Chapter 4
4
T here was no way this was happening. This day had started out normal, or at least normal for Grace. Now? She was standing in the most beautiful resort she had ever seen, facing the fact that she had to pretend to be in a relationship with Elara—and now had to share a bed with her too. After agreeing to not request a change, Grace needed some much-needed space.
She slowly stepped back toward the door, attempting to make her escape as she told Elara, “I think I’ll go check out that hot chocolate downstairs.”
Before Elara could respond, Grace grabbed her purse and slipped out of the room. She nearly ran down the hall to the elevator, her ballet flats slapping loudly on the smooth floor. Her finger jammed the elevator button several times, as if pressing it more would somehow make the doors open faster. When the bright ding finally announced the elevator’s arrival, Grace peeked down the hall before she stepped in. Part of her was expecting to see Elara, and she wasn’t sure if she was relieved or disappointed to find it empty.
Grace stepped in and quickly pressed the button for the lobby. As the doors closed, Grace peeked at her reflection in the mirrored walls. Her cheeks were still red from embarrassment. She felt childish for being so flustered at the idea of sharing a bed with Elara. It shouldn’t be such a big deal, and Elara certainly didn’t seem worried about the prospect of sharing a bed with Grace. But just thinking about laying in bed next to her for a week had the rest of her face turning bright red.
Shaking off the rising panic, Grace rushed across the grand lobby toward the hot chocolate setup. As soon as the thick, steaming liquid warmed her hands, Grace slumped down into one of the burgundy chairs by the window. It was unbelievably soft and comfortable— definitely nicer than any of the furniture she had at home. Grace had seen pictures of the Silver Resorts, but being here in person was unlike anything she had expected. The view of the snow-blanketed grounds and glistening lake took her breath away. The lobby felt as if it was designed to complement the backdrop, while somehow still dripping in elegance. Every single detail was thought of with love and care, no expense spared. She had expected a cold, modern interior, one that would match Elara’s sense of personal style and the corporate office, but instead, the resort exuded comfort. The room wasn’t all white and neutral. There was so much color, and yet it never felt busy.
Grace rifled through her bag and pulled out her cell to call her mom, but she noticed that it was already 8 p.m. here, which meant her parents were already asleep on the East Coast. She thought about calling her best friend Carly, but then thought better of it. Carly was the queen of queer Twitter. Grace couldn’t risk leaking her fake relationship with Elara. There was only one other person she could trust with this: Aunt Lucy. Grace stood up and headed out to explore the resort grounds. As she stepped outside, goosebumps bloomed on every inch of her exposed skin. She hadn’t thought to grab her coat in her rush out of the room. Thankfully, next to the door, a basket had been prepared with thick wool blankets for guests to cuddle up in.
Grace shivered as she wrapped herself in the cozy blanket and decided to call Aunt Lucy. After the third ring, she answered.
“Grace? Two calls in one day? To what do I owe the pleasure? Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m sorry to call so late.”
Aunt Lucy paused before she quietly responded, “You sure about that?”
Grace sighed. She shouldn’t be surprised. Aunt Lucy always knew when something was up. She had a knack for picking up on even the slightest change in tone.
“Honestly? I’m just really confused.”
“Tell me. I’m always here to listen to you, sweetie.”
Relieved, Grace let the words tumble out. “God, this whole thing is crazy. I mean, I knew it was going to be strange pretending to be my boss’s girlfriend. And Elara has always been aloof at the best of times and cold most days. But…I don’t know. I guess I expected her to at least try to talk to me more. I mean the two-hour drive here was awkward. She barely spoke a word to me.”
Aunt Lucy laughed. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t laugh. It’s just a funny image. Two hours is a long time to sit in silence.”
“Right? And it gets worse.”
Giggling, Aunt Lucy inquired, “How so?”
“Well, we arrived at the most ridiculously fancy resort I’ve ever been to and headed up to the suite, which was stunning and huge. As expected. But surprise surprise, there is only one bed!”
Aunt Lucy snorted, clearly failing at holding back the laughter.
“It’s not funny, Aunt Lucy! The king bed was freaking decorated with rose petals ! I mean, it’s ridiculous. And when I asked Elara if we could request a different room, she refused. She says it would be weird for a couple to request a room change for one with two beds. And I mean, she’s not wrong, but this is so awkward .”
Grace sighed, the adrenaline and anxiety finally starting to subside after voicing her thoughts.
With a barely veiled giggle, Aunt Lucy replied, “This trip just gets more and more amusing. I feel like I should get a bag of popcorn for all these updates.”
“Aunt Lucy, it’s not funny!”
At this, Aunt Lucy lost control and busted out in a hearty laugh. Unable to resist the warmth of her laugh, Grace found herself laughing too.
