Page 48 of No Mistakes
The clean air is soon replaced by the smell of cigarettes from a guy who has walked outside, leaning against one of the pillars, flicking his ash into an empty flower pot.
I spot Flynn’s silhouette moving inside quickly, probably flirting with the receptionist or pretending we’re a normal group of travellers, instead of a bunch of wannabe mafia leaders and their tag-alongs.
The parking lot stretches wide and mostly empty. A few battered cars sit under the glow of dim security lights.
It’s the kind of place you’d drive past on a road trip, and feel in your gut that something bad happened here once, and maybe never left. My eyes shift towards the vending machine near the main entrance, trying to spot Ant, but he’s already disappeared. Just as I turn, ready to ask Eva if she saw where Ant went, the front doors slide open, and Carter steps out like he owns the damn place.
Flynn trails behind him, holding a key card and a paper bag that smells like greasy fries and regret.
“Ladies!” Carter shouts, dramatically. “Welcome to the Suburban. Where the sheets are questionable and the ice machine isdefinitelyhaunted.”
I raise a brow, pointing towards the singular card in Flynn’s hand. “Please tell me we’re not all cramming into one room. I’m not emotionally prepared for that level of trauma.”
Flynn chuckles as he approaches, handing Eva a key card from his pocket. “Relax, Mandy. Four rooms. Double beds for you two and the silent assassin and his master. I’m stuck with Gunnar, and Carter’s got the solo suite.”
Carter holds up his single key like it’s a trophy. “King of Rock, paper, scissors, baby!”
“You only got it because you kept losing and the receptionist felt sorry for you,” Flynn mutters, shaking his head.
“Excuse me for securingluxury,” Carter says, slinging an arm around my shoulder. “Besides, I snore. I’m doing the rest of you a favour.”
“More like you’re scared that someone might smother you with a pillow,” I reply, ducking out from under his arm and grabbing the key Eva’s holding. Carter puts a hand over his heart like I’ve wounded him. “Ouch, Mands. Your words cut deep.”
I walk past him, flipping him off over my shoulder as I head towards the entrance.
Once inside, I look back, seeing Eva already half-dragging her bag along behind her. “You okay back there?” I ask, stopping to wait for her.
She sighs, picking the bag up. “Honestly? I feel like I need a glass of wine after being in that car with Carter, and I don’t even drink.”
I can’t help but laugh, because I know exactly what she means. For eighty percent of the journey here, he was singing, playing random road games and acting like that younger, annoying little brother.
I look down at the key card, seeing the numbers 106 printed along the bottom.
By the time we reach the room, I’m dragging my bag along the floor, waiting for Eva. Our room had to be at the far end. The air smells like warm damp and cheap detergent, and the door makes a dull thud when I bump my hip into it.
I slide the card into the reader, and the red light blinks. I try again, slower. It blinks again, mocking me.
“Seriously?” I mutter, juggling the handle out of spite.
Eva finally catches up, dropping her bag beside me with a groan. “Let me guess. Motel card readers. The real final boss.”
She takes the card from me and swipes it with this dramatic flourish, like she’s unlocking a treasure chest. Miraculously, the light turns green. The door gives a mechanical click, and she grins at me, like she’s just performed magic. “You’re welcome.”
The room smells faintly of bleach and air freshener, trying too hard to be citrus. There’s a faint sound coming from the ancient-looking AC unit under the window, and the bed has a questionable stain on the comforter that I pretend not to see. Eva doesn’t even hesitate. She drops her stuff on the cleaner sideof the bed and flops down, face first, with a groan. “We survived. Barely.”
I look at her, making a mental note not to touch the comforter unless I want to start glowing in the dark. Instead, I head toward the sink area and splash cold water on my face, trying to scrub off the remnants of road trip exhaustion. My reflection stares back at me, eyes heavy-lidded, hair a mess, and yet somehow the only thing I can focus on is Ant.
“You think the others are gonna cause trouble tonight?” I ask over my shoulder, shouting through to the room. Eva appears around the corner, leaning her head against the door frame. “Carter’s already causing trouble. I went to get a packet of chips from the vending machine, and there he was. Challenging Gunnar to a push-up contest.”
I blink, water still dripping from my face. “You’re joking.”
“I wish I was. They started arguing about who had better stamina.”
I let out a groan, wiping my face with the bottom of my shirt, not trusting the towels. “Please tell mesomeonehad the good sense to film it.”
She scoffs, walking back into the room. “We’re travelling with wild animals, Mandy.”
Before I have the chance to respond, someone knocks at the door. I step outside of the bathroom, looking towards Eva. She pauses mid-step, brow furrowing. I walk towards the door, looking through the peephole, my body freezing.
