Page 63 of Shift Change

He licked a finger and bounced it off my chin. “Tssss. Bring it on, sweets.”

After nearly an hour of crawling through Miami traffic, we pulled up at the Faena—and holy shit, the pictures hadn’t done it justice. The place had gleaming white walls and huge windows, and it was surrounded by towering palm trees. A valet in a crimson blazer opened the Uber’s door and helped us out like we were somebody.

I glanced at Chuck, who looked about as stunned as I felt. We walked toward the entrance, passing velvet ropes and gilded details shimmering in the sun. I gasped when we stepped inside. The lobby was a punch to the senses: white marble floors buffed to a mirror shine, gold accents everywhere, and huge red-and-gold murals that made the place feel like it was part art gallery and part fever dream.

Chuck leaned in and whispered, “I probably shouldn’t be allowed in here since I don’t have a trust fund.”

I laughed. “You’re not wrong. This place is something else.”

Like Chuck, I was afraid we were out of our league, but then I looked at him—sun-dazed and grinning—and I knew we were exactly where we were supposed to be.

Our room on the twelfth floor looked like it had been torn out of a luxury magazine, then dialed up to eleven. A massive king-size bed took up most of one wall, and the room was filled with modern furniture. Even the lamps were jaw-dropping, sculpture-like things that probably cost more than my first car. Across from the bed was a seating area with a white, overstuffed couch and two velvet recliners. The real showstopper was the floor-to-ceiling window stretching across the far wall, offering a breathtaking view of the Atlantic.

Chuck laughed as he ran around the room checking everything out. He went into the bathroom, and his voice echoed when he called out, “This bathroom’s built for a king. There’s marble everywhere and a double rainfall shower.” He appeared in the doorway holding a white robe. “This thing’s thick enough to stop a bullet.”

He hung up the robe and crossed the room in three quick strides. “I thought the team hotels were fancy, but this is a goddamn palace. There’s a soaking tub in there the size of a swimming pool. I might move in.”

Watching him light up like that made my chest feel too small for what was happening inside it. “Look at you,” I said. “Five years old again, losing your mind over a hotel room.”

He grinned and shot back, “Look atyou, acting like you’ve seen it all, Grandpa Holcomb. Go ahead and admit it—you’re impressed.”

Before I could answer, he grabbed my hand and tugged me to the window. “Look at this view.”

Beyond the glass, the ocean was a shimmering, endless expanse of blue. “Shit,” I said. “It’s hard to believe it’s real.”

“Right? Should you give a speech or something? Write poetry?”

Between Chuck and the incredible view below, it was hard to speak. “Probably, but I’m too amazed to do either one.”

He leaned against me. “I’m so happy to be here with you. It wouldn’t be the same with anyone else.”

“Same,” I said. “I wouldn’t want to be here with anybody else.” I slung my arm around his shoulders. With the sun hitting the water just right, and Chuck warm and close at my side, I could’ve stood there forever. This trip was already one for the books, and we hadn’t even unpacked.

After a few minutes, he kissed me on the cheek. “Why are we standing here? Let’s go get the lay of the land.”

“Agreed. I need to change first, though. I smell like an airplane.”

I took a shirt and a pair of shorts out of my suitcase and laid them on the bed. “What do you think of this for now? Or should I save it for dinner?”

Chuck looked over and snorted. “Did you pick that outfit in the dark, or do you hate mirrors?”

“What’s wrong with it?”

“What’srightwith it?” He pointed accusingly at the shirt. “Are those flowers or man-eating plants? It looks like a tropical rainforest got food poisoning. No one will even notice your shorts.”

I gave him the evil eye. “Who made you the fashion police? Let’s see what you brought.”

He held up a pair of blue linen shorts and a pink polo shirt. The outfit looked fantastic, but I couldn’t say that after the way he’d chirped me. Instead, I put on a snarky grin. “Dog, be honest. Did you pick that outfit, or did Nana lay it out for you?” I pointed at his shorts. “You know those will put your dick on display like it’s the main attraction.”

“Isn’t it? You’re always telling me how different pants show off my package. I think these shorts scream good taste and will show you exactly what you want to see.”

Heat crawled across my nape, but I bluffed. “Just trying to prepare you for the public indecency charge.”

He sighed dramatically. “Why don’t we put on swim trunks and go to the beach? Maybe later, we can choose each other’s outfits.”

“God help me.” I already knew I’d choose those blue shorts for the exact reason he’d said. “The beach sounds like a great idea.”

“At least all your brains haven’t dried up, Grandpa.”

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