“Okay, fine. It’s a little funny. But what am I supposed to do?”
Taking a deep breath to calm down, Aunt Lucy paused. “I’m not sure you do anything, Grace. It’s not as if you haven’t shared a bed with your friends throughout your life. This is no different from that, right?”
Grace interrupted, “It’s very different, and you know it. She’s not my friend; she’s my boss and she barely talks to me.”
Lucy rebutted, “No, she isn’t your friend. But the two of you have to at least pretend to like each other for a week. Maybe sharing a bed will help break that icy exterior. I mean, you can’t not talk to someone after sharing a bed with them. This could be a good thing. Try not to overthink it, dear. You are impossible not to love. I’m sure she will start to warm up to you soon enough.”
Grace felt the impact of Aunt Lucy’s advice and began to acknowledge she was right. Maybe this was a good thing after all.
“You’re right. Thank you. I think I just needed to talk it out. I’m sorry for calling this late and dropping all of that on you.”
“It’s never too late to call me, Grace. You’ve got this. Now, go enjoy your paid vacation. I’m here anytime you need to talk again.”
Grace entered the suite cautiously, the soft click of the door closing behind her louder than she intended. Elara was already settled on the bed, propped up against a mountain of perfectly arranged pillows, wearing fine silk pajamas that shimmered in the dim light. Her iPad rested on her lap, and the soft tapping of her fingers on the screen suggested she was in the middle of something important. Grace hesitated by the door, her breath catching. Gathering her wits, she reminded herself that this was for the job. She was going to prove she belonged here.
“Do you need help arranging anything for tomorrow?” Grace asked, trying to sound professional, though her voice wavered slightly.
Without looking up, Elara murmured, “I just need you to play your part.”
The words stung, even though Grace told herself not to take them personally. She gave a terse nod, though Elara never glanced her way. Grace rummaged through her suitcase, finding her pajamas—a bright pink pair of pants and a cropped, fuzzy sweater. She stared at them for a second, realizing they were comically inappropriate for this kind of setting.
There was no way she was changing in front of Elara.
Clutching the clothes, Grace ducked into the bathroom, closing the door behind her with a sigh of relief. As she pulled on the soft pajamas, she tried to convince herself they weren’t that bad. Who cared if they screamed “slumber party” when she was trying to survive a week at a luxury resort masquerading as someone’s girlfriend? She gave herself one last look in the mirror, shrugged, and headed back out into the bedroom.
Elara didn’t react at first. But as Grace shuffled toward the bed, Elara’s gaze flickered up from her iPad. There was no comment, no raised brow—just the slightest pause that made Grace feel underdressed in the most spectacular way.
Gathering what little courage she had left, Grace sat down on the edge of the king-size bed, her back rigid. Elara reached over, calmly switched off the lamp on her side, and lay down with her back to Grace without a word.
For a moment, Grace stared at Elara’s silhouette. She seemed so distant, her back a wall that Grace couldn’t breach, even if she tried—not that she really wanted to. Eventually, Grace sighed, slid under the covers, and curled up on the farthest edge of the mattress.
Despite the size of the bed, she still felt too close, like her presence alone might disturb Elara. Determined to keep her distance, Grace pressed herself toward the edge, her toes hanging off the side. She squeezed her arms around her chest, as if holding herself small enough would make this whole situation less surreal.
She closed her eyes and tried to sleep.
Hours later, she awoke with a jolt, falling headfirst off the bed. Her limbs tangled in the sheets as she landed with a thud and knocked over the bedside lamp.
“Shit!” Grace hissed, scrambling to free herself from the suffocating mess of fabric.
Elara shot upright, her hair tousled, blinking in the darkness. “Grace?”
“I’m sorry!” Grace gasped, finally untangling her foot from the blanket. The shattered remains of the lamp glimmered ominously on the floor.
Elara sighed, rubbing a hand over her face. “It’s fine. Just…don’t worry about it.”
Grace froze, mortified. “Are you sure? I’ll pay for the lamp?—”
“Grace.” Elara’s tone was soft but firm. “It’s fine. Get back in bed.”
Cheeks burning, Grace climbed back onto the mattress, careful not to disturb Elara’s side. This time, she stayed away from the edge, though she still kept a safe distance, doing her best not to touch her.
As she lay there, she folded her arms around herself again, breathing slowly to calm her racing thoughts. She stared up at the ceiling, listening to Elara’s soft breathing beside her.
The bed felt too big, too small, too intimate, and too cold all at once. And though she tried to shrink into herself, she couldn’t help but be hyperaware of every tiny movement on the other side of the bed.
After a while, Elara shifted but didn’t say anything. Grace’s heart thudded in the silence, the distance between them somehow heavier than words.