Rate a Date by Monica Murphy Page 0,29
to give you a hug. See what you smell like.”
“Mitch.” Her cheeks look on fire.
“What? I’m serious. You wear perfume?”
“Of course.”
“Use scented shampoo?”
“Duh. I’m a hairstylist.”
“Then I can’t wait to see how all those scents mix and create the essence of you.” Oooh, that was a good one. I didn’t even mean to say that. It just spilled out of my mouth.
“Aw, you’re being so sweet.” She sends me a heated glance. “Kind of sexy.”
“You think me talking about how you smell is sexy?”
“Honestly, Mitch? I think everything about you is sexy,” she says with a little sigh, right before she claps her hand over her mouth. “I probably shouldn’t have said that.” Her voice is muffled behind her palm.
“I love that you said that,” I say, warming up to this conversation big time. “I think you’re pretty fucking sexy too, Eleanor.” Hesitating, I wonder if I should tell her what I did in the shower.
Maybe not.
“Have you ever sexted with someone before?” she asks, sounding genuinely curious.
“I guess.” I shrug, not really wanting to answer her. Makes me feel like a slimy shit to admit that yes, I have. Lots of times. “Sort of. I’ve made plenty of booty call messages. DTF, stuff like that.”
She frowns. “DTF?”
“Down to fuck.”
“Oh.” Her eyes are wide. Her mouth is formed in this perfect O. “Oh.”
“Back when I wasn’t big on relationships,” I add. “But I’ve changed.”
“You have?”
“Yeah. I’m looking for a special girl.”
“Really?”
“I want a long-term relationship.”
“It’s too bad you’re moving,” she says, sounding sad.
I don’t want to focus on that right now. I don’t even know if this girl is the one. She has great potential. But we need to meet in person first. Test it out.
“We’ll see each other this weekend,” I remind her.
“I know!” Her face brightens. “And I’m excited.”
“So am I, Eleanor.”
So am I.
Nine
Eleanor
We hop on a short flight to Los Angeles on a little plane, which sort of freaks me out. I’m not a big flyer, so I get nervous when I do. Small planes are scary.
But the flight from Los Angeles to Las Vegas is on a huge plane. It’s a Friday afternoon and everyone aboard is ready for a fun weekend in Vegas. I know me and my friends are.
The bonus? I get to meet Mitch.
Sexy, hunky, handsome Mitch. The man who makes me laugh. Who sends me heated looks via FaceTime. The man who tells me I’m sexy, and I’ve never had a guy say that to me before.
Funny? Yes.
Goofy? Yep.
Awkward as hell? Definitely.
But sexy? Nope, that’s a first.
Once we land, we get an Uber SUV and head for Wilder Las Vegas. The hotel was recently renovated, and Caroline shows us the photos Alex took when he was last here. Our jaws drop, especially when we see photos of the suite we’re all sharing.
This is going to be a bachelorette weekend we’re never going to forget.
“Hold on, you guys.” Caroline turns to face all of us, an expectant expression on her flushed face. We’re standing in the wide hall that leads to the penthouse suite at the Wilder hotel, and we’re all crowded around her in front of the door, eager to get in.
At least, I’m eager to get in. First, I need to pee. And once that’s handled, I can’t wait to check this place out. Pick out my room. Unpack my stuff, hang my clothes in the closet. Eventually take a shower. Get ready.
Go meet Mitch.
Yeah. I mentioned to only a select few of the group that I’m meeting Mitch here this weekend. Caroline might be mad. This is supposed to be her weekend, and it is. I know it is. I am here to support her every minute of this weekend. But is she going to miss me for a few hours while they’re all out having fun?
Doubtful.
“Come on, open the damn door,” Stella yells at Caroline, making her laugh.
“Just—I want to say something first before we go inside. Thank you for taking the time off from your jobs, or being away from your boyfriends, and coming with me this weekend. We are going to have so much fun, and I just know this trip is going to be unforgettable.” Caroline beams at us, and I swear she’s getting teary eyed.
Which makes me want to get teary eyed too. In fact, I touch the corner of my eye and find it’s wet. Yep, I’m crying.
And I still really need to pee.
“You’re going to make me cry,” Candice—my soul sister—says.
“No crying allowed,”