Page 53 of Bleeding Hearts

“You put the rooms under your name?” Asher asks as we walk into the lobby, and I stop dead in my tracks.

“Shit.” I look over to him in a panic. “I knew I forgot something. I told you I was forgetting something. How the fuck did I screw up this bad?” I can feel my anxiety rise by the second.

“Calm down, pudding.” Asher grips my shoulders to get my attention.

“Now is not the time for nicknames.” I shake my head, lost in my thoughts. “Fuck, I can’t believe I did this.” I sag into his arms.

“I’m assuming what you did was forget to book the hotel?” he asks, and I nod defeatedly.

“It’s fine. I’m sure they have a room left,” he says, trying to calm me.

“During one of the biggest conventions that they host?”

“Let’s just go over to the check-in and we’re gonna figure this all out. Okay?” He tries again to ease my nerves.

“Okay,” I agree, allowing him to lead me over to the line for the check-in desk.

We wait behind four people and about ten minutes later, are finally called up. An older man whose name tag reads “Henry” smiles brightly at us as we walk up.

“Hello, welcome to the Carlisle Continental Portland. Are you checking in?” He looks between Asher and me.

“Hi, yes, we are.” Asher smiles back at him.

“Wonderful. What’s the reservation name under?” he asks, looking at his computer to type.

“So about that, we actually don’t have reservations. We were hoping you’d possibly have two rooms available?” he asks.

“During one of our biggest conventions of the year?” Henry looks up with an eyebrow raised.

“That’s what I said.” I can’t help but laugh even though I feel like I also might cry. “It’s my fault,” I add. “I’m actually here for the convention, but I was so preoccupied with freaking out about getting here that I forgot to actually book the rooms.”

“Aspiring chef?” Henry asks, looking at me sympathetically.

“Just my biggest dream.” I smile softly and he nods understandingly.

“Let me see what I can do.” He looks down to his computer and starts typing. “Well, you got lucky. We’re normally booked solid for the convention a month in advance, but we had a last-minute cancelation about an hour ago, it seems.”

“Oh my gosh, that’s so amazing. Thank you so much, Henry. You’re seriously my hero,” I gush, and he blushes.

“Of course, ma’am. I’m happy I could help. The room is a standard king on the fifth floor. I’ll just need your license and credit card and I’ll get it all set up for you.”

“A king? One room? There’s no other room? Or you can’t switch us to two queens with someone else who may only need a king?” I ask, realization hitting that a king bed means sleeping next to Asher.

“I’m so sorry. The standard king room is the only one we have.” Henry looks up from his computer, scrunching his eyebrows, not sure what to do.

“Don’t worry, that’s no problem, Henry. We’ll take it.” Asher reaches over, handing him his license and credit card. Henry nods, taking the cards and looking back to his computer to enter the information.

“Hey, I was supposed to pay. I’m the one who dragged you here.” I direct my attention to Asher.

“You’re tiny. You couldn’t drag me anywhere if you tried. And tough luck, you were too slow. Better luck next time.” He smiles, clearly not the least bit bothered by my overall distress.

“At least let me send you half the money to split it with you,” I beg to which he immediately shakes his head.

“Don’t you dare. The only thing you owe me is free food in the future, remember?” He pauses. “Plus, in the past few months, you’re down a roommate, ergo half the rent, and a job, so just let me pay for the damn hotel. Okay?”

“Fine.” I concede, already trying to think of ways to slip him money to pay him back.

“Here you go, sir.” Henry hands Asher his things back. “Your room is number five twenty-five. The elevators are straight back and to the left. Here are your keys and please call down if you need anything at all.”

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