Chapter 27
Mason
The hotel’s nicer than I expected.
Soft music hums somewhere overhead. The lobby smells like citrus and the floors shine like they’re polished every hour on the hour.
Megan pauses just inside the doors, her hand slipping into mine.
“Oh,” she breathes. “Mase…this is fancy.”
I shrug, trying to play it off like I didn’t spend way too long deciding whether this place was “too much” or “not enough.”
We make our way to our room, and I swipe the key card and push the door open, half expecting something to go wrong. An error, the wrong room, the disappointment that comes from hyping something up too much.
Warm light spills out, soft and golden, like the room’s already inviting us in. Megan steps in behind me and stops.
“Oh,” she breathes again. And that reaction is worth every penny.
The room opens up wide, more space than I thought. A sitting area near the window, city lights just starting to flicker on outside. A massive bed dressed in crisp white sheets that look untouched and entirely too tempting. And just past a half-wall…
A huge tub.
Megan’s hand shifts in mine, her thumb dragging slowly across my knuckle.
“Mase,” she says again, quieter now. “This is…reallyfancy.”
I shrug, trying to act casual even though my pulse has picked up. “Nice, isn’t it?”
She tilts her head, eyes glinting. “Since when do you book places like this?”
“Since I fell in love with you and changed your last name.” I nudge her playfully, and her cheeks hold a slight blush.
She laughs a soft, breathy laugh that still makes my chest tighten.
She lets go of my hand and walks farther into the room, checking out the closets, the bathroom, the mini fridge.
“Oooh,” she says. “It’s got all kinds of goodies.”
“I fear you’re not gonna wanna leave.” I laugh.
“We’ll see,” she teases and kicks off her shoes, padding across the carpet barefoot.
When she reaches the bed, she flops backwards dramatically onto it, arms spread wide, blonde hair spilling across the pillows.
“Oh wow,” she says. “This is comfy.”
I join her, sitting on the edge.
“Yeah? Good,” I murmur.
Her lips curve. “I still can’t believe you booked the room with the tub.” She laughs a little harder than before.
“I thought it could make things fun.” I laugh.
“Oh, it will.”
I lean down. “Yeah.” I brush my mouth near hers. “Happy birthday, sweetheart,” I murmur and kiss her.
