The Forbidden Man by Karina Halle

Author:Karina Halle [Halle, Karina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Karina Halle

Chapter 18

Alejo

Even hours after winning El Clásico, I’m still full of so much energy and adrenaline, I’m not sure what to do with myself. Everyone wants to go out drinking and partying in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, and I’m tempted, considering it’s one of my favorite cities.

But my need to be with Thalia trumps all of that.

So while they’re off drinking, I tell them I’ll join them later, that I’m going to call my mother and brother. I’m not sure if they believe me or not, but since family is as sacred to them as it is to me, they let it slide, so long as I make an appearance.

And I do quickly text my mother and brother, but then I’ve only got one thing on my mind.

My interactions with Thalia tonight have been professional and brief but I text her to make sure she’s around and to find out what her room number is.

It’s important that I don’t get caught going to her room. I’m sure I could pass it off as something innocent if I tried — perhaps she has to take a look at my knee to make sure there was no damage done from my fall, but I would rather not raise any suspicion at all.

Her room is at the opposite end of the hall from mine, by the elevators.

I slip down the hall, dressed in black track pants and a white shirt, totally not the thing you’d plan on wearing out for a night of partying, and just as I’m about to go to her door, the elevators open and Rene steps out, dressed in slacks and a dress shirt.

“Hey, you coming right?” he says to me. “I forgot my nice shoes.”

I glance down at his shoes, Adidas trainers.

“Some bars won’t let you in without dress shoes,” he says, looking me up and down. “And as much of a pretty boy as you are, no one is letting you in dressed like that.”

“I’ll meet you later,” I tell him, and quickly lie. “I’m just getting some ice.”

He gives me a funny look.

“Ice machine is the next floor up,” I go on, pointing to the elevators.

“You’re not carrying an ice bucket,” he muses.

“Oh, right.”

I turn to walk back to my room, and he walks with me, stopping at his room.

I grab the ice bucket from my room, but then he’s outside my door and talking my ear off about both the game and all the girls he’s going to score with tonight as he walks with me back down the hall to the elevators.

Well, shit.

He presses the down and up buttons on the panel.

The up elevator arrives first.

Guess I have to go in.

I give him a wave goodbye as the elevator takes me up to the floor above. As soon as those doors open, I immediately push the button for them to close.

That button never seems to work.

Finally, the doors close and I press the button for my floor, and the elevator takes me back down.

The doors open.

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