Page 93 of Game Over

This was paradise.

My legs were propped up on the center console between Jesse and Charlie, who sat in the front. They held their hands together over them, all of us touching for the entire drive. I leaned back, my eyes drifting up to the sunroof. The sky was the perfect shade of blue and the clouds were the perfect puffiness. They blocked the sun just enough so it wasn’t blazing down, but it was obvious there wouldn’t be a drop of rain falling today.

“Looks like the hotel is only a few miles away,” Jesse said. He’d been backseat driving the entire time, and I could tell Charlie was exasperated, but didn’t really show it and just agreed with him.

Charlie hummed in agreement and stretched. He’d been driving for almost nine hours at this point. Each of us had offered to take over for him, but he always waved us both off,saying as long as he had his grape-flavored energy drink he was fine. Though that energy drink was long gone and the cracks in his back were starting to get louder.

But Jesse was correct and soon we were in front of the cutest beachside B&B I’d ever seen. It was all white on the outside with decks on every floor. There were firepits surrounded with chairs on the outside along with a tree swing I can see in the distance.

I was still gawking when my door was opened and Jesse was standing there, holding their hand out for me. It took me a moment to sit up straight and get my legs under me before I could take it and slide out.

When I went around for my bags Charlie was already fully loaded up, all of our belongings strung across him with the two rollers at his sides. It was only a three day trip, but it seemed like Jesse and I packed for weeks. Charlie was the only pragmatic one with a single bag, but we needed our things, and I liked to be prepared for everything.

We were halfway through the door when a bellhop came and took the bags from Charlie. It was airy and breezy in there, with sandalwood floors and a matching front desk. There were floor to ceiling windows open on each side, letting in the cool ocean breeze.

“Checking in?” the woman at the desk asked.

Her eyes were honed in on Charlie, as if the two of us weren’t even there.

“Yeah, last name Martin.” He began to pull out his ID and credit card, probably used to the routine of this.

The keyboard clicked as she looked up the reservation. The lobby was quiet, with the real sounds only being the light chatter of other guests and the sound of bellhop carts rolling around.

“Got you here in a suite,” she smiled wider than necessary, and I felt jealousy course through me.

“Thanks.” I knew it was ridiculous, but even just him speaking to her had me agitated.

“Have you stayed with us before?” she asked, scanning the little plastic keys through the machine in front of her.

“Nope.”

“Well, I can tell you about all of our amenities if you’d like, we have a wide range of…”

Her words faded as I stopped listening, my arms crossed, waiting for this interaction to end.

Suddenly, Charlie’s arm came around me, pulling me close to him. “We appreciate it, but it’s been a long drive, and I think we just want to get settled.”

The corner of her mouth twitched only briefly. “That’s fine. Your room number is written on the packet.”

She handed it over and it seemed like Charlie was almost careful not to touch her, which soothed me the smallest bit.

Once settled we made it to the elevator and Charlie hit the button to the fourth floor.

“What was that?” Charlie asked me.

I turned to him. “I don’t know what you mean.”

His arm came around my shoulder and pulled me into him before he kissed my temple. “No need to be jealous babygirl. You guys are it for me.” I could feel him try to soothe me through the bond, and I had to admit it was working.

My cheeks flushed. “I’m not jealous.”

He smirked. “Yeah, okay. Tell that sent you were dousing me in your scent. I’m sure the entire lobby could smell it.”

Jesse laughed for a second, but I leaned forward and gave him a look, and he bit his lip until he stopped.

“Tell me I’m wrong.” Charlie cut back in.

I groaned. “Sorry I don’t like some rando flirting with my alpha!”

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