Another week has passed. Somehow it’s already our last night in Vegas.

The atmosphere is a little despondent between Laura and me. We both know an exceptionally good thing has come to an end. Still, we’re trying to make the most of it, and we go uptown for one last drink together before we go our separate ways.

I look across to her in the cab as we travel away from the strip. She’s wearing the sequined dress again. It’s no less beautiful than the first time I saw her in it. Her skin has grown tan over the last three weeks. I don’t know if I’m imagining it or I can actually see where the laughter we’ve shared has imprinted around her eyes in little crow’s-feet.

I drink in the sight of her. It’s the first time I’ve ever missed someone before they’re gone. Watching Laura, knowing it will be the last time I’ll ever get to admire the way she moves, makes my heart ache.

Tomorrow it’s back to life on the road. Back to endless hospital tours, drinking alone at hotel bars, and sleeping with an empty side of the bed in a lonely penthouse. It’s back to Alice.

No, it’s not.

I squeeze my eyes shut. I don’t want to think about the morning or about the weeks and months ahead. I just want to enjoy every last moment with Laura while she’s still here to make me feel alive.

Opening the back-passenger door of the cab, I hold out my hand to Laura. She takes it and steps out. Even stepping out of a cab, she looks like a cross between Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe. She’s pure elegance.

She looks up at me with sad eyes and smiles. “I can’t believe it’s the last night already.”

“Usually, three weeks is long enough to have me running up the walls. This is the first time I’ve wanted to stay somewhere.”

“I’ve never been away from work this long.”

“I bet it’s done you some good.”

Her eyes soften. “A world of good.”

“Let’s not dwell on tomorrow. We’ve still got tonight, haven’t we?”

She nods. “That’s right.”

I place my hand gently on the small of her back to guide her into the bar we’ve chosen for the evening. It’s a trendy little joint off the beaten path that specializes in gins.

I order a saffron gin with ice, and Laura has an elderberry gin with lemon tonic. Tonight the alcohol doesn’t go down so smoothly. We sit quietly nursing our drinks at the bar. Neither of us feels like having a good time.

Laura sighs. “Tomorrow it’s back to reality.”

“Have you booked your flight yet?”

“I’m figuring things out when I get to the airport. That way I don’t have to worry about rushing. I’ve got plenty of work to do if I have to wait.”

“You’ve done plenty over the last couple of weeks. Sometimes it’s been hard to tear you away even with the right persuasion.”

She lifts a heavy gaze to me and forces a smile. Her body remains slumped, though, like she’s about to climb a mountain and doesn’t have the strength.

“Vegas has been a wonderful escape,” she tells me. “I don’t have the words to describe this city, and what we’ve shared together. I know vacations are meant to make you feel that way, but I can’t help but think life back home isn’t going to live up to what we had here. It’s stupid, I know. I don’t know why I’m acting like the world has ended because my vacation’s over. I always knew real life was waiting back home.”

I squeeze her hand. “It’s not stupid. I’ve been thinking about it, too. It’s been great to have some time where work’s not everything in the world. It’s been fun to go a little crazy, do something a bit different, and share it with someone. I’ve got another month of driving ahead of me, and it’s going to feel like a long road.”

“You must be looking forward to going home.”

I don’t even know where home is anymore. Not since I walked out on Alice.

“I guess. When you travel as much as I do, nowhere feels like home.”

“This trip has been the highlight of my life,” Laura tells me. When she looks at me, her intense gaze tells me she means it. She grips her gin glass like she’s trying to hold onto the moment. She takes a deep breath and exhales slowly. “I should have done this years ago.”

“Done what?”

“Let go of my inhibitions. Done something wild just because it felt right. Do something that normal people would think is crazy because it feels good to do it. Be a little selfish. Be a little outrageous.”

“You can take those lessons home with you,” I say. “Go crazy in Illinois.”

She smiles at me. “It’s not the same.”

“I know.”

“I’d love to do one more irresponsible, stupid, reckless, and wonderful thing. One more impulsive adventure to see me through the next decade of routine.”

“I know how you feel. It’s been fun here, hasn’t it? A whirlwind.”

“Will I be saying too much again if I mention I’m going to miss you? Are you allowed to miss a fling?”

