I elbow Jess in the side when two men break away from a crowd and make their way over, smiling. ‘Oh, hello,’ Jess says, turning on her stool to welcome them. Both are good-looking – one Latino, the other black – and both are clutching bottles of beer.
‘British?’ the black guy asks, pointing his bottle at each of us in turn. His ebony skin is flawless, his physique defined, his head shaved and smooth. I’d estimate he’s in his mid-twenties.
‘American?’ I counter with a smile, diving in feet first.
He laughs and points to his mate, who’s about the same age and also fit but a little shorter. ‘This is Kyle. I’m Denny.’
I offer my hand. ‘Izzy. This is Jess.’ I cock my head towards my friend, finding she’s smiling suggestively at Kyle.
‘Damn, girl, I love your accent,’ Denny says.
‘You do?’
‘Yeah, keep talkin’ to me.’
I giggle despite myself, feeling his grip flex around mine. ‘Join us?’ I ask.
‘Awesome.’ He slides on to a stool smoothly, followed by Kyle.
‘See?’ Jess claps her hands, delighted. ‘In America, everything is “awesome”.’
‘So what do you guys say?’ Kyle asks, amused.
‘Fucking great! That’s what we say, but I much prefer “awesome”.’ Jess’s eyes meet Kyle’s and, God be damned, they gaze at each other like neither has seen someone of the opposite sex before.
‘I prefer “fuckin’ great”.’ Kyle clinks his bottle with the side of Jess’s glass before taking a sip, keeping his dark eyes on her blues. We’ve been in Vegas for . . . I don’t know how long. Hours. We’re drunk, we’ve met some fun guys, and so far we’re having a bloody blast.
Laughs roll as we spend the next few hours comparing slang phrases and curse words with our new friends. The drinks flow, though I ensure we buy our own, and the night passes so fast, I hate the notion that the whole five days might speed by this quickly.
‘Wanker,’ Jess slurs, leaning on the table for support. ‘Wank-urrrrr.’
‘Wa . . .’ – Kyle’s chin juts out – ‘ker . . .’
‘Try “tosser”,’ I say with a laugh.
‘What’s a tosser?’ Denny throws me a look of confusion, the smooth black skin of his forehead showing creases for the first time.
‘It’s a wanker.’
‘Like “jerk”?’
‘Yes!’
‘Awesome.’ Denny smiles, throwing his arm around my shoulder and pulling me in. I don’t bat an eyelid, letting him drape himself all over me.
‘You, my dear gentleman,’ Kyle starts in his best English accent as he points to Denny, ‘are a bladdy tosser.’
‘Bloody,’ I howl, my stomach starting to hurt from laughing so much. ‘That was the worst English accent I’ve heard.’
‘Then you need to be teaching us, darlin’.’ Denny grins. ‘What are your plans while you’re here?’
I look to Jess, who shrugs. ‘I’m open to suggestions.’
Kyle beams from ear to ear, peeking down before getting her in a headlock. She goes willingly, giving me a coy, knowing smile. ‘Good to hear you’re thinking with an open mind.’
She nudges him playfully. ‘Smart arse.’
‘Ass!’ he yells. ‘If you’re going to be my friend, sweet thing, you have to say it like me. Ass.’ He ruffles her hair. ‘There’s a pool party here tomorrow. Up for it?’
‘Yep!’ we sing in unison, raising our glasses to toast the plan for tomorrow. I’m so glad I bought that new swimsuit.*They were total gents, walking us back to our room, with no suggestion or hint that they expected to come in. Kyle was rewarded with a full-on snog from Jess, whereas I simply pecked Denny’s cheek and thanked him for a fun evening. Letting my hair down is still in the cards. Just not on the first night. He was cool with that, singing all the curse words he’d learned as he weaved his way down the corridor.
We fell into bed and giggled like teenagers about our first night in Vegas and eventually fell asleep at . . . I don’t know what time. But I was smiling.*‘Damn.’ Jess’s eyes nearly fall out of her head when I appear from the bathroom in my new swimsuit. ‘Your boobs look immense.’
I start to rearrange the cups around my cleavage, wondering if I’m brave enough. My stomach is concealed, just how I like it, but my boobs are on display, the plunging neckline fierce. ‘Too much?’
‘Wow!’ Jess purrs, grabbing a camisole and slipping it on over her black bikini, which has gold hoops holding it together between her boobs and on her hips. ‘Turn around.’ I do as ordered, not that there’s much to see, as my swimsuit is completely back-less. ‘I love it,’ Jess declares.
I pull my tousled black waves into a knot, but immediately release it when Jess shakes her head. ‘Down?’
‘Yes, you’ve got that beach-tousled thing going on. It’s hot. Come on.’
We head down to the pool, and after collecting two towels, we venture into the crazy scene. I feel somewhat intimidated by the throngs of gorgeous women as we weave through the crowds, looking for somewhere to settle.