A parking attendant knocked on the glass, and Ruby slid across the seat to step out of the truck. The hotel loomed before her, its exterior an elegant blend of dark stone and gleaming glass that reflected the city skyline. Bronze lights flanked the grand wooden double doors, casting a warm glow against the cool morning air.
“The TCA covers it,” Ruby explained as Kavya tugged a bag that probably weighed more than she did out of the backseat.
Kavya frowned. “You don’t even sleep.”
Ruby shrugged, took the bag from Kavya with one hand, and slung it over her shoulder. “True. I mainly use the hotels forshowers and watching TV or reading while I wait for Lucas to give me a new assignment. But, I have a rewards program with this one.”
Jonah remained quiet, observing the exchange as he retrieved his jacket and bag from the back of the truck.
“They made us stay at motels until Jonah’s YouTube channel blew up,” Kavya grumbled as she passed the keys to the valet. “Now we get to stay at nicer places, but nothing like this.”
The setting sun cast a golden hue across the building's surface, the evening air brisk against Ruby’s exposed arms. She was still in her torn tank top and looked forward to glaring back at the judgmental looks she’d receive in the lobby. Just as she was about to head inside, Jonah draped an old, russet leather jacket over her shoulders.
She turned to him, puzzled. “You know I don’t get cold, right? Part of the whole thermy, undead thing.”
Jonah shrugged, his expression unreadable. “Thought you might want to avoid the stares.”
She tightened the jacket around her shoulders, feeling the soft, worn leather warm against her skin. “Thanks,” she grumbled, choosing to believe it was out of the kindness of his heart and not to avoid being seen with a woman who looked like she’d wrestled a bear. He wouldn’t be the first man to ask her to cover up.
The three of them walked through the hotel lobby, the click of their shoes echoing against the polished marble floors. The space was grand and opulent—dark wood-paneled walls accented with gold accents, chandeliers that dripped crystal from the high ceiling, and plush velvet seating in deep burgundy arranged near a roaring fireplace. Soft music drifted from hidden speakers, blending with the faint hum of conversation from a few guests lounging in the lobby. Fresh flowers, perfectly arranged in oversized vases, added a sweet fragrance to the air.
Ruby winked as they passed by a well-dressed couple at the reception desk, their curious eyes following her. They took the stairs up to the fifth floor. Surprisingly, neither Jonah or Kavya questioned this. They trailed behind her in silence.
A few minutes later, they entered Ruby’s hotel room. Two pristine, white-sheeted queen-sized beds faced a large flat-screen TV. On the bedside table sat complimentary snacks from the hotel: an expensive box of chocolates and an even pricier bottle of champagne.
Jonah set his bag on one of the beds and sat on the edge. “Wanna shower first?”
Ruby nodded in relief, grateful for the chance to wash off the remnants of the hospital. The scent of antiseptic clung to her skin and hair and the hospital bracelet she forgot to remove rubbed against the inside of her wrist.
Kavya threw herself onto the empty bed with a groan, burrowing under the covers as if she hadn’t slept in days. She pulled out her phone, snapping a quick picture of herself grinning widely.
At Ruby’s confused expression, Kavya wiggled her left hand in the air. “For the wife.”
“How long have y’all been together?” Ruby rifled through her bag for clean clothes.
“Four years,” Kavya replied with a fond smile. “Married two months.”
Ruby smiled back, even as a pang of something bittersweet settled in her chest. Her own ring was tucked away in a storage container in a small town in Texas—abandoned, but never far from her mind.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” Kavya’s voice was warm, filled with the kind of joy that only someone deeply in love could express. A disgusting jealousy swarmed her chest. While she was as happy for Kavya,there would always be a part of her that yearned for that same kind of connection. The idea of growing old with someone, of sharing a life, was an impossible dream for someone like her. She would outlive anyone she came to care about, forced to bury them while she remained unchanged.
It wasn’t worth the pain, but that didn’t stop her from longing for it. For someone to care about her the way Kavya obviously cared for her wife.
Ruby nodded, with clothes in hand, headed for the shower. She took her time, watching as the water swirled down the drain. She scrubbed hard, her skin turning pink for a second before the irritation healed itself. The rhythmic sound of the water against the tile filled the small bathroom, but it didn’t ease the tension coiled in her muscles.
When she was convinced all traces of dried blood and hospital stench was gone, she stepped out, wrapping her hair in a towel. Although she didn’t age, her hair still grew, albeit slowly, like an afterthought of the bacteria inside her. At least she didn’t have to worry about it all falling out and being left bald. Some women looked great bald; she, however, had a lumpy head. And two moles. And a really pale scalp. She pulled on an athletic skirt and a t-shirt before tossing her damp hair into a claw clip.
By the time she stepped out of the bathroom, the room was filled with the quiet hum of sleep. Kavya sprawled across one of the beds, snoring softly, her body twitching every so often, her mouth wide open. Jonah sat on the other bed, focused on his phone, a pile of clothes next to him. When he looked up, his eyes widened in surprise at her appearance.
"Not so bad when I’m not covered in blood, ash, or old lady smell, huh?" Ruby teased, trying to lighten the mood.
Jonah shook his head and smiled. “You’re beautiful either way.”
The unexpected compliment caught her off guard. She let out a disbelieving laugh, feeling both flattered and confused. “I’m heading down to the bar. Let me know if Lucas reaches out.”
Jonah nodded and disappeared into the bathroom, leaving Ruby alone with the soft, rhythmic sounds of Kavya’s breathing.
