CHAPTER 62
Theo
“Thanks, man. I owe you one.” I shook Shane’s hand as he winked at me.
We were standing outside the Bellagio after the water show, my arm still around Lex. I swore I would never let her go after her disappearing act. The entire day had been a shit storm, between finalizing the new contract terms with Winter and trying to track Lex down through Amie then Shane.
“No. It’s me who owes you. I should have never left Lex in that apartment alone.”
He was right about that, but if it weren’t for Shane keeping tabs on Lex all day and updating me, I might have gotten on a plane to Seattle.
“Wait,” Lex jumped in. “You two planned this?” She looked at me, her eyes narrowed. “You didn’t, like, just happen to show up and see me standing there?”
Shane chuckled. “You’re not in a Nicholas Sparks movie, Lex. Things like that don’t just happen.”
She shot him a glare. “It could happen.”
I tilted my head, a grin spreading across my face. “I’m not opposed to grand gestures.”
She looked smug. “See,” she told Shane. “It could happen.”
Shane shrugged. “Cool. So if your love story gets optioned for film, then I get to play the dazzling best friend who concocts a scheme to reunite the long-lost lovers.”
Lex laughed, and it was the most beautiful sound I’d heard all day. “You’re ridiculous.”
“And you love me,” Shane said.
The affection pouring from Shane’s eyes and tone had my own heart swelling.
I tightened my hold around Lex’s shoulders and leaned in so she could hear me. “What’s the plan now, Lex?”
She pushed her shoulders back and looked between the two of us. “I want to go back to Hard Rock. I’m going to find Winter tomorrow morning and talk to her. And then I’m going to beg for my job back if I have to. I’ll talk to the others too. If everyone still wants me gone after that, then—” Her eyes found Shane’s. “Then I’ll head back to LA until another opportunity comes along. I’m not ready to give up yet.”
Shane beamed at her, and I tugged her close to me. “In that case, I have some news.”
Both pairs of eyes looked expectantly at me. “C’mon, dude. Don’t do the suspenseful thing. Just tell us you quit on Winter and screwed her over the way she hurt Lex.”
“Not quite.” I grinned as they both waited. “Reggie was fired this morning for trying to sabotage the show. He admitted to sharing the video. He also admitted to sleeping with Winter just to get a few auditions, the music video and Vegas series being two of them.”
Lex gasped, and Shane muttered something under his breath.
“So, Lex, you have your job back if you want it.”
Lex clutched my side. “Really?” The hopeful tone in her voice made me fall in love with her even more.
I nodded, caressing her cheek with my knuckles. “Yup. Winter talked to the crew today. Everyone wants you back. Nobody cares that we’re together. In fact”—I chuckled at the memory of my earlier phone call with Winter—“they said they’ve liked me better recently, and now they know who to thank for it. Apparently, I was some kind of jerk before.”
She laughed as she slid her arms around my waist.
“Oh.” I couldn’t believe I’d almost forgotten. I turned to Shane. “And you’re in too, dude. If you want the job.”
Shane’s jaw dropped. “What?”
“Someone needs to fill Reggie’s spot, but it can’t be me since I’ve got other commitments. Winter already knows about your gig with Dominic. She understands if you need to wrap that up first. I’m happy to fill in until you’ve learned the steps.”
“Wow. That’s—” Shane shook his head, his eyes wide and mouth agape.
“It’s incredible,” Lex gushed. “Say yes, Shane.” She made steeple fingers in an effort to beg.
Shane laughed. “Do you think I’m fucking crazy? Of course the answer is yes.”
Lex jumped into his arms, and when they finished celebrating, she found her way back to my side.
“What do you say?” I looked between Lex and Shane. “Ready to head back to the hotel?”
They both muttered an exhausted “Yes.”
My gaze traveled to Lex. “By the way, I canceled our room when I thought you’d left. I wasn’t staying here without you. But I still have my original room. And since we’re not a secret anymore, you can stay with me there.”
She scrunched her face. “The one down the hall from Winter? Are you sure that’s okay?”
That was my girl. Still trying to be cautious. “It’s all squared away. It’s fine, Lex. Stay with me?” I was desperate to hold her tonight after an entire day of worry. Even when I knew she hadn’t left for Seattle, I still didn’t know what she’d do next. What if she hadn’t wanted her spot back with the crew?”
“What about Shane?” Her eyes traveled to him. “We haven’t talked about the hotel situation yet.”
He waved a hand in the air. “Don’t worry about me. I already told Amie I’m crashing her room tonight. She seems pretty stoked about it.”
We all laughed, and I tucked Lex under my arm. “What do you say? Wanna be my roomie?”
She squinted up at me playfully then shrugged. “I suppose that wouldn’t be the worst arrangement.”