I’m going to be devastated when we walk in opposite directions tomorrow.

“I haven’t read the rulebook, but I’m going to make the call myself. It’s okay.” I offer her a warm, affectionate smile, and lay my hand on top of hers. “I’m going to miss you, too. It’s been a lot of fun. If things were different, I’d have kept on seeing you.”

“Never say never. Maybe one day soon you’ll be in Illinois.”

“I hope so.”

We finish our drinks, not feeling like ordering another round. I stand on the sidewalk and lift my arm to hail a cab. Laura takes hold of my wrist and pulls my arm down, wrapping her arms around it.

“Can we walk back again?”

“Are you sure? Your feet were shredded after last time.”

She smiles. “I’m sure. One last chance to look at Vegas.”

One last chance to walk with you.

“Sure.”

We start to make our way slowly down the hill that leads back toward the strip. It’s a long walk, but the distance doesn’t bother me. I’m content to walk arm-in-arm with Laura until dawn if it gives me a little more time with her.

She’s so different from Alice.

Alice, Alice, Alice. The nearer I get to the end of this trip, the more my fiancé — my ex-fiancé — is playing on my mind. I know she’ll want to talk when I get back. I know she’ll want to patch things up. I know she’ll want to get the wedding back on track.

But it’s not what I want.

I look across at Laura.

It’s not who I want.

Twelve years is a long time to throw away. Twelve years vs. three weeks.

It’s a warm night. The breeze is almost hot. It carries particles of Nevada sand and the scent of old playing cards. It also carries the scent of Laura’s sweet perfume.

“What’s the first thing you’re going to do when you get back to Illinois?”

Laura doesn’t hesitate. “See my mom.”

“You’re close to her.”

“We lost my father a few years back. She’s been a bit of a mess since then.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. I didn’t know.”

She looks up at me with warm eyes. “Thanks. He’d had a couple of heart attacks before then, so I wasn’t expecting him to be around forever. What I wasn’t prepared for was my mom falling apart when he went.”

“You’re all she has left.”

“Maybe if things were different, I’d have seen what things were like in Michigan.” She forces a smile. “But it’s probably better this way. I’m so busy with work and taking care of her that I wouldn’t have time for a guy in real life.”

“I’m glad I got to see this side of you. For what it’s worth, any guy would be lucky to have you, Laura.”

After a couple of miles, a familiar blue neon glow begins to shimmer in the distance. I recognize it as the chapel we passed the other day.

I nudge Laura with my hip as we get closer. “One final, reckless, impulsive adventure?”

I’m joking, but when Laura follows my gaze, the look on her face tells me she thinks I’m being serious.

She looks up at me incredulously. “You think we should get married?”

I could easily correct her now and tell her I was kidding.

Looking at her wide-eyed expression, that’s not what I want to do.

I want to marry her.

“Eloping is about the most romantic thing a couple can do. Let’s make it the fling to end all flings.”

She laughs. “Why?”

“For Vegas.”

“You’re crazy.”

“To celebrate spontaneity, adventure, and the last night of the best trip we’re ever going to take.”

She pauses, biting down on her lip and glancing over at the chapel. “Are they real marriages?”

“One hundred percent authentic.”

Laura shakes her head and takes a step back. “It’s too much.”

I back down. “You’re right. I’m caught up in the Vegas hype.”

“It would be one hell of a way to close the trip, though.”

I step in front of her to take both her hands in mine. “Think of what the girls would say.”

“They’d fucking love it.”

“We can take cheesy photos. Get married by Elvis or a hobbit.”

“Pose in a Rolls-Royce model with no wheels out front.”

“Make up our vows on the spot.”

We both come to a pause. Laura is breathing faster, and so am I.

She looks up at me with an expression of utter disbelief. “Are we actually considering this?”

Suddenly eloping in a stupid little neon chapel is all I want to do. This is something more than a fling. It won’t be a marriage, but it will be one hell of a memory. I want to do something wild with Laura. It’s the last time either of us might ever behave like crazed college kids on the run.

“I say let’s do it. Let’s end Vegas with a bang.”

Laura’s expression shifts and the broadest, most mischievous smile grows on her face. She puts her hands on her hips and nods. “Let’s get hitched.”