He looked down. “What—”
“It’s Nana’s coat! Just take it!”
He did as she asked and stepped back from the door. Within a second it flew open and light from the foyer flooded in. Nate squinted. He could make out several silhouettes standing in the doorway.
“Oh, no! Did you get stuck in there?” The coat check girl held her hands over her chest. “I’m so sorry! I had to go get a heater for one of our elderly guests. I asked her to make sure no one went in there. I was only gone a few minutes but then when I got back she said that she needed medication from her room. She gave me the wrong room number. Twice. It felt like I was on a wild-goose chase.”
You were. Nate grinned, he didn’t think Nana would appreciate being referred to as an elderly guest, but it served her right.
Now that his eyes had adjusted, he saw Katie and Chelle Sloan peeking around the hostess. Both women had smiles on their faces that told him they found this very entertaining.
Katie who was married to Seth’s brother Jason grinned a little wider as she said, “Sorry to interrupt. We were just coming to grab our coats before we head up to the slumber party.”
“Great! I should head up there, too.” Eliza’s voice was about four octaves higher than it usually was. “Which ones are yours?”
Chelle pursed her lips together and Nate assumed it was to keep from laughing.
Katie managed to keep her composure. “The beige pea coat, and the navy trench.”
Eliza grabbed both the jackets and hurried past Nate. She handed them to their owners as all three started towards the grand staircase that headed up to the sleeping quarters.
Nate stepped out into the foyer and watched Eliza’s retreating back. Her hair was swinging from side to side as her hands waved around in animated movements as she spoke a mile a minute, the way she always did when she was nervous or embarrassed.
Maybe tomorrow, or even tonight he’d feel guilt for not telling her the truth before things had gotten out of control, but right now the only thing he thought when he looked at her was, mine.