Chapter Twenty-Six
They’d teased me into watching a little more footage once Ben and Neil got back with the pizzas. All of it felt lovingly captured,
even without the sound, which I’d forced them to leave turned off.
“Okay, that’s enough for me,” I said. “It looks great. Thank you.”
“We’re so close to the finish line,” Neil said. “Just your interview, then you’re rid of us until Italy.”
“Speaking of that final interview,” Hailey said. “It looks like we’re going to need to revisit the schedule since our flight
is messed up.”
My stomach dropped. “It’s canceled?”
She looked down to study her phone. “Delayed until six. At least for now.”
Which meant I’d lose another day on the ice.
The original plan was for us to fly back, then they’d set up at the rink while I banged out a practice session, after which
I’d sit down with Ben for the final solo interview. Getting home after eight meant no time for either.
“I have a feeling we’ll be okay by the afternoon,” Ben said. “The snow is tapering off, and if you look at the forecast it’s
going to be sunny after ten tomorrow.”
That was Ben, ever the optimist.
“And I have an idea for the final interview,” he added.
I was exhausted and ready to go comatose in my bed but I perked up at the mention of our remaining interview. “Oh?”
Neil and Hailey seemed equally curious.
“Well, now you’ve gotta tell us. No cliffhangers,” Neil said.
“Since the flight is delayed, we’re doing it here,” Ben said. “Tomorrow, while we wait to leave.” He turned to me. “That is,
if it’s okay with you.”
Worry bloomed in my chest. I knew it was coming, but tomorrow?
“Hold on,” Hailey said. “We agreed to stick to a schedule and this is a giant deviation.”
“Act of God,” Neil replied, pointing out the snowy window.
“But do you have anything else to wear, Quinn?” Hailey asked me, ever the ally. “And did you pack makeup and stuff?”
“I have other clothing . . .” I’d learned the hard way to always have options. “But . . .”
“No, actually it’s perfect,” Neil interrupted. “If we knock out the final interview tomorrow we can switch our flights and
just head straight to New York instead of going back to Colorado with you.”
“No pressure, though,” Ben added.
With the three of them staring at me expectantly I felt plenty of pressure. It made sense. Getting the final interview over
with would free all of us up. I should’ve jumped at the opportunity to put it behind me, but that would mean the end of whatever
was happening with Ben. Thanks to our little sledding moment, our connection felt like an entirely new beast to be tamed.
“We can set up in the conference room and knock it out first thing tomorrow, which’ll free you up to train until we have to
leave,” Ben added.
I didn’t love the shift, but it made sense.
“Okay. I’m in,” I finally said.
“Excellent.” Ben bobbed his head. “Can we make eight happen? A quick breakfast then we get going?”
“Definitely. We’ll be set and ready to go at seven forty-five,” Neil answered. “Then we can pack up the second flights open
up again.”
“Aw,” Hailey stuck out her bottom lip. “What a jump cut. I can’t believe we’ll be done tomorrow. This was a super fun trip.”
She shot a look at Neil, and I felt like I could take a little credit for the new love match.
A wave of exhaustion washed over me out of nowhere, so intense that I wondered if there was tryptophan in mozzarella cheese.
But then again, the weariness made sense given our nonstop, emotionally draining day.
“Guys, I’m out.” I tried to stifle a yawn that just kept getting bigger. “Thanks for everything today.”
It was still hard to believe how much we’d crammed into it. Had I really been sitting between my parents just a few hours
before?
“Yeah, same. I’ll walk up with you,” Ben said. He turned back to the laptop and punched a few keys then high-fived Neil. “Be
done for tonight, okay? Get some rest.”
“Oh don’t worry, I’m ready for bed,” Neil agreed.
“Same,” Hailey added, although she sounded more amped than exhausted.
Ben and I walked out together and headed up the narrow staircase to our rooms one floor up.
“You feel okay? About the footage?”
I glanced over my shoulder at him. “Totally. It’s not what I expected.”
“In a good way?”
“In the best way,” I answered as I pushed through the door to our floor. “It’s like a movie. I was thinking it would look more like a local news feature.”
He caught up to me in the hallway. “Give us some credit. This show is one of the channel’s crown jewels, they’re not going
to cheap out. And I’ve got too much on the line to deliver anything less than perfection.” We paused when we got to my door.
“Which you’re helping to make happen.” His voice dropped. “I know agreeing to do it wasn’t easy for you.”
It felt like the end of a date. This was the part of the evening where the obvious next step usually hovered in the air until
someone bold and horny decided to make a move. It wasn’t going to be me, but there was no question of what I’d do if he pitched it.
The air was thick with everything that was still unsaid between us.
I slapped the pocket on my hoodie looking for my room key, then my sweats. “Damn it. I left my key in Neil’s room.” I heaved a sigh and started walking back to the steps.
“Wait here, I’ll go,” Ben said, jogging in front of me.
There was no point trying to fight him so I slid down the wall and sat on the floor to wait. “Thank you,” I called after him.
I closed my eyes, but all I could see was Ben’s face watching me. A few minutes later I heard him jogging back upstairs.
“Mission accomplished?” I asked as I stood up.
Then I noticed his pained expression.
“Uhhh, not exactly,” he grimaced. “I was about to knock on the door and then I heard . . . sounds.”
I frowned at him. “They’re still editing?”
“Oh, they’re hard at work, just not on the show.”
He widened his eyes at me and my jaw dropped.
“So they are . . .”
“Yup.”
“And here I actually believed that they hated each other. They’re great actors.”
“They better be. The show’s nonfraternization policy is no joke. Plus there’s a noncompete. It could end really badly for
them.”
I hoped for their sake that they could keep their little enemies-to-lovers adventure quiet until they decided on which side
of the equation they wanted to remain.
“I guess I need to go down to the front desk and get another key,” I sighed.
“Uh, actually, you’d have to call the innkeeper. There’s a note at the front desk that says he’s only reachable by phone after
eight. And with the storm . . .”
I dropped my head and sighed even harder. Not what I wanted to deal with after a marathon day.
“Just come hang out in my room. I can’t imagine they’ll be too long,” Ben said.
I laughed despite my exhaustion. “Damn, you’re not giving our buddy Neil much credit for stamina.”
“I guess you’re right. You might be stuck with me for a couple of hours.” The way he smiled at me made me feel a little less
tired.
A lot less tired.
Our eyes locked, like we both felt what might happen if we walked into a room with a bed.
“C’mon.” He turned his back and walked down the hall, assuming I’d automatically follow behind him like a puppy.
Which was exactly what I did.