When we’re sitting in Miami traffic, I’m suddenly grateful for the smaller population of Buffalo. It’s not a small city, but it’s not Miami. Then again, Miami doesn’t get seven feet of snow in one measly storm. I suppose there are tradeoffs.
The hotel is just as crowded as everywhere else. I try to remember if this is normal when we fly to Florida, especially in the middle of winter. I understand there are snow birds and shit, but they live here somewhere. They’re not all flocking to the hotels. This is wild.
“Is everyone here for the All-Star Games?” I ask.
“Yes,” Ethan says, smiling as he looks around. “Maybe something else too.” He nods toward a group of what appear tobe high school girls. A very large group. And only one of a couple groups like them.
“Cheer competition?” Creed suggests. “Are we in the right time of year for that?”
I shrug. Hockey doesn’t have cheerleaders so for that, and obvious only to me other reasons, I’ve never paid them much attention. “Dunno.”
Ethan checks in first. It sounds like he added Jakub and Creed onto his room beforehand, so he gets through quickly. To keep the line moving, it looks like there are four receptionists working. The one at the far end sounds like she’s being yelled at, which is a little concerning because that person I recognize as a hockey player from the New York Gulls. Then again, they’re always a little hostile.
I’m at the counter and give the woman my name as soon as Ethan steps away.
“All right, Mr. Haines. We have you on the same floor as your teammate. Will your partner be arriving separately, or do you want to hang on to his card?”
I freeze and stare at her as if I didn’t hear her correctly. “What?” I ask. There’s no way I heard her correctly. I couldn’t have.
“Your partner?” she questions, and I can hear the wariness in her voice as she turns back to the screen. “A Mr. Duval?”
No words come out as dread settles through me. Ethan steps back up to the counter and I can feel Creed crowd in on my other side. “What’s wrong?” Ethan asks.
“She says that I’m sharing a room,” I say.
A man steps up behind our lady and gives me a sympathetic smile. But I don’t miss the way his shoulders are tense. “I’m sorry, sir. There’s been a mix-up and some rooms have been doubled up. We’re completely sold out for the night and we’re terribly sorry for the inconvenience this poses.”
“Sorry?” I ask, feeling myself become a little shrill. “You’resorrythat you’ve got me sharing a room with a stranger? That’s your answer?”
“If there’s anything we can do?—”
“Yes, there’s something you can do. The league pays for rooms for each individual player. That means me and this Duval are required one room each. Not one room together. Make it right.”
“I’m sorry, sir,” he says again. “We’re overbooked.”
“That’s not my problem,” I snap.
Ethan pulls me away from the counter as Jakub steps up in my place. “Easy, Caulder. Take a breath.”
My hands are shaking. They’re making me share a fucking room!
Jakub comes back with a key card, and I look at him, expecting miracles. But by the way his lips are pressed together, I don’t think he succeeded.
“Come on,” he says, picking up my bag along with his.
There’s a bank of elevators and we get in line with the crowd. “We can make a scene but it’s not going to change the fact that they’re out of rooms. Apparently, this entire city is. The game this weekend and then there are three other big events in town,” Jakub says.
“I can’t?—”
Ethan wraps his arm around my shoulders and squeezes me.
Once we’re in the elevator, Jakub turns to look at me. “I know Lo. He’s a good guy. I promise. Just pretend you’re back in college and are traveling with a new team again. He’s a hockey professional, just as you are. It’s going to be fine.”
“Can I sue them?” I ask, grumpily. Honestly, it would be far too much energy to do that.
Ethan chuckles, but he doesn’t let me go. I’m thankful for his hug, though. It’s keeping me grounded.
The elevator opens to our floor and the guys drop me at my door.
