Page 81 of Always Be an Us

There really are monsters out there.

Ironically, I longed to be back on that dirty mattress with Declan again, with the storm raging outside. It was the safest I could remember feeling in a while.

I tried to imagine his arms around me to help me sleep but it was no use.

But here he is now, offering me a way out. My pride won't let me simply accept it though.

"I can’t stay in this room," I say. "Let me at least take the smaller one."

Declan shrugs. "I prefer the other room. It has a desk and that’s crucial for my work."

"Oh." I bite my lip and think about it.Stay here, or go back home and face the daunting silence again?

As much as my pride wants me to play the brave, common sense kicks in. I say, "Alright. I’ll stay."

The next morning, Amelia doesn’t even mention the fact that I slept over. I wake up sometime around 8:00 a.m. and we meet at the kitchen island where a room service platter awaits me with an assortment of breakfast foods like eggs, bacon, waffles, pancakes, grapes, berries, and more.

I shoot a shy smile to Declan, who is leaning against the opposite counter sipping coffee. He's already in his suit and watches me closely as I avoid his gaze.

I'm still wearing my clothes from yesterday, but when he looks at me like that, I feel naked.

"What's up, Amelia?" I ask, as I take a plate and place some eggs and berries onto it.

She doesn't respond to me, but she's staring at an iPad and muttering under her breath.

"Online school," Declan tells me. "She couldn't start her biology paper in Paris, because of all the chaos, so now she's behind."

"Oh."

Amelia mutters something else and taps the iPad, glaring at the screen.

Declan smirks. "Sandy'll be here soon."

"Okay, but I can hang out with her too if you want. My shift at the Tiki Bar doesn’t start till the afternoon."

Declan shakes his head. "I need you to help me out with something else today."

"What?"

"You’ll see." His eyes flicker down to my ankle.

"It doesn’t hurt," I tell him before he can ask, leaning on the ankle to prove a point. "Really. It only stings when I twist it a certain way."

He doesn’t look like he believes me, but he nods and checks his watch. "Get ready. We'll leave in like thirty minutes."

I nod and finish wolfing down my food. I have just enough time to shower and change into Declan's smallest sweatpants (which I still have to belt around my waist) before we head out again.

Declan finally lets me in on the secret on the way to the Pink Hotel. I enjoy the scenery while he talks.

"The renovation will be starting soon," he says. "I chose to subcontract Atlas Construction for it. They seem to have experience with these styles of building, and my usual team is busy with other things.”

“You mean Hal’s company?”

“Yes. But I also want you to help them."

"Me?"

"Yes. You know the hotel better than anyone, and you have the experience of understanding its most charming elements. Stuff we need to preserve and what we need to change. I want you to relay that to the contractors. You can even tell them some of your Grandpa's stories."

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