“Not enough to kick me out, right? C’mon, I was just looking out for my little sister.”
“I need to call him right now.”
She jumps out of the bed.
“Say hi to him for me! Take your time while I soak in that massive tub.”
I press Tristan’s contact information, bursting with the need to thank him for the trip, to scold him for how much it costs, and to apologize for the last ten years of thinking he was a jerk.
“Hi, sweetheart,” he answers. “Are you already by the pool?”
“Tristan! Why would you do something so extravagant! This is costing you a fortune.”
“Actually, it’s not. I was asking around for the best hotels with spa services in Dallas—and don’t argue because you deserve to be pampered!—and the WAGs pulled the strings for the suite. I was just getting a room, but why turn down a good thing, right?”
“The WAGs?”
“Wives and girlfriends of the team. One of them has a friend in Ritz corporate offices and convinced them to upgrade you. A hardworking high school teacher pregnant with twins deserves some TLC, after all.”
My mind is swirling with questions. First of all, every high school teacher in the country deserves TLC! Why me? And why would people I don’t know burn a favor on my behalf? Finally, is Tristan expected to return the favor in some way?
“Tristan, who do I even begin to thank? It’s weird to have people I don’t know pull strings for me. I’m so grateful toyou, but does this mean you owe someone a favor? A company like this will want some kind of public statement or something.”
“That’s all figured out. Don’t worry.”
“Does the corporate office person have a crush on you? What if she expects, you know . . .”
He chuckles. “I’m flattered that you think my pretty face is what swayed the executive of a fancy hotel chain. Truth is, we can thank the team for that, too. Next time we’re in Dallas, we’re going to the Ritz hotel bar and posting on social media. It’s a win-win.”
“I have to thank the team and their wives and girlfriends! That’s a lot of people going out of their way for me. Not sure I’m OK with that.”
“Ligaya, you deserve this. They know it. I know it. Ami knows it. Sit back and enjoy your vacation, sweetheart.”
“Really? Just like that? Have a dream vacation in a palatial suite inside the swankiest hotel in the city?”
“Yes. Just like that.”
I pause to consider this unprecedented turn of events. From across the hall, Ami’s out of tune rendition of an Adele love song wafts through the living room. She’s clearly having a blast.
“Ami told me about how she ball-busted you that summer.”
“I’m over it, Ligaya. Please don’t be mad at your sister.”
He sounds sincerely worried about my reaction to Ami’s confession. “You must have been mad at me though, right?” I cringe, remembering how upset I was.
Tristan clears his throat before speaking.
“I wasn’t mad, Ligaya. Just disappointed, but I figured it was for the best since we were off to college, anyway. Your sister was looking out for you. I get it.”
“How did I miss it, Tristan?”
“Miss what?”
“How amazing you are. How thoughtful. We bickered so much in high school. And I held a shitty grudge that clouded how I saw you for so long. But you’re an incredible, thoughtful, kind person. Even then, you had loads more maturity than me. I’m sorry I didn’t see it.”
He’s quiet for a beat.
“Here’s the thing, Ligaya. Maybe Ami got in the way ten years ago, but we’re adults now, with twins on the way. Our babies are coming this summer.” He’s choked up. “I wouldn’t change a thing if it meant everything led to this.”
