And then Jamie-boy says, “Good. I could really use some sleep, I’m exhausted.”
And then I look at Sean and he looks at me, and it turns out we weren’t done laughing after all.
Twenty
Twenty minutes later we drive up in front of a fancy stone building. At first I think we’re just turning around because this couldn’t possibly be the “little place” Sean was talking about. This is the kind of hotel people stay at when they have so much money that they just never have to think about the fact that money even exists. Even Amanda’s family doesn’t stay in hotels like this one.
But Sean pulls all the way up to the front and stops the car where the valets are. A guy in a navy-blue uniform opens the door and Sean gets out, and meanwhile more people in identical blue suits are opening the Jamies’ doors and my door, too, and I am so confused as to what exactly is going on here that at first I just stare at the guy who just opened my door. He’s this guy in his twenties with blond hair who looks kind of amused at what I’m assuming is the rather shocked look on my face. He holds out his hand, and I finally get the hint and take his hand and get out of the car.
Sean gives the valet his keys and the valet gives him a ticket. And then the valet says he’ll get someone to come out and take our bags for us and then Sean says thank you and smiles and gives the valet a bill that he has somehow magically procured from his wallet without ever opening his wallet and the valet is all “very good, sir” and “thank you, sir” and none of them seem to think it’s odd that he’s calling Sean “sir” even though Sean’s younger than he is. Then we stand there for a second, the four of us, and Sean reaches up in the air and stretches his arms over his head.
“I think this place might be a little bit out of our price range,” says Jamie-girl.
“Don’t worry about it,” Sean says. “My treat.” Then he raises his arms over his head one last time before he starts walking toward the building.
“So, what, is your boyfriend like some trust-fund baby or something?” Jamie-girl puts her hands on her hips and gives me this weird, almost accusatory look, but then instead of waiting for me to answer, she whips her head around and follows Sean toward the tall oak doors. Good thing, because I’m just about as confused by this as she is.
The four of us walk through the doors together, and the moment we’re inside, three of our jaws drop. This is, without question, the fanciest room I have ever been in in my life: There are pure white marble floors flecked with gold, floor-to-ceiling windows draped in yards and yards of cream colored silk, an arched ceiling rising four stories overhead, and what must be the world’s largest crystal chandelier dangling in the center of the room like a glittering planet.
“And you’re paying for this for real? Like with money?” Jamie-boy asks slowly. “We’re not going to have to jump out the windows in the morning or sneak out in the laundry hamper or some shit?”
Sean laughs and shakes his head. “Don’t worry about it, dude,” he says. “Seriously. I’m paying. With money.” And with that Sean walks up to the counter and starts talking to the receptionist. A minute later, I walk up behind him just as she is saying, “And so the rate for each room will be four hundred fifty for the night, plus tax.” I hear her voice catch for a second when she says the price. I wonder how many of these rooms she rents to teenagers in T-shirts and jeans. I feel my heart pounding. Maybe Sean didn’t realize it was going to cost this much when he offered to pay for all of it. I mean, obviously he didn’t because that is insane, right? I try and calculate how many days of working at Mon Coeur it takes me to earn this much money, how many days it probably takes my own mother working at her job to earn this. The total for the two rooms is about what my mom pays in rent every month for our entire condo.
But Sean just nods casually and hands her a black and gold credit card and a moment later, she hands him the two sets of swipe-card room keys. Two bellhops come to lead the four of us up to our rooms. Jamie and Jamie are completely silent in the elevator, they just keep exchanging these glances like they think they’ve just won the lottery.
“See you guys tomorrow,” Sean says. A second later we walk into the room and Sean gives the bellhop a couple folded bills. And then a second after that the bellhop’s shutting the door behind him with the faintest of clicks.
Twenty-one
And then we’re alone.
“I hope you’re not too disappointed that I put our Jamies in a separate room,” Sean says. “I just thought perhaps they needed some private time.” Sean grins.
And I grin back. “I think they already had their private time in the car,” I say.