But that happy ending was wishful thinking. Daylight would come and with it, the consequences of our actions.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
The Le Pavillon hotel was located just outside the French Quarter. The convention itself was at the Marriott on Canal Street, but the guests of the convention were put in a separate hotel to minimize fan pandemonium. Though, I was pretty sure Ruby was pro-pandemonium.
Our car dropped us off under the carport, which looked more like a coliseum entrance than a hotel. The ground of the driveway was marble along with the hulking statues and stretching pillars.
Eli and I hovered behind Ruby like two children waiting for their mother to pay as she checked in.
“Miss Stein,” the front desk clerk with a German accent said, “we have you for two nights in two king rooms.”
“That’s correct,” Ruby said as she fanned herself with the small rechargeable fan I’d bought her online.
“And how many keys will you need?”
“Just one for mine, and then two for theirs.”
“Um, excuse me,” I said. “We will need two keys for her room and he will need just one for his.”
Eli laughed quietly.
“Is this funny to you?” I shot at him over my shoulder.
He arched a brow, irises sparkling with mirth. “I find many things about this current situation humorous.”
The clerk looked to Ruby, who rolled her eyes and then nodded her approval.
I took my key from the clerk and immediately headed for the elevators. Ruby followed me, and Eli took up the rear with both his and Ruby’s bags.
One silent ride on an archaic elevator later, we stepped out onto the eighth floor. Eli’s room was three doors beyond ours, so he helped Ruby with her bags first.
After he put Ruby’s suitcase on the luggage stand, he walked out into the hallway and I let the door shut behind both of us.
His mouth gave a satisfied twitch.
“Okay, now that you’re not double fisting mimosas, do you mind explaining what you’re doing here?” I asked.
“The categorical truth? Ruby invited me. I have an ungodly amount of vacation time stored up and I like this city. The actual truth? I want to be everywhere you are and I’m not apologizing for that.”
My mouth opened and closed and my arms flapped helplessly.
“Do you want me to leave?” he asked.
“Would you even if I wanted you to?”
“The only way to find out is to ask.” This was nothing short of verbal chess. Something Brody and I never did, and I hated how thrilling I found it to be.
“I’ll see you at six,” I said, as though it were a threat.
The vein running along the side of his neck pulsed as he briefly smiled before letting himself into his room.
* * *
The Global Horror Con Awards banquet was a much bigger ordeal than I anticipated. Truthfully, I thought a convention for and planned by horror fans would have mom’s-basement energy. But when we arrived, we were greeted by Alton, a young kid who introduced himself as the co-chair of the awards committee. He wore a tux with tails and a top hat. On his jacket was an Edgar Allan Poe lapel pin alongside a button that readJennifer’s BodyIs a Masterpiece.
“Well, isn’t this a dashing look,” Ruby told him.
Poor Alton nearly fainted as he fanned himself. “I’m not worthy!”
