Sophie grins at her. ‘Exactly! I wrote that down, too.” She points to an item on her list. “And we can use the lounge as a concessions area since it has a kitchen and popcorn machine. I already called Rebecca Piedmont, the team owner, and she said she’d cover the cost.”
“Girl, you are on fire!” Mia gestures to Sophie’s notebook. “What else do you have on that list?”
“That’s it so far. We need more activities. Do you have any ideas, Lil?”
My childhood isn’t exactly a pool of resources to draw from, but I do remember loving to color andmake things on rare occasions. “What about multiple tables set up with different crafts? Kids love being creative and don’t always get the opportunity. When they finish one, they could move on to another table to do something different.”
“Oh, I love that idea!” Sophie jots it down, then studies me. “Sounds like you had some experience with this. Did you have younger siblings you helped take care of?”
I tilt my head. “Something like that.”
Mia groans. “I had to babysit my little brother all the time. And the only thing he liked to play with was Legos. I knew I was in trouble when I began looking at everything in terms of how I could build it with Legos.”
Even that one makes me laugh, which seems to please Mia. I’m beginning to see her sarcasm for what it is—a shield to hide some kind of insecurity. And I’m more than familiar with shields and cover-ups. I became a pro at it growing up as I did, turning it into a skill that’s served me well as a bodyguard, but I also recognize it in others.
By the time we reach the hotel, Sophie has organized our ideas into an action plan. The woman is an organizational force to be reckoned with, that’s for sure. As we walk into the lobby, I do a scan to locate Payton and assess any potential threats or situations. He’s waiting with the rest of the team and winks when he spots me.
Next, I search for Del. By the elevators, a blonde woman turns around and tugs on her earlobe, which is our signal for ‘we need to talk.’ She looks pensive as well when she swings her handbag in the direction of the restrooms.
“I need to run to the bathroom. Can you guys watch my bag for a sec?”
“Sure.” Sophie rolls my suitcase closer to hers.
Mia swivels her head toward me. “Probably a good idea. It takes a while to get the team checked in so we’ll have a few minutes. I need to go, too.”
Blast. There goes my plan to talk to Del. Unless I canmake up some excuse to take longer. I make sure Mia enters the restroom first so Del won’t jump the gun before she knows I’m not alone.
She’s sitting at the vanity mirror in the lounge area, fussing with her hair, a.k.a. wig, with the contents of a make-up case strewn about the counter. I give her barely a glance as I follow Mia through the archway leading to the bathroom stalls. Mia darts into the first one, and I take the next. Hopefully, she’s not one of those women who waits around for her friend.
A few minutes later, I hear her leave the stall, then the sounds of water running. “Lily, do you want me to wait for you?”
“No, I’ll be right behind you.”
The faucet squeaks when she shuts it off, followed by the tug of paper towels from the dispenser. “See you out there, then.”
When I hear the bathroom door tap shut, I dart out and wash my hands.
Del rounds the corner as I’m drying them. “That was a close one. I didn’t know the Olsen twins were coming.”
“Neither did I. Payton turned this into a girls’ weekend.” I use air quotes on the last two words.
She crosses her arms and leans against the wall. “You need to tell him no more surprises.”
“No kidding.” I toss my paper towel wad into the receptacle. “Obviously, I’m going to have to be more specific with him. He’s very good at finding his way around the rules.”
“I suspect he’s also good at finding his way around you.”
I frown at her. “What does that mean?”
The corners of her mouth tip up just so. “Do I really have to spell it out? The man is smitten with you. I’m the one watching, remember?”
Good thing she’s at the arena. Everyone saw that one but her. “We’re justplaying our parts.”
Del rolls her eyes. “Oh, doll, if you think that, you’re more gone than I thought.”
I give her a pointed look. “I’m not gone. I’m right here. One hundred percent.”
She sighs and taps a finely manicured nail on the counter. “Sweetheart, this vanity is more solid than you are right now. I’ve never seen you give in to a principal like you have this one. Makes me wonder what’s going on behind closed doors. Incidentally, that includes shower doors.”
