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Fuck, he cannot be sitting across from me. It was Ava’s worst nightmare. At least in the office, they spent very little time so close to each other. Now she was stuck with him across from her for the next six hours. The minute the plane taxied down the runway and the air circulation started blowing in the cabin; she was surrounded by the smell of his cologne. Her eyes started to mist, and she quickly blinked them to push it away.
Once the seatbelt sign went off, Sam’s cousins turned in their seats to talk to her and Ava. She was exhausted and told them that she was going to try to catch a nap. If she had opened her eyes anytime during the two hours she was asleep; she would have seen Xander looking at her. He could watch her sleep for hours and had when they were together. She looked so peaceful. By that time mostly everyone else was napping as well.
An hour before the flight landed, the captain’s voice came over the loudspeaker and woke her.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are going to be heading over some rough weather. Please stay in your seats with your seat belts buckled. We might experience some turbulence.”
Xander glanced at Ava. He could see fear on her face. Flying was not one of her favorite things to do. Several minutes later the plane started to dip and shudder as they flew over the storm. Ava gripped the hand rests tightly, and her knuckles turned white. She had crossed her feet, and he could tell from her posture that she was tense.
Without thinking, he reached across the aisle and placed his hand over hers. Her eyes had been closed, and they fluttered open at the feel of his hand. She felt him move his fingers under hers. His thumb stroked her knuckles until the turbulence stopped. The feeling of love that he felt when he touched her was overwhelming. He smiled like a Cheshire cat.
“Xander, you can let go of my hand. Thank you.”
He removed his hand though he didn’t want to.
Sam saw what was going on and scowled at Ava.
She whispered in her ear, “What the fuck was that? He barely talks to you, and now he is holding your hand?”
“Sam, let it go. I want to enjoy this trip,” she whispered back.
The suites in the Bellagio were unbelievable. It was a huge space, and they had everything they could want: a living area, a bar, huge marble bathroom and extra large king-sized beds. The view from the windows was overlooking the entire city of Las Vegas. Everyone was excited to go out and enjoy all the city had to offer. Ava was exhausted and wanted to nap; they all did even though they slept on the plane, they wanted to be ready for the night life.
They woke and started indulging in the bar that was located in the room. Sam’s cousins joined them in their room, and they drank champagne and wine for an hour before the guys knocked on their door. Ava had dressed in a body hugging mid thigh length dress that was the same color as her eyes. She put her hair up, and Sam insisted on doing her makeup, which she considered too heavy. Lastly, she put on a pair of four-inch heels.
By the time the guys came to their room to get them they were all ready to party for the night. Ava saw from the corner of her eye that Christos was looking her up and down. It was not missed by Xander who felt a deep pang of jealousy. He better keep his hands off her or else. Or else what? She isn’t your girlfriend any longer. Regardless of their relationship status, he would be watching out for her the entire night.
As soon as they walked out the door, Christos offered his arm to Ava. She didn’t want to take it but why start the night off with tension? She liked Christos, but she didn’t want to flirt. Besides, the way he was with women she would only be a notch in his belt. They walked to a waiting limo and first headed to the Voodoo Rooftop Nightclub at the Rio. The DJ had the place pumped. The ladies went out on the dance floor, and some of the men followed. Xander watched Christos grind on Ava. He frowned and took a sip of his vodka.
He scanned the club. There were a lot of beautiful women here, but he had no interest in them. He only wanted one woman. Christos came and sat down pouring himself some champagne. Xander wanted to warn him to keep his hands off her, but it wasn’t his place. He kept an eye on her and eventually he worked his way out onto the dance floor. They were all dancing as a group, but he made sure to try to get as close to her as possible.
He took his attention off her just long enough for a man to wrap his hands around her waist. She tried to pry him off her, but he was drunk and acting belligerent. Xander reached over and grabbed him by the throat, screaming in the man’s face.
“Get your filthy hands off her, or I’ll snap your neck.”
The man let go, and he pulled Ava behind him, releasing the man from his grip at the same time. Xander pushed him, and he stumbled away. He bent down and yelled in Ava’s ear so she could hear him over the music.
“Sweetheart, are you okay?”
She nodded, and he took her by the hand and led her off the dance floor and to a table the group was occupying.
“Do you want some water?”
“Can we go somewhere quieter?”
“Sure, if that’s what you want.”
He held her hand, and they pushed through the crowd. She waved to Sam so she would know she was alright. Sam nodded and smiled at her. They took the elevator down to the bottom floor and walked out into the Las Vegas night.
“That’s better. Now we can talk normally.”
Ava let go of his hand, and they walked side by side to hail a cab. They made small talk on the way back to the hotel. She told him that the club scene was not for her. She only went because she didn’t want to disappoint Sam. They went up to her suite to have a talk.
It had been the first real conversation they had in weeks. He said he wanted to be friends and that it was so hard not to talk to her at the office. She didn’t hide her disappointment. She was hoping that he would want to get back together. But she told herself, baby steps, baby steps.
Xander left to go to his suite next door, and she got ready for bed. It was only midnight, but even with a nap, she was exhausted. She would have preferred being in bed with him, but it wasn’t going to happen.
At 4:00 AM she was awakened by Dani, Sandra, and Sam. They had club hopped after she and Xander had left. They were hot, sweaty. She was sure that Dani was going to throw up because she was so drunk. They placed her in bed and put a bucket that had previously held champagne near the bed. Fortunately, for Ava, she was sleeping in the bedroom with Sandra.
