“You’d have the energy for another night of that?”
I chuckle. “Maybe not the whole night, but I wouldn’t say no to a night just sleeping in this bed, never slept on a mattress so comfy.”
“Yeah, it does put our beds to shame doesn’t it. Do you think reception would notice if we steal a mattress?”
I laugh at the image of us dragging a king-size mattress through the reception as though it belongs to us.
“I know I’ve lived a life of crime, but I don’t think even I’m sneaky enough to pull that off.” I tilt my head down and kiss her. “When we get a place of our own though, I promise I’ll buy you a mattress like this.”
“We keep making comments about that…” she says, her voice nervous, “but after I tell Donovan about us… we could… couldn’t we?”
“Absolutely,” I say.
“You don’t think it’s too soon; we’ve only been seeing each other a couple of months.”
“No way, it’s definitely not too soon.”
She chuckles. “How are you so sure?”
“Because it doesn’t scare me.”
“What do you mean?”
“The thought of being with someone has always terrified me, I’ve never wanted it. Shit, seeing the way Frank and my mom were, I never wanted to end up like that, never wanted to tie myself to someone. Anytime I’d start to get close to people I’d push them away, end it, cut them off.”
“So what’s changed?” she asks softly.
“You’re the opposite, I can’t stay away from you. Throughout this whole thing, everything I’ve done was to be able to be with you somehow. I’ve never wanted to run, never wanted to push you away, I just wanna be with you, Elizabeth.”
She looks up at me and smiles. “I just want to be with you too.”
“Good,” I say, “I want everyone to know about us, I want us to live together, I want you, always.”
We’re interrupted by a knock at the door, and she faces me with a grin.
“I want you, but I also really want food!”
“What’s the plan for today?” she asks, watching me collect our empty plates and put them back on the trolley.
I know it’s room service’s job, and the amount I’m paying for this room, I should leave it to them. But I also know that Elizabeth will do it if I don’t, and I’m not letting her lift a finger this weekend.
“We’re gonna go and see Donovan and my mom at Miguel’s place.”
“We are? I can’t believe Donovan didn’t tell me.”
“He doesn’t know, Mom said he’s going to stay this weekend and asked me if we could be there to surprise him.”
“I bet she’s so excited,” she says.
“Yeah, it’s been a long time since I’ve spent time with her around my birthday,” I say, not hiding the hint of sadness in my voice.
“I know you went through a lot together,” she says, “but, I don’t understand why you haven’t been in her life all this time.”
I sigh. “It’s complicated, not something for today.”
She doesn’t ask me to explain, accepting it with a nod and wrapping her arms around me.
“Anyway,” I say, “we should probably get ready to check out and get going. I packed my swim trunks this time and I wanna get in that pool with you.”
