Page 48 of Breaking the Ice

Although it feels more like an art museum made out of flowers than an actual garden. Apparently, they change out the installations to match the seasons, and right now it’s decorated in reds and oranges with a fall theme. There’s a frog prince spouting water, a giant mushroom house, a pumpkin that’s reminiscent of Cinderella’s carriage, another one that features owls and books, and a forest giant whose head brushes the top of the glass roof. Twinkling white lights give the space a magical aura. It’s like being dropped in the middle of a fairy tale. We wander around, mouths agape.

“What do you think, Joe?” Hadley asks him. “Worth it?”

“It’s beautiful, and I love it.” He drops a kiss on her lips, then turns back to the group. “This is great. What’s next?”

Drew bounces on the balls of his feet. “We’ll have to grab an Uber, but I want to ride one of those gondolas at the Venetian.”

His teeth flash in a smile, his hazel eyes dance, and I nod. He’s so charming, I can’t help myself. And it’s not like it’s the kind of debauchery the university was worried about or anything.

Jonas must agree, because he says, “Absolutely. Let’s make it happen.”

The gondolas aren’t big enough to hold six people, so we rent three of them. Drew and Payton pair off, as do Hadley and Jonas. I’m not sad to share with Isabella. I sit across from her, my gaze drawn to the hem of her dress over her crossed legs. She takes a sip of wine, then licks a drop off her lips. I might have to jump into the water to cool off because my blood races through my veins and my heart pounds. I can barely stand the temptation she poses, but I don’t want to be anywhere else.

The canal borders one side of the Strip, lined with palm trees, expensive shops, and casinos. It’s a cool way to see the city, all lit up with the water reflecting the bright lights everywhere. While it’s manmade, it’s still beautiful. The buildings soar around us, horns honk and traffic blares, but it’s peaceful on the water. We go under a footbridge, and the sound muffles.

After we come out on the other side, our three gondolas draw even with each other. The canal widens, and farther down the river, a bride and groom kiss in their gondola, surrounded by their wedding party.

Drew hoots with laughter. “Who has ‘get married in Vegas’ on their bucket list? Wouldn’t that be funny?”

Hadley puts her finger on her nose when everyone swivels to look at them. “Don’t even think about it. We’ve barely been dating for two months.”

“After sneaking around all summer,” I whisper under my breath as I finish off my second glass of wine. It fits the gondola theme, so we went with it. Can’t really get drunk on wine, anyways.

Isabella raises a brow. “Must be a story there.”

“You have no idea,” I deadpan.

“Oh my gosh, we could at least go watch!” Payton holds up her phone, which means nothing at this distance, but she bounces on the seat of their gondola as she reads the information. “Weddings at the Chapel of Love are open to the public!”

“But Evan and Isabella haven’t picked anything yet,” Jonas says, as our gondolas head back towards the docks.

Isabella shrugs. “I’m still not sure what I want, if anything. Watching a Vegas wedding sounds memorable, though.”

I hop out and offer her my hand, mostly so I can feel her fingers in mine, and then let my palm linger on the small of her back. In case she needs help off the dock. I don’t want her to fall in and get wet. In that white dress. Then it would be see-through and⁠—

“Evan?” Jonas interrupts my train of thought, which is probably for the best. “What’s your bucket list item?”

“Oh, Vegas wedding, for sure.”

Everyone in our group halts and stares at me, and I realize what I said.

“Uh, I mean, watching one.” I stumble over my words. “Yeah, that’s what I want.”

“Sure, buddy.” Hadley pats me on the arm. “Although that totally feels like something you’d do.”

“It does, doesn’t it?”

But as we’re standing on the other side of the city in the Chapel of Love, sipping champagne and toasting complete strangers, the flashing neon wedding bells beckon in my brain. They are like a beacon. Everything else blurs in my vision, but they stay clear.

Isabella leans into me, and I wrap my arms around her, burying my nose in her hair and inhaling her strawberry scent. Her body is a solid weight against mine.

“Isnnnt so romannnic?” she says on a sigh, her words soft and fuzzy. Or maybe I’m soft and fuzzy? It’s hard to tell.

“Yeah.” I swallow around the sudden lump in my throat. “It really is.”

I look down at her, and it all makes so much sense at this moment. Why not? She’s wearing a white dress. We’re here. And her dad can’t object if we’re already married.

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