Chapter 13: One Bed, One Second Chance

"Congratulations on your honeymoon!"

The hotel employee beamed as he wheeled our luggage into the suite.

Neither Adrian nor I corrected him.

Neither of us had the energy.

"Your champagne will arrive shortly," the employee continued cheerfully.

"Champagne?" I repeated.

"It's complimentary for honeymoon guests."

Adrian pinched the bridge of his nose.

"There must be some mistake."

"The reservation notes say 'newly married couple celebrating together.'"

I slowly turned toward Adrian.

"You didn't..."

"Emma, I barely managed to book a room. I certainly didn't book a honeymoon."

The employee looked embarrassed.

"I'm so sorry, sir. I'll ask reception to update the reservation tomorrow."

"Thank you," Adrian replied politely.

Once the door closed, silence settled over the suite.

We both looked toward the bedroom.

One bed.

King size.

Beautiful.

Absolutely unhelpful.

"I'll sleep on the sofa," Adrian said immediately.

"No."

"Emma..."

"That sofa is decorative."

"I've slept in airports."

"And regretted it the next morning."

"Probably."

"We'll figure something out."

He walked into the bedroom while I wandered toward the balcony.

Chicago shimmered beneath the evening lights.

Lake Michigan reflected the last traces of sunset.

It was beautiful.

Too beautiful.

If our relationship hadn't fallen apart, this would've felt romantic.

Instead, it felt like fate was mocking us.

"Still thinking?" Adrian asked quietly behind me.

"Always."

"Dangerous habit."

"You've noticed."

"I notice most things."

I smiled sadly.

"I know."

For a moment, we simply stood beside each other.

Not touching.

Not speaking.

Just watching the city.

"Do you remember," Adrian suddenly asked, "the first picture you ever sent me?"

I laughed softly.

"The burnt pancakes?"

"They looked like hockey pucks."

"I was learning."

"You almost burned down your kitchen."

"I exaggerated for dramatic effect."

"Emma..."

He looked at me.

"You actually sent me a smoke alarm video."

"It was funny."

"It was terrifying."

"You stayed on video call until I finished breakfast."

"Someone had to make sure you didn't poison yourself."

For the first time in days...

The conversation felt normal.

Comfortable.

Then both of us remembered why things weren't normal anymore.

The silence returned.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

He sighed.

"You're making it very difficult to stay mad at you."

"Is that good?"

"I haven't decided."

A knock interrupted us.

Room service.

The same cheerful employee returned carrying a silver tray.

"Complimentary champagne... and chocolate-covered strawberries for the honeymoon couple."

I buried my face in my hands.

"Thank you," Adrian said before I could explain.

Once the employee left, I looked at him.

"Why didn't you correct him?"

"Would it have changed anything?"

"Probably not."

"Exactly."

"People are going to think we're married."

"We've survived stranger situations."

"Like me wearing a wig?"

He laughed.

"Please never remind me of that again."

"Deal."

He poured two glasses of sparkling water instead of opening the champagne.

"Not drinking?" I asked.

"We have a presentation tomorrow morning."

"Responsible."

"I'm trying."

"You've always been responsible."

"Not always."

His voice grew quieter.

"I ignored a lot of warning signs because I was in love."

The words landed heavily.

"Adrian..."

"I don't regret loving you."

"Then what do you regret?"

"Not asking more questions."

"That wasn't your fault."

"Maybe not."

"It wasn't."

He studied my face for several seconds.

"You know what confused me the most?"

"What?"

"After I discovered the truth... I started replaying every conversation we'd ever had."

"And?"

"Nothing felt fake."

"Because it wasn't."

"That's exactly the problem."

I frowned.

"How?"

"You lied about one enormous thing... but everything else was honest."

"Because I wanted you to know the real me."

"Except for the part that mattered most."

"I know."

"Emma..."

"I know."

He rubbed his forehead.

"Do you have any idea how frustrating that is?"

"Yes."

"No, I don't think you do."

"Try me."

"Every memory I have with you is both genuine... and built on a secret."

I closed my eyes.

There wasn't anything I could say to fix that.

So I didn't try.

"I'm listening," I said instead.

"That's new."

"I'm trying to earn trust."

He nodded slowly.

"Thank you."

Dinner was simple.

Sandwiches.

Soup.

More conversation than either of us expected.

We spoke about work.

Travel.

Books.

Almost everything except us.

Almost.

Later that evening, Adrian carried a blanket toward the living room.

"Seriously?" I asked.

"I'm sleeping here."

"The sofa is tiny."

"I'll survive."

"You're six foot two."

"I've survived worse."

"No."

"Emma..."

"The bed is enormous."

He looked at me.

"You're suggesting...?"

"I'm suggesting adults are capable of sleeping on opposite sides of one mattress."

"After everything that's happened?"

"Exactly because of everything that's happened."

"You trust me?"

"With my life."

"Even after I said I don't trust you yet?"

"Those are different things."

He stared at me.

Then quietly smiled.

"You're impossible."

"I've heard that before."

"Fine."

"Fine?"

"One bed."

"One bed."

"Strictly sleeping."

"Obviously."

"No stealing blankets."

"No promises."

Half an hour later, we were lying on opposite edges of the enormous bed.

There was enough space between us for another person.

Neither of us moved.

The room lights were off.

Chicago glowed outside the windows.

"Emma?" Adrian whispered.

"Hmm?"

"Are you awake?"

"Yes."

"Me too."

"I guessed."

"Can I ask one last question?"

"Always."

"When you first realized I was your boss... what was your first thought?"

I smiled into the darkness.

"Honestly?"

"Always."

"I thought..."

"...there's no way the grumpy CEO who rejected my budget report is the same man who sends me cat videos at midnight."

Adrian burst into laughter.

"You still remember that report?"

"You wrote 'Needs improvement' in red."

"It did need improvement."

"You were unnecessarily dramatic."

"I was professionally dramatic."

"Same thing."

We laughed together.

Really laughed.

Not forced.

Not awkward.

It felt like finding a small piece of what we'd lost.

Eventually the room became quiet again.

"Good night, Emma," Adrian said softly.

"Good night... Adrian."

For the first time since the truth came out...

I fell asleep feeling hopeful.

Just after midnight, a loud crack of thunder shook the hotel.

I woke suddenly.

The lights flickered.

Another crash echoed across the city.

Half asleep and completely startled, I instinctively rolled toward the warmth beside me.

A pair of familiar arms caught me before I even realized what I was doing.

"Emma?" Adrian whispered sleepily.

I froze.

Realizing I was curled against his chest.

Before either of us could move...

The bedroom door suddenly swung open.

"Mr. Carter!"

A hotel manager rushed inside with a flashlight.

"We're so sorry to disturb you, but the storm has triggered a temporary evacuation of the upper floors—"

He stopped mid-sentence.

His eyes landed on us.

Two people.

One bed.

One embrace.

"...I'll come back in thirty seconds," he muttered awkwardly before backing out and quietly closing the door.