“I feel like today has been quite the eye opener,” Maeve whispers.
“Definitely. He’s how I remember him for the most part. Obviously most of the details are new, but his smile and his laugh. He’s how I remember him, just a bit older.”
“I’m glad. I was prepared to fight him if he even looked at you wrong.”
We giggle together.
Lucian looks over at us. “Ready to eat, girls?”
Knock, knock.
The door opens and a nurse walks in holding a clipboard.
“Wow, it smells amazing in here!” Her smile is warm as she saunters in. “I’m so jealous.”
“It’s from this little Chinese restaurant down the street,” Brenda says.
“Oh, yes, I love that place!” The nurse sets a clipboard down on the tray next to my bed. “I bring good news. You’ll be discharged tomorrow.”
“So soon?” Lucian’s brow is furrowed.
The nurse nods. “Yes, Isobel’s been here for about a week and she’s healing nicely. There’s no bleeding, no signs of infection, and the doctors are pleased with her liver function.”
“I feel fine, promise.” I look at Lucian and the lines on his forehead smooth out.
“You will be fatigued for a few days, so take it slow. No heavy lifting for at least a week.” She taps a pen on the clipboard. “Read through everything and don’t hesitate to ask any questions. Sign at the bottom and then you’ll be discharged in the morning.”
“Thank you.” I smile.
“My pleasure. I’ll get out of y’all’s hair now and let you enjoy that delicious dinner.” She gives us one last smile before shutting the door behind her.
“That’s great news, honey.” Brenda breaks the silence.
Maeve and I exchange a look.But where am I going to go?
Lucian clears his throat. “I have an idea I want to run past everyone, and you can let me know what you think.”
We all nod.
“We haven’t had much time to get to know each other exactly, and I’m not trying to push you for an answer. But maybe you can spend the next week at the hotel with me. Maeve can come and stay as well. As long as that’s okay.” He looks at Brenda.
She nods, looking over at me. “I don’t have a problem with that.”
Maeve’s eyes widen and she smiles, meeting my gaze, a silent conversation passing through us within seconds.
“That sounds great.” I grin over at Lucian, the nervousness that had started to gather dissipates. My body relaxes.
“Perfect.” Lucian settles in a seat with his own plate.
“Let’s eat.” Maeve smiles.
The hotel isglass and steel, tucked downtown where the buildings are too tall to count the floors. A doorman opens the car door like we’re royalty. Another doorman opens the front door. The hotel is grand with white and gold accents. We make our way across the lobby to the elevators. Lucian hits the button for the top floor. We walk down the carpeted hallway to the double doors.
The doors opened with a soft click, and we step into a suite that doesn’t feel real. Cream-colored walls are framed by gilded crown molding. Plush rugs are layered over glossy marble floors. A chandelier dripping with crystals hangs above the sitting area, casting prismatic light across velvet armchairs and a glass coffee table that probably cost morethan my old house.
Floor-to-ceiling windows let in the city skyline, the kind of view that makes everything feel high above the world. There’s a faint scent of roses and fresh linen in the air — not overpowering, just enough to smell expensive. To the right, double doors open to a king-size bed covered in silk sheets and a headboard upholstered in soft gray suede.
“Wow…” Maeve and I say in unison.
