Page 44 of Hate You to Love You

Elliot slams on the brakes as we pull up to the lobby. ‘We’re here, but—’ He pauses. I look over to see what’s caught his attention. There are two fire trucks parked out the front of the hotel. I can’t see any smoke, but a couple of hotel staff are ushering people back inside.

Elliot offers to find a park while I check into my room. The second I exit the car, an icy gust of wind hits me. I hurry into the lobby and step to the side, letting a group of firefighters exit the lobby. Once the coast is clear, I approach the reception desk, only to find that the line is incredibly long. When I get to the front, the concierge is frazzled.

‘Name?’ she asks.

‘Carlos Reyes.’

She scans her computer and then winces. ‘Oh dear,’ she exclaims. ‘I’m so sorry, Mr Reyes, but we’ve had a burst water pipe, and your room has been impacted by the flooding on two of our upper floors. I’m afraid we’re fully booked, but we can assist you to find a suitable room at one of our partner hotels.’

My heart drops. The promise of a shower and collapsing into bed was all that was keeping me going through the long, silent drive with Elliot. It’s late, and the last thing I want to do is find another hotel.

‘What’s going on?’ Elliot asks as he appears beside me, taking in the crowds of displaced guests and the firefighter who appears to be talking to the hotel manager.

‘Two floors flooded.’ The words come out dry, my throat sore from the travel and a headache forming. ‘Including the one where my room is. They’re going to relocate me.’

‘It’s almost midnight,’ Elliot notes. ‘And there must be dozens of people looking for new rooms. It could take hours. We can share my room until we find you something.’

‘We’re not sharing,’ I tell him.

‘I insist.’

‘And I insist that you don’t insist.’

‘Look, you’re exhausted, I’m exhausted. Just take the offer.’

‘No.’

‘Fine.’ He shrugs. ‘Stay out here for who knows how long. I don’t care anymore.’

I turn my head in the direction of the front desk and catch a glimpse of the crowd of other guests. Elliot is right – I’ll be stuck here for hours. Reluctantly, I tug at my suitcase and chase after him and, without a word, we take the lift together up to his floor.

‘After you,’ Elliot says, opening the door to his room.

I walk in, and the sight of the room is enough to jolt me right back awake. Because it’s tiny. Which of course it was going to be, since it was meant for just Elliot. There’s barely any room to move around. A tiny desk. And worst of all, there’s only one bed.

‘We’re not sharing a bed,’ I grumble.

‘Who said anything about sharing a bed? I’ll take the floor.’

‘What?’

‘You’ve had a long flight. It’s just one night. You take the bed, and I’ll take the floor.’

For the first time since I landed, I look into Elliot’s eyes. And for once, I don’t have the energy to fight.

I muster enough energy up to quickly shower and change in the cupboard-sized bathroom, and by the time I step back into the room, Elliot has dimmed the lights. He’s taken a pillow and a blanket and is stretched out on the floor, his arms crossed behind his head as he stares up at the ceiling.

‘Thanks for the bed,’ I say as I climb into it. He doesn’t respond. ‘Elliot?’

‘Did you say something?’

‘I said thanks for giving me the bed.’

‘Oh,’ he answers quietly. ‘Happy to.’

I let out a shaky breath and then pull up the covers as I roll over to my side. Being this close to him again has wiped the tiredness out of my body. I’m on edge.

‘Hey, Carlos?’ Elliot whispers.