“I know Superman,” I say. I wasn’t born yesterday, I know my comic book characters. Well, the ones that have their own film and television franchise.
The little girl seems to wake up at our chatter. “You do?” Amelia’s eyes widen, and she rubs the sleep away. “Can I meet him? No, wait. I want to meet Supergirl.”
How am I supposed to tell this kid that Supergirl and Superman aren’t real?
I don’t want to break her heart. She’s so sweet and innocent. I head for the trunk, and Douglas opens the lid, retrieving my luggage for me. I didn’t bring much, just one suitcase with a bunch of dirty laundry.
I reach for my luggage, and Levi scolds me. “Let Douglas carry your bag to your room.”
“I can handle it,” I say.
Douglas grabs the second suitcase and carries Levi’s bag to the front door, leaving it in the foyer for him.
“Are you always this difficult?”
“I like to think I’m self-sufficient.”
He chuckles under his breath, and I wait for him to make some snide comment, but he doesn’t. Instead, he heads in through the front door, carrying Amelia as she squirms in his grasp.
I follow behind him, lugging my heavy-ass suitcase from the vehicle, up the front steps, and into the foyer. The house is grand. Magnificent. A royal orgasm.
“Are you a prince or something? Because that would explain this place and your daughter being a princess.” I realize that Amelia isn’t a real princess, but the house is just overwhelming.
“Quit sucking up. You already have room and board,Airplane Girl.” He puts Amelia down, and she hurries away from him, running down the hallway, arms wide out like an airplane. “Aww shit,” he mutters.
“Didn’t remove the antique vases and expensive artwork from her level?” I should bite my tongue and thank him for giving me this opportunity. I get to live like a princess for a week until he realizes I’m worthless and tosses me on the street.
It’s inevitable.
“She’s five. I didn’t need to babyproof the place,” he says, and pauses, his jaw tight. He hurries down the hallway after Amelia, to see what trouble she’s stormed into.
I leave my heavy suitcase by the front door. I should have taken the offer for Douglas to carry my luggage to my room. For starters, I don’t know which room is mine, but he might have known where the guest room is. Not to mention the bag is heavy. And I don’t think Levi would appreciate my cheap-ass bag scuffing up the marble floor.
Douglas pulls the car away, and I shut the front door, locking it.
Holy hell. This place is huge.
From the outside, it was grandiose, and it doesn’t appear any smaller on the inside.
So, this is how the rich live. Damn, it must be nice. I’m jealous, but at least I get to spend a week here.
“Hey, is there a hot tub?” I shout.
I glance around the empty foyer. Is it just the three of us, or does Levi have staff that tends to his every whim?
“You’re not getting naked in my pool,” Levi says, carrying Amelia back into the entrance of the house. Her arms are straight out like she’s flying, and he’s zipping her through the air.
The kid is smiling and giggling, and Levi looks a hell of a lot lighter. Happier.
“Supergirl!” Amelia shouts.
“Follow us upstairs,Airplane Girl,” Levi says. The name almost sounds endearing, but I don’t think he means it in any sweet manner.
I grab my pink suitcase and refrain from groaning as I lug it up the stairwell. The second floor is at least carpeted, so I roll the bag the rest of the way until he leads me to my accommodations.
“Your room is right next door to Amelia,” Levi says. He opens the bedroom door for me. The bed is made, and there are yellow lacy curtains hanging in the window. They don’t do much to keep the sunlight out. I’ll be up at dawn. Wonderful.
I leave my bag near the inside of the door and follow Levi next door to get a glimpse at Amelia’s digs.