Lost in You

Chapter 9

"Why are you up so early again?" Maja mumbles and turns away from me while I stumble through the room with my jeans only half on yet while looking for my phone. "I think I forgot my bracelet downstairs yesterday and I have to look for it," I say. "Get it later. That hour won't make a difference now either." Maja puts her arm over her eyes when I turn the light brighter to find matching shoes. "I'm going now. I can't sleep without having looked for it and where's the point in staying here and waiting if I'm already awake?" Maja grumbles something that I can't understand and I don't ask. I'm already dressed now, no matter what she says, I'm going. Because down there I might find more than my bracelet if I hurry. I take the lift, already checking for my bracelet there. It wasn't a total excuse I used to leave the room early in the morning. Only that I am very sure I left it in one of the lockers at the spa where Maja and I went swimming last night. Which means it's safely locked in and all I have to do is ask at the reception for someone to open the locker again. When I arrive in the lobby, I already hear them. Marius turns around when I come closer. Next to him, another man seems to do the checking out. There's a huge bag and several smaller ones spread around them. "You're up early," he says and watches me come closer. "I forgot something last night and it wouldn't leave me in peace until I came looking for it." He blinks in disbelief and I realize that this could have been taken up in the wrong way. "My bracelet. I think I forgot my bracelet in a locker when Maja and I went swimming yesterday," I explain. "Oh. Then I hope you'll get it back." I shrug. "It wasn't that important, but still wanted to check before the guests wake up and someone else might find it. But you're leaving early as well," I point out. He pushes his hands in the pockets of his black jacket. "We have a long drive ahead of us," he says and shrugs likes he's used to that. "I see. Good luck with the next competitions," I say. He still looks down at the bag between us, then takes a deep, quick breath. "Did you mean that yesterday? That you'd treat every guest like that?" Again, I blushed in front of him. "Maybe not exactly like that. I'm not sure I'd even be able to do that. Depending on how many guests fall sick at the same time." I try to joke, but there is a tension between us so that neither of us laugh. I think I might even hold my breath a little, waiting for what he's going to say next. "Then we could stay in contact. I might not yet get back to the competitions and need someone to make sure I'm not bored." He looks up, careful as if he's afraid of my answer. Something about that makes me smile and I can see him relax a little already. "I would like that. I need someone reliable to get the latest results." When he smiles now, it really does look relieved. "You're still not going to watch?" he teases. "I'm not sure I have the time with exams coming closer. But take it as a compliment that I'm even interested in the results," I give back, but also hold out my phone to let him type in his number. I text him a ski emoji and his phone pings in his pocket. "It worked," I mumble as if I'd expected anything else. "That's what phones are made for," he points out and I roll my eyes. Our conversation would have gotten awkward from there on if the man hadn't finished checking them out. "We need to go," Marius said. "I'm glad I saw you again," I say and hold up my phone. "Me too." I bite my lip. "It might be that it wasn't completely coincidental that I needed to look for my bracelet right here, right now," I admit and his eyes widen a little. "You came to see me off?" I shrug. "It would have felt wrong otherwise," I say. "I considered knocking on your door again, after yesterday morning, but I didn't know what room number you have." I look at him and feel less embarrassed about coming here so early in the morning. "I'll make sure to tell you the next time we're here." The man behind us clears his throat. Marius gives me an apologetic look. "We really have to leave now or we won't make it to the next hotel in time. But I'll make sure to text you later." "Sure, I won't keep you any longer. Have a good journey," I say and we say goodbye to each other. I watch them gather all the bags and leave the lobby before I turn to the front desk myself to state my problem. I feel a lot lighter than I had a few minutes ago and it has nothing to do with the possibility of getting my bracelet back and everything with the fact that I can already feel my phone vibrate in my pocket when the car has barely driven past the front door.