18 #3
Popping open the bag of crisps, I leaned back and took a couple bites. When I wasn’t on an empty stomach, I opened the ibuprofen bottle and swallowed two down. A little extra precaution never hurt anybody.
Unlocking my phone once again, I restarted my search for a hotel room with a single room.
Only I had absolutely no luck. I wasn’t exactly sure why everything nearby was already sold out.
Sure, the matches had to be one thing—but all hotels?
Considering, it wasn’t even spring break in New Zealand anymore, it only added to my frustration.
The rest of the boys who’d gone with Rihaan had all checked in, and were already on their way upstairs. Their luggage being handed to the bellboy, when Rihaan’s voice reached me. “You all go, I’ll find my way.”
Thirty seconds later, he was hovering near me. “Are you waiting for someone?”
I looked up and met his eyes. “Nope.”
“Okay.” He frowned. “Why are you lurking here, then? And why are you still looking at hotels?”
I sighed. “They thought two room bookings with M. KNOX was an error, so they cancelled one of them. And, because my father had checked in before me, I’m the one left with no room.”
He frowned. “They can’t just give you another one?”
“Apparently, the hotel is all booked out. This one, and the five I’ve looked up nearby. I’m just waiting to see if they have a no show for me to take their room. Otherwise, the earliest opening they have is for tomorrow.”
“Why didn’t you call your father?”
“I tried. He’s probably in a meeting or something.” I lied.
He gave me a long look, before finally speaking. “Stay here.”
I rolled my eyes. “Where was I going to go?”
But he was already walking back to the reception.
“C’mon.”
A frown settled on my brows. “Where to?”
“I told them to give my room a call if a room becomes available,” He leaned down, picking up my kit bag first. “You can’t be out here if you have a headache, especially a hangover headache. Raina told me you already threw up once.”
“Why?” The question was out of me before I could think about it.
“I don’t like seeing you in pain.” My breath stuck in my throat. Before I could question what he truly meant, he corrected himself. “I mean, I would do this for anyone on the team. I’ve had enough of those hangovers to know it a little too well, especially when Noah is involved.”
“What if they don’t have a room for me until tomorrow?” It had been my last attempt to save myself from sharing a room with him, because as much as I liked the idea of a bed, I wasn’t exactly thrilled about sharing one with him.
He shrugged. “We can call and ask for a single bed to be added to the room, and you can spend the night in that bed.”
A small smile tugged up my lips. There had been a strong urge inside me to call him out for not offering me the bed as he slept on the floor. Like any gentlemen would.
As though he could read my mind, he added. “I would’ve offered to sleep on the floor, but I figured you’d go on a lecture of how it’ll fuck up my back—when I was already struggling with my shoulder.”
“You figured correctly.”
A satisfied expression settled on his face. “C’mon then. Let’s go.”
Slowly pushing myself up, I opened my mouth to thank him when a thought struck me.
“What?” A frown settled on his beautiful face as I remained silent. “Are you worried about Coach finding out?”
I gave him a hesitant nod, feeling oddly strange at his ability to read me so quickly. “He told me about the unspoken non-fraternisation policy they have—and I’m not saying we’re gonna do anything. But, I can’t also have him thinking that I crossed a line.”
He pressed his lips together. “We can just tell him that Raina switched with me for the night.” I nodded, gripping my suitcase handle. “I would ask her to actually swap, but she’s—”
“Not feeling well, I know. She told me earlier,” I replied. “It’s fine. For all we know, they’ll find me a room before it comes to that, anyway.”
“Yeah.” He agreed softly just as the lift doors opened.
A comfortable silence blanketed as we made our way up to his room. Swiping the key card, he opened the door for me, and followed in.
“Do you need anything?” He asked, dropping the kit bag on the floor, next to his that had already been brought by the bellboy.
I shook my head. “Thanks. Do you mind if I take a shower?”
“Go ahead. I’m gonna give this to them,” He pointed to the adjoining doors.
I raised a brow. “You guys get joining rooms?”
He nodded. “Makes life way easier. But, don’t worry. I’ll use the front door while you’re here so they don’t accidentally barge in when you’re here.”
“Oh, thank you.” I replied, feeling a little off-kilter. This version of Rihaan was throwing me off, and my head had already been spinning.
“I can hang out with them if you want the space to yourself.”
I hesitated, before offering. “Do what feels right for you. I’ve already imposed on you.”
He gave me a nod, before pointing to the door again. “Okay, I’m just going to—”
“Right. Thanks again.”
He gave me a clipped smile before leaving me alone in his room.