Hard Luck (The Vegas Obsession Series, #1) Read Online Free Page A

eventually I began playing in a lottery pool with Monica and three co-workers. Lately, I’ve been playing alone.
    As I filled in the final number, I thought about my ex, and how it had become our ritual. We enjoyed the suspense of it all, the finger-crossing, hope and dreams moment before learning whether we won. We never did; not even a few dollars. When we broke up, I thought about stopping, but ended up playing out of habit. I couldn’t let him ruin another one of my guilty pleasures.
    I stared at each number again. There were six that had been randomly picked by members of the pool. The seventh, we had chosen by a draw. It just seemed fitting to keep playing the same numbers until I quit... eventually.
    I stepped back and turned to Monica, who was flipping through a fashion magazine while she waited.
    “Are you sure you don’t want to put money in for this one? I feel it will be lucky.”
    Monica rolled her eyes and let out a mocking laugh.  She had played for a while and was the first to bail.
    “Breaking news: they always feel lucky, Leslie. I love your positive attitude, but geez you have never won anything. You know I feel it’s a complete waste of time and money, babe.”
    I wasn’t convinced. “I’m telling you, Monica. I can feel it. Sooner or later my luck is bound to change.”
    Monica put back the magazine and began to play on her phone.
    “Les, do you realize you have a better chance of being struck by lightning twice? I mean, I have just as much of a chance of winning whether I buy a ticket or not. Hun, I make my own luck. Besides, if you win you can always take me out to dinner.”
    “The jackpot is twenty-eight million,” I answered as the cashier took my credit card, processed my pick and issued a ticket. “If I don’t win, this is the last time I’ll ever play. And if I win, I’ll buy you a whole lot more than just dinner. We’re flying first class to Vegas and I’m splurging on the two of us. We’ll stay in the presidential suite at Cesar’s Palace and there will be no limits on the blackjack table. Or the wine. Or the hot men. And wait! We’re finding a way to get into a taping of The Billionaire Takes a Wife: Las Vegas Edition —even if we have to storm the set. And no matter what we do, we’re making time to get front row seats at whatever Cirque du Soleil show is playing, and definitely the Johnny Vegas show at Wynne Las Vegas. And that’s a promise.”
    “You know I love Johnny Vegas, Les. Careful with your promises. I’ll hold you to them.”
    “Oh I’m sticking to this one if we win. I want us to let loose and meet guys and drink away all my frustration until I throw up on some sexy guy’s muscle shirt. It won’t be complete until we wake up hung over in a trashed presidential suite, with a live chicken walking around and an anaconda in the Jacuzzi tub.”
    Monica burst out laughing. “Sounds like the Vegas trip from hell. But I’m in!”
    The gas station attendant handed me the ticket and I kissed it. That was part of the ritual too. If this was the last time I played, this ticket was special, and so was this kiss. I pulled out my phone and took a selfie with the ticket. The picture sucked – I was not photogenic so I looked like a pale rat – but I was going for the memory, so I let it slide.
    “Lottery ticket selfie? Okay you’ve officially gone off the deep end, Les.”
    Afterward, we left, walking back to our cars still parked at the diner next door.
    “So,” Monica started out of nowhere. “I’ve been doing some thinking and... are you going to mention to Mr. Barkley that you’re interested?”
    We hadn’t talked about work while we ate, and I expected Monica to avoid the conversation, given my past results.
    “What do you think?” I asked, wondering where she was serious.
    “I think it could be good for him to see you making an effort. Pitch yourself. Show some balls.”
    “What, you think I need to grow some?” I joked, but then grew somber.