It’s not a huge lobby, which means the elevators aren’t too far away. We pass the windows looking into the pool, and the dining room where breakfast is held. Once we reach the elevators, I jab a finger a bit too hard against the Up arrow.
“You didn’t mention how welcoming the staff was when you got me from the car,” I tell him, trying to play off the twinge of something hot and prickly in my voice.
He settles beside me with our bags still in his hands and hums low in his throat. The numbers change on the little screen above the elevator, counting down from five.
“Maybe I need you to teach me the rules of being a fake boyfriend, Jill.”
I turn my head and glare at him. “Shh! My mom could be lurking in the shadows.”
“Right—the rules of being your boyfriend, then. Should I have thrown my bag at her face instead of answering her questions?”
“Obviously,” I snip.
He shifts, but I keep my eyes trained on the elevator doors. There’s a ding before they start to part. That warm pressureagainst my back appears again. I’m not as surprised this time around. I step into the elevator, and he follows, standing directly in front of me instead of beside. His towering form blocks the elevator doors as they close. I swallow before meeting his stare.
“I never took you for a jealous partner.”
My snort is instant as I reach around him to press the button for the third floor. “That was not me being jealous.”
“Wasn’t it? I haven’t been in a relationship for a while, but I do remember what that particular emotion looks like.”
Leaning against the wall, I tilt my head at him. “Alright. Maybe that’s just the part I was playing, then.”
“Well, it was very believable.”
“Good.”
“Is that a role I can play as well?”
“What, the jealous boyfriend?”
He dips his chin and takes one step toward me. The elevator’s not all that big, and with him here, it may as well be a closet. I crane my neck back until my head hits the wall. Why is my heart beating so fast? And why do I want him to come even closer?
“If that’s what you want to do, then I don’t see why that would be a problem,” I say, voice low. “If there’s a reason for it, at least.”
“With your ex in attendance, I assume there will be.”
The elevator dings when we reach the third floor, but neither of us makes any effort to step out. There’s some sort of bubble around us right now. It’s hot and sticky, yet inviting in a way that has me dreading when it’ll pop. Grayson’s eyes are demanding as they sear into mine, but he keeps silent, not explaining why he’s looking at me the way he is.
It has to be for the same reason that I can’t get myself to move.
Another ding cuts through the space before the heavy metal doors start to slide shut. Grayson presses his lips together beforetearing his eyes away and jamming an arm between the doors. They begin to part for us again, and I follow him quickly when he steps into the hallway.
I pull myself together and stare at the card holder in my hand. The room number written on it has me searching for the sign on the wall with directions on where to go.
“We’re down that way.” I point to the right side of the hallway.
“Got it.”
Tapping a nail to the back of the room key, I do my best to ignore how awkward it suddenly is. We’re friends. Grayson is my friend, and that’s all. I repeat the same statements over and over until we reach our room.
He stands close while I tap the card to the sensor on the door and watch as it flashes green. I push down on the handle and open the door, making my way inside first. Grayson flicks the lights on, and after a whole four steps, I come to an abrupt stop.
There’s only one bed.
Shit.
“Uh . . . I should have asked how many beds there were when we were checking in. I’m so sorry!” I ramble, swiping a hand over my frizzy, post-car-nap hair.
