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Chapter Twenty-Four
Samantha
Lexi is following me into the lobby.
I repeat, “Go home!”
“No chance.”
Our heels tap along slick marble floors. “I need to do this on my own.”
“Yeah right.”
I freeze beside an enormous floral centerpiece that must’ve cost my rent. “I’m serious.”
She lowers her voice. “Oh sure, I’ll let you go upstairs to the hotel room of the guy who might have broken a girl’s leg, so you can confront him about it, all alone. Because I’m sure he won’t want to hide that little secret that, were it to come out, would ruin his entire life.”
We stare for a beat. “You have a point.”
She shrugs and we continue to the front desk with her taking charge as she was born to do. “Hi, I’m Alexis Cocker, and this is my sister Sam. Our cousin, you might’ve heard of him Gabriel Cocker?”
I’m so used to Lexi’s antics that I don’t even blink.
The girl behind the counter lights up as though someone plugged her big toe into a wall. “No way! I was so bummed when he got married. Is he happy?”
If Lexi didn’t want something from this person, she would read her the riot act over that question. How rude can people be? Yeah, we’re going to tell you—a complete stranger—if our cousin is happily married. Don’t people understand the sanctity of marriage or family loyalty?
Lexi steamrolls, “Gabriel is hanging out with Asher Gladstone. I have his phone, or I would call him. But see, he can’t answer since it’s here.” She flashes hers. “Can you tell me what room that is?”
“Oh, I wish I could. I’m not allowed to give away that information.”
“Samantha! Lexi!”
We turn our heads to find our cousin, Elijah, walking toward us. The front desk clerk almost passes out because Elijah is the identical twin of Gabriel, but even with the shorter hair and an exquisitely-tailored suit, she doesn’t realize that this isn’t the rockstar, but rather the ambitious politician who is far more severe.
We’re in a pickle.
His ice-green eyes narrow on me before he cups the back of my head and kisses my forehead. “You been crying?”
Lexi is pissed that her plan is not going as intended. “What are you doing here?”
This completely confuses the front desk clerk.
“This is where I’m staying for a couple weeks. Since I’m going back and forth to DC, this was the best option. What are you guys doing here?”
I start to answer, but my sister cuts me off, bright green eyes twinkling. “Your brother is here. I have his phone. So we’re trying to get this nice lady to tell us which room he’s in.”
Elijah cocks his gorgeous head, suspicious. “Gabriel is here? Registered at this hotel?”
I chime in, “He’s not staying here. He’s hanging out with the lead actor of the musical I’m in. The one you didn’t see.”
Clearing guilt from his throat, Elijah glances to the clerk. “I’m guessing you didn’t give them his room number?”
“Oh, you’re his brother! I could call up,” she offers, ready to do anything he wants.
My heart races.
Lexi stares straight ahead.
