“How much did you take?”
“Just one, Marley. Relax.”
“Stop calling me that. Gimme the bottle.”
“Can’t I keep it? It’s so boring here already I feel the need to sedate myself.”
“No. Give me the bottle.”
“How about I take a few? You won’t miss it.”
“Aurora. Stop making me repeat myself. I want that bottle back. Now.”
“Say please.”
I stared at her with a blank expression until she finally groaned and dug into her pocket, fishing out my pill bottle. “You’re no fun.”
I counted them just to make sure it was the only one she took. “Sit there and shut up. You’re done for the day.”
“Mr. Sinclair,” Lavender came back, “they’re ready for the bags. Ms. Rodriguez’s suite is on the top floor. Private corner, away from all guests.”
“Good,” I said. “Because if she does anything dumb in this hotel with my card on the books, I’m going to jail.”
Aurora sat up slightly at the word dumb. “I wasn’t even gonna?—”
I turned and looked at her. She stopped mid-sentence, then slumped again.
Lavender opened the door for Aurora and offered her hand, which she took like the princess she is, stepping out slowly.
The rat barked from his carrier as it’s handed to a bellman making him flinch. “Don’t scare him.”
Chewy barks again and the bellman looks at me. I turned to Aurora.
“Remember what I said.”
She rolled her eyes and reached for the carrier. “He’s just scared, Marlon. This is a new environment for him.”
“Then you shouldn’t have brought him.”
“And give us both separation anxiety?” She took him out of his carrier and the beast finally calmed down. She did too in a way.
As we rode the elevator up, Aurora leaned into me slightly, “Marlon…”
I ignored her, still annoyed at her for taking my property without permission. Actually, I’m annoyed for a number of reasons.
She tried again. “Marlon, I’m sorry.”
I still didn’t answer because I did not believe her.
We reached her suite and Lavender opened the door with the key card.
Aurora swayed into the room, setting the dog down and letting her eyes widen as the second pill started to kick in. “So… you staying with me?”
“No.”
She pouted. “Just for a little?”
“No.”
