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One of the clerks behind the front desk is talking to a customer, but the other is free and looks at me with a smile when I approach. “How can I help you?” she asks, all chipper and eager.

It gives me hope. “I think there might be something wrong with my key card,” I explain, placing the plastic rectangle on the counter between us. “I just tried to get into my room and I couldn’t.”

“Oh no!” The corners of her mouth tug downward in a sympathetic grimace. “Sorry about that. What’s your room number?”

Oh. Right. “Do you wanna hear something funny?” I prop my forearms on the counter and lean in, lowering my voice because this is more than a little embarrassing. “I don’t actually remember my room number.”

Blink, blink. “You don’t remember?”

“I know, it’s so stupid, right?” My high-pitched laughter is strained, putting it mildly. I’m sure the fact that she’s looking at me like I’m either lying or crazy isn’t helping. Neither is the anxiety I already have when it comes to talking to strangers. “See, I’m here with . . . my boyfriend, and I just kind of follow behind him and never pay attention. It’s something I’m working on, I swear. It’s just not helping right now.”

Yes, because babbling like an idiot is definitely going to help my case. I sense she’s feeling a little skeptical, maybe suspicious when her delicately arched brows meet over the bridge of her nose. “What is the name you’re registered under?”

This is the point where I would really appreciate it if the floor opened up and swallowed me whole. I don’t think I ask for much. “Oh. The name?” He told me, didn’t he? I know he did. He told me because he wanted me to remember. But that was days ago! And it’s not exactly like I’ve been calling him by that name ever since.

“The name.” A ghost of a smile floats over her face while she probably wonders whether she should call security. Or maybe an ambulance so I can be carted off to an asylum.

Finally, I have to laugh. “Would you believe I don’t remember that either? I swear, I’m not trying to scam anybody.”

She might as well have a sign across her forehead reading Yeah, right. “Well, I am sorry to say I can’t produce another key card unless I have the name and room number. You said you’re here with your boyfriend?”

Yes, and I could call him, but I doubt anybody would believe a random voice over the phone. It will be better to wait until he gets back, I guess.

If he gets back.

“I’ll wait here in the lobby for him,” I suggest. The girl’s not smiling anymore, giving me a quick nod before watching my every step as I find an empty club chair and sink into it. How do I know she’s watching? I can feel it.

There’s still time for the floor to open up and swallow me whole. I don’t get an answer.

Thankfully I don’t have to wait too long before a pair of familiar men walk through the double doors side by side. Relief and excitement spring me to my feet. “Thank fuck!”

Because why not make myself look even crazier than I already did?

Theo wears a stormy expression, but it looks like Adrian’s trying not to laugh as they reach me. “What are you doing down here?” he asks, glancing around like he’s guilty of something. He probably is guilty of something.

“It’s a long story. I think my key card is broken—it wouldn’t work on any of the rooms I tried it on.”

Theo snaps out of his brain fog, squinting at me. “Why did you have to try more than one room?”

Somehow it’s easier to admit it a second time. “Because I don’t know the room number, okay? I came down here to use a computer and I didn’t realize until I was back upstairs that I forgot the room number. I tried it in every single door on our floor, and it didn’t work. So it must be broken.”

“Which floor?” Theo asks as we reach the elevators. He’s still pretty tense, shoulders up around his ears, but I’m assuming everything went okay since they’re back here and neither of them looks hurt or anything.

“The fourth, of course.”

The two of them exchange a look over the top of my head before we enter the elevator car. “I guess it would’ve been helpful if you had been on the fifth floor, which is where we’re actually staying,” Adrian tells me while his lips twitch like he’s fighting off a laugh.

I was on the wrong floor. I guess that would explain it. All I can do is stare at my feet while Adrian snickers.

Instead of joining us in our room, which Theo has done a lot over the past couple of days, he gets off on the fourth floor. “See you tomorrow.” He doesn’t look at either of us as he steps into the hallway, heading for his room without a backward glance.

Now that we’re alone, I turn to Adrian. “Is he okay? What happened tonight?”

“He’s fine. Everything went the way it needed to.”

So why won’t you look at me? His jaw is so tight he practically has to spit the words out through his clenched teeth. “What about you?” I whisper. Why am I afraid to hear the answer?

His head snaps around like he’s annoyed at my questions, and I shrink away from whatever is about to happen next—but quickly he adjusts course. “Me? I’m counting the seconds until I can get you back in that room.”