“Damn, I still need to finish packing and shower. I also have to run to Target before I leave town and pick up a few things.”
“I can help.”
“You want to help me pack?” I asked doubtfully.
“I wouldn’t say I want to, but I will to help you save time.”
“Okay. I have all my stuff and my clothes on my bed. I just need to put them in the suitcase.”
“Sounds easy enough.”
We went upstairs where I pulled a bag from my closet for Harper.
“I’ll be out in ten,” I told her.
Ten minutes later, I pulled open my bathroom door in my room. Steam rolled out toward Harper, who was sitting on my bed, looking through her phone.
“Hey, can you put two more things in there?” I asked her.
She looked up. “You have enough clothes for a week, but I think I can manage.”
“Yeah, I know,” I said as I went back into my bathroom to grab my stuff. “I never know what I’m going to want to wear.” I emerged with my toiletry and cosmetic bags.
Harper took them from me, and I watched her stuff them in the middle of my two piles of clothes.
“I get it.”
I picked through my hair. “Thanks for your help.”
“No problem,” she said, zipping up my suitcase.
“Want to go to Target with me?”
“Nah. I’ll probably spend too much. Walk me out?”
“Sure.”
We went downstairs and headed for the front door. Along the way, Harper picked up her present for me. “Are you sure you don’t want the condoms?” she asked, holding the box up.
I laughed. “No, thanks. I’m good.”
She shrugged. “Suit yourself.” She gave me a hug. “Good luck with Chicago. Call me if you need anything.”
I squeezed her tight. “I will.”
After a long drive to Chicago, Travis and I finally pulled up to the hotel. He had insisted we take his SUV, claiming he wouldn’t fit comfortably in my car with his long legs. I’d felt bad, but he’d sworn it was no big deal.
With Travis driving, I had alternated between sleeping and working on my latest novel. One of the best presents I’d ever bought for myself was a little laptop that I could take everywhere.
It was about eight at night, and I was ready to crash. I’d used up all my brain cells on the last few chapters that I pounded out on the drive.
“I think I’m just going to grab my luggage and leave my book stuff until tomorrow,” I told him when he opened the back.
Travis frowned. “You’re not worried about someone stealing it?”
I shrugged. “Let them. Unless they’re a writer, it’s going to be pretty worthless loot.”
“Okay.” He grabbed my suitcase and set it down for me, and then he reached for his own.
He locked his SUV, and we headed for the lobby. There were two people working, and one of them was free.
“Hello. Welcome. Can I have the name of the reservation, please?” the young woman said.
“Harting with a T. First name, Sydney.”
Her keyboard clicked, and she typed in my info. “Okay. Here it is. Sydney Harting.”
“Thank you.”
A few more clicks, and she came back with two sets of key cards. “Okay”—she set them on the counter—“your room is two nineteen.”
No. This could not be happening.
“Excuse me, but I made the reservation for two rooms.”
Her mouth formed a circle. “You two are not staying together?”
I shook my head. “No. I asked for rooms side by side, but I still asked for two rooms.”
“Let me look. One moment, please.”
I looked over at Travis. “I’m sorry. I swear, I booked two rooms.”
He shrugged. “I’ve slept in some pretty crappy places while in the Army. If we have to share a room, it’s not a big deal.”
At least he didn’t seem to think I had planned this.
“Oh, here it is.” The young woman smiled. “I’m sorry about that. I didn’t see it at first.”
The tension drained from my body. “Thank you.”
Another set of key cards were brought over. “Here you go. So, your rooms are two nineteen and two twenty-one. Do you need help with any luggage?”
“No, thanks. We’ve got it,” Travis said.
The two of us walked away and headed for the elevator. We got on right away and went up to our floor.
“So, what are we doing tonight?” Travis asked as we walked down the hall to our rooms.
I winced. I hadn’t even thought about the fact that he might want to go out and do something. “I was thinking of just staying in tonight. But, if you want to go out,