Page 62 of Wild Hit
“Right.” Lucky snaps his fingers. “This was part of the master plan all along, so you two are gonna have to suck it up and get captured going into the same room together. Otherwise this will all have seemed for show.”
“As it is, you mean?” Audrey mumbles low enough that only I can hear. I busy myself with bending forward to collect the scattered documents and put them back in order. “Fine, I guess. Let’s do this right,” she adds.
Amid the new heavy silence, I catch both Cade and Logan staring at Lucky, who is just sitting peacefully while drinking a bottle of water like he didn’t just cause a seismic change.
That’s how, after thanking the limo driver with a few Benjamins, we get to the hotel where the team is staying, and sneak into our respective rooms to pack.
“Don’t mess this up,” Lucky says from his bed as I pack up all my shit, scattered around the room we were supposed to share for four nights straight.
I zip my duffel bag and lift up my head. “I don’t plan to.”
“Good.”
With that strange blessing, I grab my bag and make my way downstairs. The elevator takes five centuries, all through which I tumble from one crisis to the next. I fumble with my phone to check what kind of room I booked, and a mix of contradicting emotions flushes over me when I notice that it’s for two queen beds. Past Miguel knew something that current Miguel isn’t sure should be making him feel this way.
But it doesn’t matter. I may want the woman but more than that, I willprotectthe woman. Also from myself.
So I transition to the next phase, which is stoicism. Even though I forgot about vows, I did mean what I said. I plan to be a support system for Audrey, and that means that I can’t inconvenience her.
A massive yawn becomes phase three. More than sleep, I think this is an adrenaline crash. The second we were declared married, my legs started to feel heavy, and it started to become harder to keep my spine straight.
Finally, the elevator reaches the lobby and pings as the doors start to open. I have clear view of Audrey and Rose waiting at the front, and everything I feel is reflected on Audrey’s face as well. Or most of it—certainly the exhaustion.
Rose takes over. “Here’s the plan, I’ll stay at the back and will start taking pictures of you as you walk into the other hotel and check in. Then I’ll follow you in the elevator and capture the moment you walk in together into the room. Before either of you sets a foot outside of the room tomorrow morning, I need you to text me so I can rush over and also capture the moment the lovebirds come out together looking glowing and happy. Do we have a plan?”
“Sure,” Audrey says without much interest. All I’m capable of is showing a thumbs up.
I grab Audrey’s suitcase in my free hand and veer for the exit. The lobby’s busy enough with people coming and going, that I only notice the girls aren’t following when I’m at the doors. In their crystal reflections, they’re both staring at me from the original spot. I turn, blinking at them with the effort it takes me to stay awake.
That prompts them to reactivate their feet, and all is quiet for the smoment it takes to go from the entrance of one hotel, to the one next door.
“Wait,” Rose commands, and Audrey and I stop. “I need you to at least hold hands as you go walk in.”
Shifting, I drop my duffel on top of Audrey’s suitcase, and grab the handles of both luggage pieces with my left hand. Then I offer my free hand to Audrey.
She stares at it like it’s the first time she realizes I have these appendages. Her friend prompts, “Blondie?” And finally she grabs on.
Not on to my hand. My whole arm.
“This is probably more newlyweds-like,” she explains.
Rose is the only one who can reason. “Perfect, this definitely looks more natural.”
Checking in goes quickly, and it would even be pleasant if it wasn’t for the Orlando Wild’s social media manager capturingevery single second with her professional camera. I manage to note some relief on Audrey’s face as she hears that the room has two beds, and I’m too tired to have any feelings about it.
In the elevator, we follow Rose’s prompts of looking at each other like we care, holding each other close. My mouth is dry as a desert and Audrey’s looks very moisturized. That’s gonna haunt me for a long time for reasons I can’t admit.
Finally, we reach our door and perform some final acting for Rose’s camera. “Excellent,” she confirms as she quickly checks out the shots. “Miguel, I’ll get in touch with your agent like she requested, and then I’m posting them.”
“Thank you,” I mumble without much power. After clearing my throat, I add with a bit more confidence, “For everything.”
She nods in all seriousness. “Everything for Audrey.”
I nod back. She’s who we’re all doing this for.
She’s also staying suspiciously quiet. I touch the room card on the pad and open the door for her. “After you.”
Audrey glances back at her friend, at me, and back again. “Good night, Rose. See you tomorrow morning.”
