What happened in Vegas: Didn't Stay In Vegas! (25 page)

He wiped his
face and said,
“
Turn
around.
”

His mouth
drooped open and I did a full turn,
“
Do you
approve?
”
His opinion really mattered to me because he knew
his stuff. If he approved than that meant I looked
great.

“Man, do I
ever! You look fantastic!
”
His response made me
beam with excitement.

“Thank you! I
wish you were going. I hate going to functions like this
alone.
”

“Shelly will be
there. Don
’
t worry. You
’
ll fit right
in.
”

“Did you
propose to Aria yet?
”

“No, not yet,
tonight. I want a few people to be there. The people that
matter.
”

“That
’
s so sweet! I hate
leaving you but I have to go now, or I
’
ll be late.
I
’
ll see you later.
”
I went to his
bedside and gave him a kiss on the forehead and then pulled
away.

“Bye, Coco. See
you later.
”

I drove to the
ballroom. When I got there cocktails had already started in a
smaller room branching off the great ballroom. The first person I
noticed was Shelly. She came running over to me as fast as she
could in her four inch pumps hugging me and planting a kiss on my
cheek,
“
I
’
m so happy you
came!
”

“Thanks Shelly.
I
’
m glad you
’
re here too.
Let
’
s go to the bar, I could use a
drink!
”

Shelly was
touching my hair,
“
I love your hair! Did
you like Roberto? Did he treat you well?
”

“He did thanks.
I wasn
’
t expecting to leave looking like
this!
”

“You never
leave there with anything less than stunning hairstyle when you go
to him.
”

We arrived at
the bar and I ordered a Martini. Shelly placed her empty glass down
and said to the bartender,
“
I
’
ll have the
same.
”

While she was
waiting for her drink, I began scanning the room for Bradley and
moments later our eyes locked. He wasn
’
t alone. He had his
arm around Maggie, his Bitch Ex-Wife!

My face flushed hot with a sudden feeling of
emotional upset. I knew it was going to be hard to see him, but I
had never imagined he would be bringing a date, especially Maggie
of all people.

I excused
myself to run to the bathroom thinking I was going to throw up.
There was a chair in there so I sat down and held my head just
above my knee
’
s waiting for the
nausea to pass. When the feeling of nausea faded, I splashed cold
water on my face and then started touching up my makeup.

I
couldn
’
t let him see how much his presence affected me. I
tried to swallow even though I felt this large ball in my throat
and it was hard to hold back my tears.

I found Shelly
and forced myself to focus on her and avoid eye contact with
Bradley,
“
Sorry about that. It
’
s hard to see Bradley
with Maggie after we were together.
”

Shelly put a
reassuring hand on my shoulder,
“
What happened between
you two?
”

I lowered my
voice,
“
Stupid little arguments that turned big.
It
’
s completely over with us and I
’
m predominantly
the one at fault. We were only together for about a
month.
”

“Rumor around
the hospital is that you had an affair with
Nick.
”

I took a deep
breath in,
“
Wow, not too far from
the truth. I can
’
t get over what a
rumor mill the hospital is.
”

Shelly
smiled,
“
You have to keep your private life as far away
from the hospital as possible if you don
’
t want anybody
talking about it. How is Nick by the way?
”

“He
’
s doing much better,
thanks to Bradley.
”

“You know Chanel, I would
never take sides, but I think it was great that Bradley saved Nick.
He gave Nick a lot of attention ensuring he pulled
through.

“Believe me
Shelly, I noticed.
”

“So you
can
’
t fix things with Bradley, say
sorry?
”

“His pride was
hurt, plus check out his date. He doesn
’
t look like
he
’
s hurting now.
”

She looked at Bradley and my eyes followed
hers. His arm was around Maggie. Maggie looked bitchstakingly
beautiful in a red dress with red pumps that showed a large part of
her chest without completely revealing her breasts. She dressed
provocatively, sacrificing class. It was obvious that she was doing
anything in her power to get her ex-husband back. I could hardly
stand seeing it.

Bradley had shaved and his hair was cut
razor short except for the top that was shaggy but on the short
side even for him. He could have easily been mistaken for his
brother dressed in black tie formal wear. He cleaned up really
well, but I liked the burly Bradley a little more than the cleaned
up version. It suited his personality.

It was nearing
seven, and upon entry into the ballroom there was a guest list with
an assigned table number. I found my name on the list and turned to
Shelly, 9.
”

She smiled back
at me,
“
Me too.
”
I was glad we could
sit together. I wondered who else would be at our table and thought
how ironic it was to have Nick
’
s ICU
number.

Each table
seated eight. There were beautiful floral centerpieces at each of
them. The chairs had elegant white covers with bows wrapped around
each one. Each dish had a place card on it with a
person
’
s name. Shelly was seated on one side of me and Chase
on the other.

