“Maybe I’ll be your good luck charm if I show up.”
“How could you not be?” He brushed my hair behind my ear, tickling me with the strands.
We lay there in silence, not awkward or stifling, but content. I’d never felt that kind of silence, even sitting alone in my hotel room.
It wasn’t until the tenth ring from Keyton’s phone which rumbled against the living room floor that we knew our time was almost up.
He slipped out of bed.
I shifted and sat against the headboard with my legs crossed under the blankets when he came in. Even though I knew what was coming, I braced for the feeling of never having enough time.
“This isn’t fair. You sitting like that in my bed makes me want to launch this out the window and become a hermit.”
Same. “Is it Holden?”
“Of course it is. He’s said we’ve had our fun, but it’s time to return to the castle.”
Crawling across the bed, I plucked the phone out of his hands. “He actually said that.”
“I guess that makes you the princess for real now.”
“Does that make him the dragon?”
“More like a very demanding fairy godmother.”
“He did help make all my dreams come true.” I sat staring at the glowing screen. It all felt so far away now with Keyton so close.
He slipped into the bed behind me and wrapped his arms around me. The heat of his bare chest against my back comforted me.
It’s when I realized the promise I’d made to go to his game wasn’t one I could even make off-handedly. Swiping my finger across the screen, I tapped out a message to Holden.
Me: This is Bay. I need to go to Keyton’s game next Sunday. Can you make that happen?
Holden: Will you come back if I say no?
Me: No
Holden: Glad you’re giving me multiple options.
Me: I need to go
Holden: That’s all you had to say. We’ll make it work with the pre-tour rest days built into the schedule.
Me: Thank you
Holden: Don’t mention it. For real—like actually don’t mention it. It’ll ruin my reputation. We have some calls to make to Sydney and Japan tonight and at six in the morning. Do you plan on coming back or do you want us to come to you?
I leaned against Keyton, holding onto his strong, sinewy arm wrapped around my chest. Invading his home with my circus would buy me more time with him, but it would also subject him to more of my life’s craziness.
Me: I’ll be there in twenty minutes.
Dropping Keyton’s phone onto the bed, I rested my head onto his shoulder.
His lips brushed against the side of my face. “You have to go.”
I nodded.
“When will I see you next?”
“I’m not sure.” I hated this feeling. Leaving him was bad, but knowing it would be so long until I saw him again, and the uncertainty of when that could even be, was even worse.
“But you can come to my game.” He nuzzled my neck.
“Short of Holden locking me in my room, I’ll be there.” I looked up into his eyes and pulled his head down for a kiss, my fingers gently gripping the back of his neck.
“Let me get dressed, so we can walk over.”
I pressed my palm against his chest. The beat under my palm increased the longer I held it there. With a bit a force, I straightened my arm.
He let me push him down to his elbows.
The walk wasn’t far and he had to be tired after landing a few hours ago. He needed to rest. And I needed to think. “You stay. I can do it on my own. Plus, I like saving this view of you.” I held up my fingers like I had an invisible camera. “Click. Just preserving this for later.” I slid the imaginary polaroid into my nonexistent back pocket.
“At least let me walk you to the elevator.”
“Front door.” The fragile, scared bunny wasn’t how I wanted him to see me. He shouldn’t feel like he had to go into protective mode every time we were together. I could make it to the hotel side of the building by myself. It was a terrible idea. Anyone could recognize me, but I didn’t want Keyton feeling like he had to go into protective mode the second we went out in public because I got so freaked out. Low stakes situations where I took precautions would relax me some. Baby steps.
Walking out into the living room, I stared at the mountain of fabric I’d showed up here in. “Shit.” Not exactly a dress made to blend in.
Over my shoulder, Keyton held out a folded set of clothes. Sweaters, leggings, socks. “After I knew your sizes, I figured having some back-up clothes for when we could steal away together wouldn’t be the worst idea.”
“All this time you’ve been hiding your super genius powers from me.” I wrapped my arms around his waist and squeezed my eyes shut, my heart leaping at his thoughtfulness and caring. Who knew sweaters, leggings and socks were the key to my heart?
He did.
“Purely selfish reasons. If you had clothes here, then you wouldn’t have to go back as early.”
I peered over my shoulder. “What do we do about the dress?”
He lifted his other hand. An oversized duffel bag swaying in his grasp.
“A Valentino in a duffel bag. I’m sure a designer somewhere is having an aneurysm without knowing why.”
He rubbed his nose against mine and pecked me on the lips. “If you don’t tell, neither will I.”
With my new comfy clothes, wool-lined slip-on shoes, and duffel bag of couture, we kissed one more time at the elevator after more intensive negotiation, which may or may not have been waged with our lips and hands, nearly ending with me being late for my around-the-world phone call.
My hat pulled down over my hair and my head bent, I walked out of the elevator to the oversized mirror that acted as a door between the residences and the hotel, feeling like I was entering the movie Inception.
Panicked breaths tightened in my chest and my rigid muscles as the door glided closed behind me. I was on guard, but doing it, and people walked past me. Every set of approaching feet squeezed my lungs until they moved away. A simple walk through the lobby was terrifying and exhilarating all at once.
After taking the elevator up as far as I could, I switched to the stairs, rushing up them and sending Keyton even more mental appreciation, as my feet weren’t screaming.
Eric stood, his eyes wide at my solo return, but he didn’t say anything and opened the suite door.
Holden sat on the couches in the living room to the suite and closed a magazine, pretending to be nonchalant. I’d never seen him reading a magazine in his life. “How was your escape adventure?”
“You act like you didn’t orchestrate it.” I waved a totally judgmental finger in his direction. “Where did you disappear to?”
“Nowhere.”
“Oh sorry, were you there the whole time wearing your invisibility suit?” I teased.
His face fell, remorse written all over it. “Sorry I bailed. It won’t happen again.” He sounded miserable.
“I just wished you’d taken me with you.” I rounded the couch and sat on the arm. “What’s going on with you, Holden? Is everything okay?”
“Lovely.” His smile couldn’t hide the secretive tinge to the word.
“Holden, seriously, what’s going on?” I leaned forward.