Page 93 of Say You Remember Me
“That’s actually fun.” Ian grinned, his face softening in the moonlight. “I like it. The Lambo.”
Grant beamed, clearly proud of our little inside joke, but I crouched slightly so we were eye to eye. “You actually get to ride in Uncle Easton’s car tonight,” I told him. “The Lambo’s still in Eden Falls since I caught a ride here with my friend.”
“Oh, okay,” he said, sounding a little disappointed.
I ruffled his hair and pointed to Ian. “Ian’s car is even fancier than a Lambo, but it only has two seats, so we’ll just meet you at the hotel, okay?”
Grant nodded, seemingly placated, and reached for Easton’s hand as my brother caught up with us. “Come on, buddy,” Easton said with a smile, leading him toward his car. Juliette followed close behind, the four of us heading in different directions.
The hotel wasn’t far, just a few blocks away, and Ian’s sleek car hummed quietly as we made our way there. Once we arrived, Ian went straight to the front desk to check us in. A few minutes later, he returned with a handful of key cards, handing them out.
“Here you go,” he said, holding mine out to me with a small smile. “Room 215.”
“Thanks,” I said, taking it from him.
“Want me to help you and Grant get settled?”
“That would be great,” I admitted.
We headed upstairs, and once we reached the room, Ian carried my suitcase and Grant’s small bag inside before setting them down near the bed. “I’ll let you two get settled,” he said, his voice low and warm, lingering for a beat as though he wasn’t quite ready to leave. “I’m just next door if you need anything.”
“Thanks,” I said softly, watching him as he stepped back toward the door. He gave me a small, reassuring smile before heading out, quietly closing the door behind him.
Turning my attention back to Grant, I focused on getting him ready for bed. He’d been bright-eyed and full of energy when we’d left the hospital, chattering nonstop and soaking up thebuzz of being surrounded by family. But now, as I handed him his pajamas and helped him brush his teeth, I could see the tiredness creeping in.
By the time I tucked him under the covers, his eyelids were heavy, and he yawned, snuggling deeper into the pillow. Within minutes, his soft, steady breaths filled the room—a peaceful rhythm that never failed to make my heart swell. I lingered by the bed, smoothing his hair back, whispering a quiet, “I love you, baby,” before stepping away.
Slipping into the bathroom, I let the cool water rinse the day’s weight from my face. The familiar routine was grounding, a small moment of calm after the whirlwind we’d been through. As I dried my face, I reached for my phone, hesitating for only a moment before typing out a quick message to Ian.
Me: Thank you again for all you did for me and my family today. I really appreciate it so much.
I hitsendand started applying my nighttime moisturizer, half-expecting him to take a while to reply. But my phone buzzed almost instantly.
Ian: I’m glad I could help. Glad your dad is doing better.
I smiled faintly, typing back.
Me: Me too.
After flossing and brushing my teeth, I stepped into the room and paused. My eyes caught on a door next to the mini-fridge—an adjoining door. A flicker of amusement danced through me as I remembered sharing a similar setup with Ian in Boston.
How was it possible that so much had happened since then?
Curiosity got the better of me, so I texted him.
Me: What room are you in?
A moment later, his reply came.
Ian: 217
I walked to the hallway, opening my door to check. Sure enough, Ian’s door was just left of mine. Grinning, I knocked lightly on the door connecting us.
A few seconds later, it opened, and Ian stood there, leaning casually against the doorframe. He was in a white T-shirt and gym shorts, his dark hair slightly tousled. He looked effortlessly good—just like the last time I’d seen him in pajamas. How had that been only two nights ago?
“Fancy seeing you here,” I said, my voice lighter than it had been all day.
“Yeah…” He chuckled softly, running a hand through his already tousled hair. “I may have asked the hotel clerk for adjoining rooms.” A sheepish smile tugged at his lips. “I just wanted to be close by, you know, in case you needed anything.”
