“I’ll have them take care of the luggage while you’re dining. Would you like all of the garments hung? And does anyone have any requests for temperature or any oils?”
Nessie and I exchange another glance before looking at Tyler. “I think we’re fine, thanks,” he tells her.
Natasha nods again, her smile tight. “If you need anything, please let me know.” She hands Tyler the stack of key cards with a smile.
“Thank you,” he says with a casual nod, making me realize this is his norm. He didn’t bat an eye at the full atrium in the middle of the hotel or the fact there was a freaking couch in the elevator or that this room is more opulent than I could have even tried to imagine.
Natasha heads back toward the single elevator and disappears behind the elegant wooden doors with intricate paneling that barely resembles an elevator.
“There are only three bedrooms. You two are welcome to the master,” Tyler says.
Nessie stares at me, and I quickly shake my head. “No. You should definitely take it,” she replies.
“I’ll take it,” Cooper says, his head dropped back to take in the high ceilings and expansive windows.
I press my lips together to keep from scoffing or laughing because either reaction seems plausible during this completely implausible situation.
“Come on. I’ll show you the rest of the suite.” Tyler steps forward, passing the couches and then the other set of furniture. When we reach the piano, I notice a staircase and elevator. “The elevator goes up or down. The stairs only go up.”
“I thought she said there was only one elevator to go back to the lobby?” I ask, chancing a look at him and regretting it and the question instantly. His clear blue eyes are narrowed, watching us like he’s expecting us to steal or harm something.
Tyler nods. “This one goes down to the private pool or up to the bedrooms.”
Nessie turns to look at me, but I ignore her, realizing it’s likely our continued shock and surprise that has him so defensive and annoyed. We need to chill. I pull in a deep breath that I hold for five seconds in an attempt to calm my features into passive. Tyler continues up the stairs with Nessie close behind. I steal another look around and then at the elevator that leads to the pool—the private pool—and realize there’s no chance I’m going to be able to remain cool and calm. We’ve just won the travel lottery.
Cooper chuckles, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Wild, right?”
“This doesn’t even seem real. I had no idea places like this existed, much less ever expected to stay in one.”
“I bet the food is going to be so good,” he says.
I pause. “We can’t afford to eat at a place like this. I’m sure it’s over a hundred bucks a plate.”
Coop shakes his head. “Ty said it’s part of the experience, and we’ll be helping him by offering our feedback. He’s doing this to report back on some of the hotels that are struggling.”
“Struggling? This hotel is struggling?”
Coop shrugs.
“I feel like a fish out of water,” I admit.
“You’ve gotta fake it till you make it. Once my company’s big, we’re going to be flying around the world, staying in places like this.” He weaves his fingers together and stretches them out in front of himself.
“Don’t get too big for your britches,” I warn him, recycling the saying his grandma frequently uses when he talks about his plans for anything from school to football to his dream career.
He laughs, dropping the pose and slinging his arm around me. He propels us forward to catch up to where Nessie and Tyler stand at the top of the stairs. It’s another living room filled with more couches, but these look less masculine and more inviting with throws and pillows woven with bright blues and greens. The furniture faces another wall of windows that look out over the city. But what grabs my attention is the telescope set beside the glass practically begging for use.
“I was just telling Tyler this is where you’ll be while we’re here.” Nessie grins as my attention shifts to her. Then her eyes slowly move to Coop still at my side, his arm draped over my shoulders. Her lips fall with a gentle frown, her shoulders bowing.
I hate to see my sister upset, even more so when I’m a contributing reason. But this is Cooper, my best friend, the person who knows me nearly as well as Nessie. It draws my realization and fears back to how much is going to change this year.
I look across the room at Tyler, feeling his stare as well. His blue eyes are calculating again, and for a second, I wonder what he’s thinking. How he’s reading this current situation. Is he regretting us being here? Does he think we’re using him? Are we taking advantage of him? Before the rest of the questions or a single answer can be considered, he moves to the nearest door. “This is the first bedroom.”
We follow him into the room themed in dark stone colors with a king-size bed that sits against the far wall. Two chairs, a full dresser, and an expansive fireplace with a giant TV over the top complete the room. I’m fairly confident the room is bigger than the apartment we’re renting in Seattle this year.
“This is the master?” Nessie asks.
Tyler shakes his head.
“We can totally take this,” she
