And it doesn’t. Evie’s high hopes come true, even if I struggle to match her optimism. The hotel doesn’t do anything to excite me, but I’ve stayed in worse places.
It’s clean. We’ll have two beds. That’s all that matters.
Evie passes me the key, and we amble upstairs, stuck in the elevator with a couple dressed like comic book characters. If I were in a better mood, I would probably joke around with them, but as it is… there’s silence. Nothing but silence.
When we enter the room, I groan, kick my shoes off, and drop my bag on the floor. “Apologies in advance. I won’t be the best company tonight. I’m showering, and then I’m?—”
I cut myself off, stopping in the middle of the tiny room. There’s barely any walking room between the desk, mini fridge, and bed. The appliances look straight out of the 90s, but there’s no way they are. A microwave can’t live that long, can it?
The room’s size and ugly appliances aren’t the problem. I can even look past the generic paintings and the Bible on the wooden bedside table. No, there’s a bigger issue—one big, red, king-sized issue in the middle of the room.
Evie realizes the dilemma before I do.
When I turn to face her, her fingers twist together, and the look of fear returns. God, she tugs at my heartstrings when she looks at me like that, her big blue eyes begging for forgiveness.
I’m not the type to get angry at my employees, but the slightest tinge of frustration rises, only to melt away. How couldanyone be mad at her when she looks like that? It’s not like it’s her fault.
“I’m so sorry!” she squeaks. “I booked a room with two beds—like you asked—I swear. But there must have been a mix-up. I’ll go talk to them.”
I shake my head. “It’s fine. These things happen.”
“No, they don’t. They shouldn’t happen. This is my first trip with you, and I’m still so new. I should have done better.”
I recognize a spiral when I see one, and it’s crucial to stop it before it gets out of control. Stepping closer, I place my hands on her shoulders, hoping to ground her.
“Evie. Trust me, these things happen. They’ve happened to me, my past assistant, and even your brother. This happens toeveryone.”
“No.” She shakes her head. “You’re so pissed at me.”
“I’m not.”
Her shoulders relax. “Promise?”
“I promise.” I let my hands drop. “You stay here. I’ll ask them if we can move rooms or have an extra cot sent up. Relax. Take a shower. Get in bed. Deal?”
She hesitates.
“Deal?” I repeat, narrowing my eyes.
“Deal.” She nods and backs away, but there’s still a look of worry behind her gaze. “I promise the rest of the trip will be smooth. This is one weird day.”
“It will be,” I say. “This was out of your control—it was out of mine, too. It all comes back to the delay. Don’t beat yourself up.”
She smiles warily, and her fingers graze against the golden doorknob. “I’ll try not to.”
“Trust me. I can handle this.”
“I’m sorry,sir, but there’s nothing we can do.”
The poor employee has told me the same thing a few times, but I never know when to quit. My smile remains in place despite my energy being shot. It’s not his fault any more than it’s Evie’s. These things happen.
I may feel like a piece of crap tonight, but I’m not in bad enough condition to be a dick to an employee.
“You don’t have a single cot?” I ask. “Can you check again?”
He hesitates. “I can check, but I’m pretty sure…”
I’m dripping with desperation, and it’s not a good look. The other option is to sleep on the floor. Sharing a bed with Evie isnothappening; I won’t entertain the thought.
