No. No. No. We can’t go out like this. I rack my brain, trying to find something that will fix it. Smooth it over. Stupidly, I settle on, “Are you going to be super awkward now that we’ve sucked face?”
He lets out one strained laugh. “Oh, yeah. Definitely. Awkwardness level is DEFCON 1.”
My hands clench and unclench. “Well, why—why don’t you show me a picture of the ducks, and we’ll be back to normal.”
His smile softens, as does his gaze when it lands on me. “We’ll be okay, Joss.”
I shoot him a skeptical look. Will we, though? Because he’s acting super weird.
He shrugs. “It was just a kiss.”
Right.
Just a kiss.
Asher
As long as you have hope, things will get better, and no one can take your hope but you.
—My Therapist
Sitting alone, cross-legged in the middle of my couch the next evening, I glare at my phone, hoping the woman on the other end of the line can sense my ire. “What do you mean there aren’t two rooms available? The hotel says there are rooms reserved for wedding guests.”
“There were rooms reserved, sir, but we have two weddings booked that weekend. Unfortunately, there’s only one room left.”
Eyes closed. Deep breath.
Charm. Must turn on the charm. “Come on, Lucy.” I draw her name out like we’re best friends. “There isn’tanything? Not even a tiny room with a broken lock that’s only ever been used by smokers?”
She laughs. “I’m sorry, sir. I know this is inconvenient.”
Inconvenientdoesn’t begin to cover it. I can’t share a hotel room with Joss. Not after yesterday. Not after that life-altering kiss. “Does the room at least have two beds?”
She clicks a few times, and says, “It looks like... this is a single king room.”
The bitter laugh that rises in my throat tastes a bit like battery acid. Fused with the zest of desperation. Not a good combo. I drop my face into my hand. “Of course it is.”
This is what I get for waiting so long to book the room. Procrastinators are always punished, but this penalty seems wildly out of proportion to the crime.
“Can I be real frank with you, Lucy?”
“Of course, Mr. Foley.”
“Ineedtwo rooms. I’m going to the wedding of a girl I used to be in love with, and my date is my best friend, who I accidentally kissed yesterday. And I sort of think I might be falling for her, but she wants nothing to do with those sorts of shenanigans, and I cannot share a room with her, Lucy. I just can’t.”
Should have expected that pregnant pause. What else could the woman do? I’m a pussy, and we both know it.
Really need a better word for that.
Finally, she replies, “How do you accidentally kiss someone, Mr. Foley?”
“That is not the point, Lucy! Please help me. Please?”
More clicking. “Looks like there was a cancellation for a two-bedroom suite that weekend. Club level.”
Club level at a Ritz-Carlton. This wedding is going to cost me my retirement. How rude would it be to cancel two weeks out?
My mother’s voice shrieks through my thoughts.You will do no such thing, Asher Ray!
