Page 76 of Sweeter than Honey
Maybe I can tell Renata about what’s happened. Maybe there’s something that she can do to stop Dylan.
But the more I think about it, the more I know that I can’t drag her into this. I know enough about Dylan to know that he’ll make good on his threat. If evidence…realevidence, like the kind I know is on my laptop…were to leak, that could cause big trouble for everyone here. And if the newspapers found out about the relationship between Renata and I…I know it would be as bad as Dylan said, if not worse. That would be a huge scandal. I could never risk that happening to Renata.
And Eli…Ican’tlose Eli. I might work primarily for the hotel, but I’ve been privy to Celine and Renata’s underground business dealings, enough that I might be compromised if there were an investigation. Even if I’m not charged, I might lose my ability to see Eli, for long enough that Dylan could get custody of him. Dylan works for thelargest legal firm in Silverlake City, and he has excellent representation. I just don’t have the same sort of resources as he does. It would be easy for him to get custody, if he can demonstrate that I’m not a fit parent.
An unbidden image pops into my mind, and refuses to budge. The night that I found Renata with Eli, after she put him to bed. The tender expression on her face, the love in her eyes, warmed my heart. There was just a second, just a moment, when I thought that maybe I could have it all. That maybe the three of us could be a family.
But when I asked her about it, at the restaurant, she came up with an excuse.
And when I told her I loved her in her crypt, she didn’t say it back.
I heave a heavy exhale. I know I feel something real for Renata. Something that I’ll never feel for anyone else. But I know in my heart that her first love will always be her work. I can’t ask her to choose between the hotel and me.
It was always going to end this way…
I just thought we had more time.
Chapter 26: Hollow
Renata
My night gets off to a bad start. I’ve received a long list of complaints from hotel guests about the influencer event in the water park, and a report outlining the damages to our largest water slide. My contractor is saying they’re going to have to shut down the water park for at least a few days in order to make sure it’s still safe.
It’s the busiest season for families at the water park, and the timing couldn’t be worse. Fuming at my younger sister, I read through the reports, trying to figure out how to minimize the damage.
My phone rings. I click the speakerphone button.
“Hi Ren!” says a chipper voice.
“Amrita?” I reply. “You know how to use a phone?”
“I’ll have you know that I once spent amagicalevening with Alexander Graham Bell,” the vampire-witch says haughtily.
I raise an eyebrow. “You never fucked Alexander Graham Bell.”
“Ok, fine, you’re right,” she sighs. “But I could have, if I had wanted to! Everyone knows he got around.”
“What do you want, Rita? I’m very busy.”
“I have some ideas about the conference next week,” she says. “I know that we’ve already decided on the room assignments, but I think I actually want to do somethingcompletelydifferent…”
I groan. “Rita, we’ve been over this! No more last-minute changes.”
“Yes, but picture this,” she says, dramatically. “Enchanted portals.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, and I really don’t want toknow…”
“If we have time-altering portals, then everyone can attend all of the sessions that they want to! They don’t have to worry if they want to attend two sessions that are scheduled at the same time. They can just…”
“That soundsverycomplicated, and difficult to organize. Do you even know any witches who can pull that off?”
“Yes, but he lives in Iceland, and we have to pay him in magic beans.”
I rub my temples in frustration. “Ok, I’m hanging up now, Rita!”
The door opens a crack, and Lily pops her head in. I breathe a sigh of relief.
“Finally, someone here to make my life easier,” I say. “You won’tbelievewhat Rita just called about…”