I’m on my way to your room.
Eden sat up in bed, glancing at herself to make sure she was ready for company. She swallowed down that familiar yet confusing burst of fluttery excitement she felt every time she saw Anna, but especially when they were going to hang out together in her room.
They’d been on the road for a month now, and Eden had settled into all her usual tour habits. Paris would bring her a protein smoothie every morning for breakfast, and then Eden would have a private session in the hotel’s gym. She had to keep up her fitness on the road, since she rarely left her hotel room except when she was doing press or onstage.
After a shower and lunch, Eden would spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing in her suite, reading or watching TV until it was time to get ready for the show. Sometimes Anna came to her room to watch a movie with her, and those afternoons were Eden’s favorite.
There was a knock at her door, and Eden slid out of bed. She walked to the door and checked the peephole. Even though she was expecting Anna, she could never be too careful. It hadn’t happened yet on this tour, but inevitably a few overzealous fans would correctly guess which hotel she was staying at and knock on all the doors on the VIP level, hoping she would open the door so they could, what ... hang out?
It would never happen. She always checked the peephole, and when she didn’t recognize the person on the other side, she called Taylor.
But today, it was Anna’s face she glimpsed through the rounded portal. She looked sunny as ever in a yellow top, her hair in a ponytail. Eden was already smiling as she unlocked the door and pulled it open.
Anna held up an orange plastic bag that looked like it had come from the gift shop downstairs. “How do you feel about going on an adventure?”
“What kind of adventure?” Eden shut the door behind her and reengaged the dead bolt.
“The ‘let’s leave the hotel’ kind.” Anna led the way into Eden’s suite. She set the bag on the table in the living room and pulled out two baseball caps. One was hot pink, the other purple. Both of them had some sort of touristy slogan printed on the front.
Eden was starting to get an idea of where this was going, and she didn’t like it. Anna often went out with Kyrie during their tour stops, exploring the cities they were in, but Eden couldn’t do that. The very idea of going out in public made her want to pull her arms and legs inside her oversize sweatshirt, just curl up in a ball and stay there for the rest of the day.
“Have you ever seen the San Antonio River Walk?” Anna asked.
“No.” Eden turned away so she wouldn’t see the hopeful gleam in Anna’s eyes.
“Want to? Because I’ve brought everything you need for the perfect disguise.”
“I don’t want to wear a disguise,” Eden protested. It sounded uncomfortable, and going out in public already made her uncomfortable enough.
“It’s not the kind of disguise you’re thinking of,” Anna said. “It’s super simple. We go undercover as tourists.” Anna produced oversize, brightly colored T-shirts from the bag, with SAN ANTONIO printed on the front beside an outline of Texas.
“Anna, I can’t.”
“Don’t you get a little stir crazy cooped up in your room all the time?”
Eden sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. “Of course I do, but it’s just part of life on the road. I love my fans, but I hate being mobbed on the street. I’ve accepted that I can’t do things like walk around in public or go sightseeing without causing a scene.”
“Don’t you miss it?” Anna asked, her voice quieter now. “Walking down the street without anyone recognizing you?”
“I guess? To be honest, I don’t really remember what that was like. I’ve been famous since I was a teen.”
Anna put on one of the hats and grinned at her. “Listen, I know I’m not as famous as you are, but I’ve been using the tourist disguise for weeks now, and no one has recognized me. People expect celebrities on the street to look like celebrities. They’re looking for glamorous clothes and an entourage, not tacky tourists. Come on. Let’s go for a walk along the river, eat some tacos, maybe have an ice cream? What’s the worst that can happen?”
“I get mobbed, and Taylor’s not there to help?” Eden raised her eyebrows. “I’m sorry, Anna, but it scares me. I’d rather stay in my room.”
“Let’s bring Taylor, then,” Anna said. “She can hang out with us, or maybe she can just hang out nearby, so you could text her if you need her. Would that make you feel more comfortable?”
Eden sat on the sofa, staring at the T-shirts Anna had brought. Despite her protests, she couldn’t help picturing the scene Anna had described: the two of them out for a casual walk without anyone giving them a second glance. She felt a tug of longing. Could it really be as simple as Anna described?
Anna sat beside her, resting a hand on Eden’s thigh. “If you really don’t want to, then I’d love to stay in and watch a movie. Mostly, I just want to spend the afternoon with you.”
Eden felt warm where Anna’s hand touched her. “I want to spend the afternoon with you too. And I’m not saying no to going out, necessarily. I’m just hesitant.”
“How about this? Let’s try on our disguises and see how you feel. Then if you want to give sightseeing a try, we’ll ask Taylor to come with us. If no one notices you, maybe Taylor can do some sightseeing of her own while still being nearby if you need her.”
Eden sucked in a deep breath and blew it out. Was she seriously considering this? “Tacos and ice cream?”
“Or whatever you want,” Anna said with a grin. “I’d suggest margaritas, but we have a show tonight.”