Shelly and I sat down and people gazed while
others were still looking for their seats. I noticed Bradley and
Maggie holding hands and heading towards our table but suddenly
there was a God because they stopped and sat down at table eight. I
took a deep breath in, knowing that I was holding it bracing myself
for the very real possibility that I would have had to endure an
entire evening facing them together.

A firm hand touched my shoulder which
distracted me from my idle jealousy fest that seemed to be
consuming me. I looked up to see black eyes smiling down at me, it
was the brother with the golden shoes.

Tonight the
twins looked identical. Their hair was cut exactly the same. They
were both clean shaved. They both wore black tuxes. It was even
hard for me to tell them apart. It was just the common sense of
Chase
’
s place card and his disposition that helped me to
know.

His contact
with me gave me goose bumps. Chase greeted everyone at the table
before pulling his chair out so he could sit next to me. He turned
to me and said quite loudly,
“
You are absolutely
ravishing!
”
I squirmed in my chair as his
flattery caused a stir in me. I had to sigh with relief that
whatever happened between Bradley and I didn
’
t seem to change
the way Chase was treating me.

Chase glanced
at his brother and whispered to me,
“
Tell me he
didn
’
t bring her to make you jealous?
”

“He
didn
’
t bring her here to make me
jealous.
”
I smiled at him knowing that joke was very
dry.
“
What Bradley does is none of my business, he ended it
with me.
”

We kept the
rest of the conversation light while we enjoyed the food. My
comfort level began to increase as long as I
didn
’
t focus my attention on the next table.

We sat together and consumed six or seven
courses before Shelly asked Chase if she could see him alone for a
minute. Meanwhile the caterers were clearing the tables, and the
lighting was being dimmed and slow music was starting to play. I
sat alone with the vacant chairs on either side of me for quite
some time before Shelly and Chase returned.

Shelly sat down next to me and Chase walked
past our table and went straight to the podium. The lights were
focused on Chase and the music stopped, capturing the attention of
all who attended.

“For those of
you, who don
’
t know me, my name is
Dr. Chase Hart and I am CEO of the General. I have invited a guest
speaker to talk about the plans we have for the Cardiac floor and
where the money that we have raised will be spent. Please help me
in welcoming Resident Nick Hart.
”

There was
applause and to my surprise I saw Aria dressed in an elegant
antique white lace dress wheeling Nick who was dressed in a tuxedo
to the podium. Nick had his hair cut and his face shaved and he
didn
’
t look like the bushman I had seen in room 9 only
hours ago. This explained Chase and Shelly
’
s sudden
disappearance.

Chase returned
to the table quickly and suddenly I felt his hand on mine.
“
I couldn
’
t have the fundraiser
without your best friend here,
”
he squeezed my hand.
Tears of happiness filled my eyes as I looked into
Chase
’
s. Losing my composure, I threw my arms around his
neck,
“
You don
’
t know what this
means to me having him here thank you so much.
”

Nick
’
s confident voice
came on over the microphone,
“
Coco please pay
attention!
”
A spotlight landed on me and Chase. I
quickly moved away from him and looked up. If I could kill him, it
would have been immediately. The spotlight went back to him,
“
I would like to thank you all briefly for your very
generous donations and I am happy to announce that they will be
going towards the much needed improvements to the EPS lab at the
General.

I have been
chosen today to announce this new venture as I have recently been
the recipient of an AICD when my heart went into sustained
ventricular tachycardia while I was driving on a busy highway. Dr.
Bradley Hart and the amazing doctors at the General saved my life
and I couldn
’
t imagine the funds
going towards a worthier cause.

Nick locked his
wheelchair in place and started moving the foot rests up so he
could stand up holding onto the podium for support. He slowly
lowered himself to one knee. The guests hushed, and Nick
continued,
“
Next to me is Aria
who stayed at my bedside the entire time while I was being cared
for by some of the best cardiologists known to medicine. I am madly
in love with you Aria, would do me the immense honor of marrying
me?
”

The ballroom
remained silent in anticipation for Aria
’
s response; she
dropped to her knees in joy repeating the word yes several times
over as the guests broke out into applause.

I was overjoyed
for them and went running to the podium to be the first to
congratulate them. Aria got up first and then she helped Nick. When
he was safely back in the wheelchair I gave him a hug and then
Aria. Aria said in my ear,
“
Will you be my Maiden
of Honor?
”

I
grinned,
“
I would be honored!
”

Aria put her
arm around my shoulders and looked at Nick,
“
My Maid of
Honor!
”

Nick looked up
from his chair,
“
That
’
s great Coco, I could
never imagine getting married without you being there.
I
’
m so grateful for the support you gave Aria while I
was in hospital, speaking of which we better get back before
Bridgette skin
’
s my hide! I
can
’
t tell if she
’
s into
that!
”