As I ride up the fifth floor, I text Maya. “Did something happen? I didn’t get you in trouble did I?”
I wait for three dots to appear, but nothing happens. As I walk toward my room, I see a woman in a Mynt Peak signature uniform—long skirt and blazer. Her back is to me, but my heartbeat quickens.
“Maya,” I call out. When the woman turns around it’s a familiar face, but not Maya.
“It’s Lauren,” the woman says with a smile as she slips her phone into her blazer pocket. “I’ll be your new Mynt Peak host.”
“My new host? What about Maya?”
She clasps her hands in front of her. “Maya had another engagement today. But, don’t worry, I will make sure youareverywell taken care of.” She emphasizes “very” with her eyebrows. “Now, it’s time for the Wrapped in Kindness event at the Winterbrook Community Center. Our ride is waiting. All you have to do is grab your coat.”
I blink at her. “The what event?”
Lauren exhales, and I can sense annoyance in her response. “The Wrapped in Kindness event. It was on your schedule. Maya should have told you about it.”
“I’m sure she did. I must have forgotten.”
“Well, good thingI’mhere. Off you go.” She shoos me into my room. I want to ask her about Maya, but I get the feeling Lauren isn’t her biggest fan.
As I open my room door, Lauren trails close behind and follows me in. This level of hospitality is too much.
“I’m going to run to the bathroom,” I say, when in actuality, I need some privacy. I pull out my phone and try calling Maya, but it goes right to voicemail. I send another text. “Hey, missed you this morning. Is everything okay?”
I wait a few minutes for a response but don’t get one. I hear Lauren, no joke, tapping her foot outside the door. Then she says, “We really need to be going, Mr. Evans.”
I run a hand across my jaw. I need to find Maya. Maybe she’ll be at the Wrapped in Kindness event. If not, I’ll do whatever it takes to locate her as soon as I get back.
After wrapping presents for three hours, we delivered them to families who gathered at the community center. We also took photos, signed autographs, and then, Lauren corralled the athletes to a community banquet. The mayor of Winterbrookwas there, along with Mr. Mynt. The community wanted to honor all the charitable work of the Mynt family.
It wasn’t until we arrived back at Mynt Peak around 9 p.m. that Lauren let me out of her sight. Throughout the day, I was always scanning for Maya, but she never showed.
As we walk through the lobby, I finally get a moment to ask my most pressing question. “Roger, why isn’t Maya my host anymore?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know, but Lauren’s the head of PR. You should be flattered she’s your host now.”
I rub my forehead. “More like exhausted. Why didn’t you tell me about the Wrapped in Kindness event?”
“I thought you knew. It was on the schedule.”
“Right, the schedule.” Maya took such good care of me, I didn’t bother to look at it.
“Well, only one day left. You just have to attend the ball tomorrow. Then, you can shred the Mynt to Make a Difference schedule and head back to sunny Florida.”
I give a closed-mouth smile. A few days ago, I would have been ecstatic about leaving. But now, I’m dreading it. I don’t want to leave Maya, especially without knowing what happened.
When we arrive at my hotel room, Roger pats my back. “Get some sleep, kid. Big last day tomorrow.”
I exhale and turn the nob. “Night, Roger.”
The sun pierces my eyelids, and I blink open my eyes. I sit up and realize that I fell asleep on the couch last night.
Something crashes onto the floor. When I look down, I see my phone. That’s when I realize I still haven’t heard from Maya. I called her three times before I fell asleep, but shenever answered. I texted her again asking her to let me know everything’s okay.
I pick up my phone. One unread message delivered at 6:45 a.m…—from Maya. My stomach twists as I read it. “Hey, sorry, my new assignment is keeping me really busy. Hopefully I can say goodbye before you leave.”
I text back. “What’s your new assignment? I’ll come see you.”
After fifteen minutes, there’s no response. I look at the time. It’s 9:14 a.m. She’s probably already working. My mind starts racing:Did someone find out that we kissed? Did she choose a new assignment? Does she regret our kiss?
