Chapter 1: Room 237
Chapter 1: Room 237
"The hotel," I repeated.
Before anyone could stop me, I lifted the hem of my wedding dress and ran.
Guests turned as I hurried through the grand lobby.
Whispers followed me.
The bride wasn't supposed to be running.
She was supposed to be walking down the aisle.
The hotel manager caught up with me near the elevators.
"Miss Carter, is everything all right?"
"I need the guest registry."
"I'm sorry, I can't—"
"My fiancé is missing."
The seriousness in my voice erased every objection.
After a brief phone call to security, he nodded.
"Maverick's room was checked out this morning."
I frowned.
"He wasn't staying here."
The manager looked back at his screen.
"No."
"But someone reserved another suite under a corporate account."
"Room 237."
My heart pounded.
The elevator doors opened.
Each floor felt like an eternity.
When I reached Room 237, the hallway was silent.
I knocked.
No answer.
Then I heard laughter.
A man's laughter.
Followed by a woman's voice I would recognize anywhere.
Penelope.
The hotel manager unlocked the door with a master key.
The room slowly opened.
Inside...
Wedding decorations covered the bed.
My bouquet's matching ribbon lay across the dresser.
Two champagne glasses stood half-empty.
Maverick froze.
Penelope stood beside him.
She was no longer wearing her lavender bridesmaid dress.
She had changed into a white silk dress.
Not identical to mine.
But close enough.
Neither of them spoke.
Neither of them needed to.
Everything I had feared was standing right in front of me.
Penelope finally whispered,
"Amy..."
"It's not what you think."
I looked at the white dress.
The packed suitcases.
The airline tickets on the table.
Then back at both of them.
May you like
"It is exactly what I think."
And I walked away before either of them could say another word.
