When she still hesitates, I drop my last card.
“You can call Sebastian or Javier Morales. They own the hotel. Tell them Madeline Cunningham is asking.”
Her eyes flash at my name-drop. She types something into her computer.
“I’m so sorry, but he checked out an hour ago.”
My heart drops in defeat. “Thank you anyway.”
With no destination in mind, I turn on my heels and exit the hotel. Just the ache in my chest driving me forward until my feet hurt, and the physical pain numbs the emotional one.
Only, what hurts most is the fear that I’ll never forgivemyselffor acting like someone I’m not.
13
One Year Later
July
Maddie
Pick up the dang phone, Adelaide.
“Hello?” She finally answers on the fifth ring. I was counting because my nerves elevated with each passing second.
“I’m freaking out.”
She chuckles, more to herself, while I scowl over the phone. “I told you I would have flown to Atlanta to leave with you.”
“Well, I’m an idiot. Can you come now?”
Her laughing cuts off. “Seriously?”
“No,” I sigh. “It’s fine. I’m a big girl. I can get on a plane by myself and fly all the way to Spain.”
Saying it out loud makes me feel ridiculous, and it’s a stark reminder of how unworldly I am.
When I flew during college, Mase would come with me, and if he couldn’t, Nate would.
“What time is your flight?”
I look down at my printed confirmation, which flutters in my shaking hands.
“Ten twenty-five tonight. What about you?”
“Ten twenty-five tonight.” I hear her clicking away on a laptop. “Do you land at 8:05 a.m.?”
“Yeah.”
“Perfect. My flight lands in Atlanta at five. Come to the airport early, and we’ll have a pre-flight drink to calm your nerves.”
My heart expands. “I love you. I would have figured it out, but thank you.”
“Love ya too, chick. Have you spoken to Camila today?”
“Yeah. She’ll be at the airport to pick us up. I’ll let her know that we’re coming in together now.”
“Cool. I need to pack, because you know me, I haven’t even started, even though we’re going to Europe for two weeks.”
