3
401words
"Get over to the Crystal Hotel, now! We're catching a cheater!"
The excitement in Harper's voice was impossible to miss.
I could practically see her jumping out of bed.
"What? Bennett is cheating? Hold them there, I'm on my way!"
Shouldn't she offer sympathy and comfort first?
Why so excited?
I guess juicy gossip trumps friendship.
Well, the good news was I was overthinking it.
Harper couldn't be the other woman.
"Don't charge in yet. Wait for me!"
I was about to hang up when Harper's voice got even more hyped.
"Oh! Should I bring my drone and gimbal? The footage would be epic!"
When we went on trips, she never wanted to bring that gear. Now, for some drama, she's suddenly motivated?
"Sis, I'm the one who got cheated on. Why are you so pumped? Just hurry up!"
Harper finally seemed to realize her tone was off and put on a fake concerned voice.
"Sorry, I forgot for a second! Don't worry, I'll help you make him pay!"
As she was talking, my ride arrived at the hotel.
I hung up and marched straight to the front desk.
"Hi, I'm a guest in room 503. I need a replacement key card."
The clerk looked wary.
"I'm sorry, you're not listed on the reservation. I can't issue you a key."
I guessed she'd figured out what was going on when I called earlier.
She definitely wasn't going to let me up.
"The reservation is under Bennett Lowell. He's my boyfriend. I was staying there with him yesterday."
"I'm sorry, it's policy. You can contact Mr. Lowell to come down, or we can call him for confirmation. If he agrees, I can make you a key."
That would tip him off!
If the jerk knew I was here, he'd bolt with his fling. My whole ambush would be ruined.
"No, no. I'll call him myself to come down."
I sat on a lobby sofa, trying to figure out how to get upstairs.
The elevators needed key card access.
Without one, I was stuck in the lobby.
That pair was probably having the time of their lives upstairs, while I was stuck down here breathing cold air.
The frustration and hurt I'd been holding back all day suddenly burst out. Tears started streaming down my face.
