Two toothbrushes in the bathroom. Two sets of keys by the door. His blueprints on the table, his books on the shelves, his ridiculous throw pillows on the couch. Two lives tangled together so thoroughly that I couldn't remember what it felt like to be alone.
I didn't want to remember.
My phone buzzed. A text from Tobias.
Made it to the site. Investors loved the design.
I typed back:Told you.
Show-off.
Accurate.
A pause. Then:Come home when you're done.
I always do.
I had the afternoon shift, so I drove to the Grandview around noon.
The hotel was quiet, that lull between checkout and late arrivals when the staff could catch their breath. I did my usual rounds, checked in with the team, and reviewed the security logs from last night.
Nothing unusual. A minor noise complaint on the third floor. A lost-and-found jacket that turned out to belong to one of the housekeeping staff. The ordinary rhythm of a place that ran like clockwork.
I ended up at the Valley Bar around two.
Reid Morrow was behind the counter, restocking glasses. He looked... off. Distracted. There were shadows under his eyes that hadn't been there last week, and his usual easy smile was missing.
"Hey." I slid onto a stool. "Slow day?"
"Slow week." He set down a stack of highball glasses. "What can I get you?"
"Just water. I'm on duty."
He filled a glass and pushed it across the bar, going back to his restocking without the usual banter.
I'd known Reid for two years. He was good at his job. Charming, professional, the kind of bartender who made guests feel like they were his only customer. He flirted with everyone and meant nothing by it. Easy smile, easier laugh, never seemed to take anything seriously.
Right now, he looked like he hadn't slept in days.
"You okay?" I asked.
"Fine."
"You don't look fine."
"Thanks. That's exactly what a guy wants to hear."
I waited.
Reid sighed and stopped pretending to organize the bottles. "It's nothing. Just... personal stuff. It'll sort itself out."
"You need to talk about it?"
"No offense, but you're not exactly the sharing-feelings type."
"I'm learning."
That earned a flicker of a smile. "Yeah, I noticed. You seem... different lately. Lighter."
