. “Honestly, with my life, I was always out with friends or …”

“On dates.”

“Yeah. I just slept here mostly.”

She walked in and looked around. My mom had decorated the place with pictures and shit when she’d visited for Christmas.

“And what are you going to do now that you aren’t working as an escort?”