She heaves a sigh. “A girl can hope.”
“Things aren’t so great around here, huh?”
There’s more wariness in the look she gives me than I’ve felt about nearly anything in my life.
I hold up my hands. “Don’t need to know. Look, my sister’s had posters of this place hanging on her walls since she was about ten years old. If she wants the wedding of her dreams, I’m giving her the wedding of her dreams. Point me to your storage closets and anywhere I can book a minister last minute, and I’ll get out of your hair.”
“You say you already paid for a wedding.”
I shrug. “I’ll talk to management later.”
“You’re being suspiciously nice about this.”
“All I want is for my sister to be happy.”
And for Laney to be happy. But that’s not something I’ll find in this office today.
That’s something I’ll have to fix when I tell her my whole truth.
Eventually.
“Her fiancé is a terrible tipper,” Kalani finally says.
Fitting. “Areyoua fed?” I joke. “Tricking me into saying things I’ll regret later?”
That earns me a smile in return. “I wouldn’t want my sister marrying a terrible tipper.”
“And I won’t be the reason her wedding doesn’t happen when I have time to fix it. So can you help a guy out?”
“Why not? The new management’s wrecked this place so badly, it won’t even exist in another week. Here. Take my keys. I have a new job lined up starting tomorrow. Don’t even care if I don’t get my last paycheck. I’m just—”
The bell dings at the front desk four times, and then a nut-shriveling voice calls, “Hello? Hello, we’d like to check in, please.”
The Kingstons.
Laney’s parents.
They’re here.
Kalani sighs again. “—apparently checking in one last set of guests before I leave this place too.” She hands me a set of keys. “There’s a storage closet on the back side of the bistro. It should have what you’re looking for. And, for your sake, be aware that there are cameras basically on the corner of every building. If you want to…you know…have fun entertaining your girlfriend outside of your bungalow again.”
My shoulders hitch.
But Kalani’s smiling as she heads out to the front desk. “Lucky girl,” she adds.
I pocket the keys and follow her, head down, hoping I won’t be noticed, but there it is.
The sniff of disdain.
I glance up, verifying Laney’s parents are here, and yep.
I’ve been spotted.
And I am not a welcome sight.
My entire body flinches.
Can’t help it.
