43 accidentally on purpose
The shift starts in the hallway. Not obvious, not loud, just... wrong in a way I can't ignore.
The hotel is too bright after the party, the air colder, quieter, like everything we just came from got shut off the second the doors closed behind us. Jess is still talking, still riding the high, her words overlapping each other as she replays moments no one asked her to replay.
Riley walks beside her, steady as ever, letting it happen without trying to stop it. And me-
I'm watching, waiting. Because something is coming. I don't know what yet, but I feel it.
"Wait-hold on," Jess says suddenly, stopping mid-step.
There it is.
I don't sigh, I don't react, I just look at her. "What?"
She pulls her phone out like she just noticed something catastrophic, her brows pulling together in a performance that would work on literally anyone else. "Oh my God."
Riley glances at her, then at me.
That's all it takes.
"What?" I repeat, flatter now.
Jess turns the screen toward us, lips pressing together like she's trying to stay calm. "They messed up the booking."
I don't look at the phone, I look at her. "Who is they?"
"The hotel," she says immediately, too immediately.
Riley nods once, thoughtful. "It happens."
It does.
Just not like this.
Jess scrolls, exhales. "We only have one bed."
Silence. Not awkward, measured.
I let it sit there for a second longer than necessary, then slowly shift my gaze from Jess to Riley.
Riley meets it.
I look back at Jess. "You're kidding."
"I wish I was," she says.
She does not.
"Of course you do," I mutter.
Riley steps in, tone calm, reasonable in a way that almost makes it believable. "We can go down and ask for another room."
Jess shakes her head immediately. "They're fully booked. It's Vegas. On a game weekend."
That part-
could be true.
Which is the problem.
I let out a slow breath, crossing my arms. "Right."
Jess brightens just slightly. Too slightly. "So I guess we'll just-figure it out?"
"You mean," I say, tilting my head, "you'll share the bed and I'll take the floor."
"No," Jess says instantly, too fast, too obvious.
Riley clears her throat. "That doesn't really make sense."
I stare at her now. "Why?"
She shrugs lightly. "You'll be uncomfortable. None of us will sleep."
Jess nods, backing her up. "Exactly. And we have a drive tomorrow."
"Right," I say slowly. "So your solution is...?"
Jess hesitates, for half a second, just enough.
And then-
"Oh, hey."
A voice cuts in from behind us.
I close my eyes briefly.
Of course.
Declan steps into the hallway like he just wandered into this by accident, hands shoved into his hoodie pockets, expression way too casual.
"What's with the crisis meeting?" he asks.
Jess turns to him immediately, too eagerly. "Declan, perfect timing-"
"No," I cut in.
He looks at me, amused already. "Didn't even say anything yet."
"You were about to."
He grins. "I was."
Jess jumps back in. "Our room only has one bed."
Declan blinks. Once, then twice, like he's processing it.
He's not.
"That's rough," he says, slow.
Riley hums, thoughtful. "Yeah."
There's a beat. And then-
"Well," Declan continues, like it just occurred to him, "Caiden's room has two."
I don't move, I don't react, I just... look at him.
Because there it is.
The plan.
Jess gasps softly, like this is brand new information. "Wait, really?"
"Yeah," Declan says. "Team booked it that way."
Riley nods, considering. "That could work."
I let out a quiet laugh. Not surprised, just... done.
"This is a setup."
Jess looks at me, wide-eyed. "What? No."
"Yes."
Declan lifts his hands slightly. "I literally just got here."
"You're all in on it," I say.
Riley doesn't deny it.
Jess doesn't even try.
Declan smiles.
And that-
that's the confirmation.
I should say no. I know I should. It's obvious. It's... intentional.
But the thing is-
I don't actually want to.
And that realization lands quietly, heavier than it should.
Riley tilts her head slightly. "It makes the most sense."
Jess nods. "Logistically."
"Of course," I say.
Declan shrugs. "I can grab the extra key."
"Don't," I start.
He's already moving. "Too late."
Jess turns back to me, smile too sweet. "Problem solved."
I exhale slowly, dragging a hand through my hair.
"You're unbelievable."
"I've been told that," she says.
Riley's watching me again. Not pushing, not pulling, just... waiting, like she already knows what I'm going to do.
And the worst part is-
she's right.
Because when Caiden steps out into the hallway a minute later, drawn by the noise or Declan or something else entirely, and his eyes land on me-
I don't step back, I don't argue, I don't even pretend.
"This is happening, isn't it?" I say quietly.
His mouth twitches, just slightly. "Looks like it."
I should fight it.
I don't.
And that-
that says everything.