“Your ass would drag on the ground,” Milo teases. Ares waves to us from the entrance of the hotel lobby. There’s a wide spinning door, but he holds open the regular glass door and waits. Glancing at Ollie, I know he’s going for the circle door, and I grin because so am I.
Like little kids, we go through the full circle once before he lets us out in the lobby. He came into my slot, so our steps were stunted as we passed through together. I peer up at the high ceiling and an appreciative whistle leaves my lips. “Holy wow.”
Ares is already at the counter talking to a woman in a crisp suit behind the desk. Linda and Matt are a few steps over with another young woman. Dante sidles up next to me, brushing his body against mine. Ollie, Dante, and I head over to Ares as he signs a sheet of paper. The girl helping him check in has a flush on her cheeks as she looks at him, and a bright smile on her face displaying perfect straight teeth.
“Thank you,” she beams, pulling out a pamphlet from the desk. She slides the flat keycard into center of the paper. “Your room number is eleven forty-nine.” She points to where the number is written, going over information on how to call the front desk or get room service and finishing with an, “Enjoy your stay. If there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to call.”
Ares nods, barely glancing in her direction. He takes the pamphlet with the key and hands it over to Ollie’s waiting hands. Ares’s palm goes to my lower back as we follow Ollie to the bank of elevators.
“First, I’m going to see what room my parents are in, so I’ll be over in a few minutes,” Milo tells us, making his way over to Phil as his mom and Matt finish up at the front desk.
Dante reaches for my hand as we enter the elevator, and I glance around to see if anyone noticed. He was holding my hand while Ares had his hand on my back. The girl at the front desk is looking in our direction, but her eyes are glued to Ares, so I don’t think she even noticed me. As the door closes, Ollie punches every number on the panel, Dante leans against the wall shaking his head while Ares groans.
The ascent is slow as we make a stop on every floor, and by the time we hit the eighth floor, I’m ready to smack Ollie myself. It doesn’t help that two girls around our age got in our car on the third floor. I’m pretty sure they were heading down and only got on because they saw Ollie standing by the doors.
The coy glances only lasted a floor or two, before they ask, “You guys from around here?” Dante folds his arms over his chest and continues looking straight ahead. I try to hide my smile by biting my lip.
Ollie, my ever-friendly guy, answers for them. “Not too far, how about you guys?”
“Visiting family.” The dark-haired girl sighs. “We were hoping to find a good club to go to tonight, or something fun to do. You guys know any places?” She looks up at Dante and bites her full bottom lip.
My head tilts to the side and I’m about two seconds from grabbing Dante. He glances at me out of the side of his eye, not moving as the girl encroaches on his space.
“Nah, we’re only in town for a few hours,” Ollie offers, his tone friendly but not overly so.
“You guys want to hang, find something to do?” Ares wraps his arm around my neck from behind. The lighter-haired girl watches the movement but says nothing. The door sweeps open again, only to close moments later. The dark-haired girl giggles. “Did some kid hit all the buttons and jump out or what?”
Ollie grins, it’s cute and boyish. “It was me, I confess.” He chuckles. “I don’t know why I do it.”
“What floor are you?” Dark-hair reaches for Dante’s forearm and I grab the back of his shirt, tugging him to me before her hand makes contact. Dante’s arms fly out to balance himself. Her eyes go wide, and she makes a snorting sound like she’s shocked. She eyes her friend with a smirk. The door slides open again.
Ollie’s easy smile falls when he sees my face. He leans back against the wall waiting for our floor to come. The two girls huddle closer together, peeking over at me and letting out a few giggles.
Finally, on the eleventh floor the door opens, and I rush out, upset with myself for my behavior. “We’re in three twenty-six.” The dark-haired girl leans out, holding the door open as she tells the guys their room number. “Freak,” she mutters as she releases the door before stepping back and laughing with her friend. That last part was directed only at me.
Ollie uses the key and opens the door without saying anything. I push into the room as soon as it beeps. Taking a second to glance around, I look for what I think would be the bathroom. I feel fingertips on my inner elbow, but I pull away, heading for a closed door across the living room. It’s not just a hotel room, but a suite bigger than any room I could have imagined.
When I open the door, it reveals the bedroom I expected to see, with a wide bed, wooden nightstands on either side, and a TV positioned on a low dresser. I close the door behind me for privacy. I didn’t really need the bathroom, but I did need a few minutes to myself.
Three short taps land on the door within five minutes. I heard the outer door open a few minutes ago, and I’m assuming Milo has finished up with his parents, but I don’t have the nerve to go out there and face them yet. I acted like a jealous idiot.
The knocks come again, more insistent this time. “Laura.” Of course, it’s Ollie.
“Yeah?” I try to force lightness into my tone.
“May I come in?” he asks.
“I guess,” I say on a sigh. I could go hide in the real bathroom, but there isn’t really any point. The door opens slowly, and Ollie peeks his head around the frame looking for me. He steps through the crack before closing it behind himself. He drops his back against the door, not approaching me. I don’t know what to say. I expected him to come in his usual self, to smooth things over. But he isn’t even talking. I pick at the fabric of the bedspread. “I’m sorry.” I settle on apologizing, hoping they aren’t too mad at me.
“For what?” His voice sounds off. I look up and find Ollie staring straight ahead, not looking at me at all.
He’s going to make me say it. I swallow, not liking the way he’s acting. “For the elevator, for acting like… like.” I look down at my hands unable to finish.
“Like a jealous girlfriend?” Ollie adds when I can’t find the right words, and his eyes finally meet mine. But he doesn’t have his usual easy grin. Instead, his lips are a thin slash and I can see a tic in his jaw every few seconds, telling me he’s grinding his teeth.
I don’t know what to say. I don’t know why he’s the one in here and not Dante. Are they all mad at me because I can’t control this shit I have going on involving him? Blowing out a deep breath I say, “I don’t know what comes over me, ever since he told me about Delaney and the kiss, I just get… I get this feeling…” I wave my hand in front of my chest.
“What kiss?” Ollie interrupts.
“At school on Friday, Delaney kissed him, and he told me he kinda kissed her back.” I can’t keep the hurt from my voice.
Ollie uses his shoulders to push himself off the door and he walks over to the edge of the bed where I’m sitting. “Yesterday?” He drops himself next to me, his shoulders falling in a sag as he hangs his hands between his legs.