Page 63 of The Suite Life
I do feel bad, not accepting his wonderful offer, but things need to happen in a particular order, if it’s all going to work out.
Bottom line: Jeff cannot meet my family tomorrow if he could be my date for the wedding, and I’m really starting to think he could be.
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I practically float back towards my suite, on little clouds, after a dream of a date with Jeff.
I can’t fault him in any way. He was charming, attentive, chatty and an absolute gentleman from start to finish. I may have been too scared to zip-line but, if I’m being honest, everything else made my heart race.
I take my phone from my bag, looking at it for the first time since our date started (which is another sign that it went really well) and see that I have a message from Donnie.
He says that, despite his attempts to get an early night, the noise outside his room is unbearable, and could he please take me up on my offer of sleeping on my sofa.
I really feel for him – mostly because I’m pretty sure that, were it not for the mix-up, I would be right next to him in the cheap rooms.
I tap a message back to him saying that he is more than welcome, and that I’m heading back there now, if he wants to head over.
The resort is so lovely and peaceful on an evening – well, it is here in the most expensive part. You could hear a pin drop. I loveit, because it really heightens your other senses, like the dreamy scent of the greenery around you, with just a hint of the ocean beyond it. It’s like having the world’s nicest diffuser in every room.
I smile as I hit send. Is it weird that I’m looking forward to having some company in my suite? It’s certainly big enough for at least two.
I let myself in and prep the sofa for Donnie. There are extra cushions and a blanket in a cupboard under the stairs so I grab them and make a bed up for him.
It’s warm tonight – more so indoors than it is outside – so I open the bifold doors that look out over the pool. The second the doors open, I feel cool air creeping in, and warm air sneaking out. That’s much better.
I’m just about finished when I hear a knock at the door, so I head over to open it.
‘Is this the sleepover?’ Donnie asks with a playful grin.
I feel myself light up when I see him standing there, with an overnight bag waiting to come in. I’m pleased to see him, and to have some company here too. Well, it’s a big suite, and it feels quite empty with just me in it. Plus, left to amuse myself, I seem to wind up flashing poor unsuspecting members of staff, so at least having Donnie here will nip that in the bud.
‘It is, and we’re just about to tell ghost stories,’ I reply with a chuckle. ‘Come on in.’
‘Thanks again for letting me do this,’ Donnie says. I can hear the gratitude in his voice.
‘You are welcome,’ I reply sincerely. ‘What’s the point of having all of this space if I can’t sublet?’
‘A holiday from my holiday,’ he jokes.
‘Exactly,’ I reply. ‘Holidays can be hard work.’
And, boy, am I insisting on making this one that way.
Donnie smiles appreciatively, taking in the opulent surroundings.
‘Oh, wow, it’s even more luxurious than I imagined,’ he blurts, twirling around like a kid in the snow.
‘It’s a five-star sofa-sleeping experience,’ I inform him.
Donnie plonks himself down on the sofa.
‘Wow, it really is,’ he says, wiggling his bum to make himself comfortable. ‘Actually, wait, no – no chocolates on the pillows?’
‘Best I can do is an open bag of crisps,’ I reply. ‘They’re really nice, though.’
Donnie chews his lip thoughtfully.
‘Hmm, maybe four stars then, but I suppose it is free,’ he continues.
