AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The woman behind the desk cringes. “It wouldn’t matter anyway, Mr. Burrows. We’re all booked.”
“I couldn’t afford it anyway,” Shayna mumbles.
I thank the receptionist and lead Shayna away.
“I’d cover the room,” I say in a low voice.
That only seems to piss her off more. “No way. I do not need you to pay for my room. I’d just have to pay you back, and after what I paid for this dress, these shoes, and my glam tonight, I can’t afford the extra expense. Hence why Bryce was going to drop me at home tomorrow, rather than me taking an Uber home tonight.”
I can’t blame her. An Uber all the way from the city to Santa Clara on a Saturday night would cost a small fortune. I can easily afford it now, but my life wasn’t always like this and the last thing I want to do is to make Shayna feel insecure about her financial position.
“Okay, well… let’s call Bryce on my phone and see if she answers. I can always drive you to her.”
Shayna cringes.
“What?”
“I don’t know her number.”
I look at her in disbelief.
“What? Who remembers anyone’s number these days? They add their contact to your phone and you press the screen where their name is.”
I don’t bother telling her that I could recite her college phone number without a problem. There were so many nights over the years when I typed it out only to delete it. “So what then? Do you want me to drive you over to her place and see if she’s there?”
She looks at me hesitantly for a beat. “Sure, I’d appreciate that.”
“Let me grab my coat from the coat check.”
Her head drops forward with a groan.
“What?”
“I can’t even get my jacket because I don’t have my coat check ticket.”
“C’mon. I’ll make sure you get your coat.”
We head back toward the ballroom, and I hand the attendant my ticket. “My friend here lost her purse, and her coat check ticket was inside. Is there any possibility she could go back there and find her coat?”
The teenager working the coat check glances around. “I’m sorry, sir, but I can’t do that. I could lose my job and my manager already wants to fire me because last week a couple snuck in because I was in crisis with my best friend and on the phone and… it ended up being the groom and a bridesmaid that snuck in… and then the bride’s dad found them… and a big fight started and—”
I hold out my hand to stop the poor girl from telling me her life story. I hate to do this, but at the same time, I hope to impress Shayna a little with my next move. “Are you sure? You’d really be helping us out. I could get you tickets to a game. Do you enjoy—”
I stop speaking when Shayna’s hand lands on my forearm. She’s not touching my skin, but she might as well be. I swear I can feel the heat of her hand through my tuxedo jacket and dress shirt.
“It’s fine,” she says to the girl, whose shoulders relax. “You can just get his jacket.”
I turn to face her. “What are you doing?”
“That poor girl was obviously freaking out and didn’t know what to do once you started pressuring her. My jacket is the least of my worries. I’ll figure it out tomorrow.”
When the girl returns, I fish a twenty out of my wallet and hand it to her.
“Thanks so much.” Her smile is wide now.
“Don’t mention it.” I lead Shayna toward the front of the hotel and pause before we head through the revolving doors. “Here.” I wrap my jacket over her shoulders.
“You don’t have to give me yours.” She tries to slide the jacket off, but I stop her.
