Page 123 of Next Level Up
“Feels fake,” I say.
She grins, her eyes misty. “It’s not. You earned every molecule of it.” She touches the base like it’s a holy relic, then wipes her fingers on her jeans like she doesn’t trust herself not to cry.
I squeeze her tighter, tears threatening to make a second appearance. “I thought you couldn’t come.”
“I worked a half shift and lied to my boss.” She pulls back. “Do you think I was gonna miss your villain origin story just because I had a couple meetings?”
James steps in with the coffees. “Congratulations,” he says, offering Carter a nod and a tentative smile. “And uh, you were amazing out there, seriously.”
Tate grins. “Thanks.”
Cassie looks at me again, her eyes scanning every inch of my face. “You’re glowing,” she says quietly. “Like, actually glowing. It’s kind of rude.”
I blush. “Well,we did find a private room and—”
“Don’t finish that sentence,” James says, lifting his hands. “No offense. Huge fan of your channel. Just don’t need the bonus content.”
SCENE BREAK
The walk back to the hotel is quieter than everything that came before it.
We make it upstairs to our room without much talking, the hallway outside the room dim and empty compared to everything we just walked through. Carter unlocks the door, holding it open while I step inside first.
The second the door shuts behind us, something in me gives. Not in a bad way, just release.
I set the trophy down on the dresser carefully, and press my hands over my face for a second before letting them fall. “I need a minute, or ten.”
Carter nods immediately. “Take it.”
Tate jerks his chin toward the bathroom. “Go, before you crash standing up.”
I step into the bathroom and turn the water on, steam fills the room slowly, the mirror fogging over as I sink into the bath and let the water close over my legs. The heat hits me all at once, pulling a quiet breath out of my chest as I lean back and close my eyes. For the first time all day, it’s quiet. No crowd and no pressure.
I don’t realize how tense I’ve been until it starts to ease out of me. There’s a knock on the door after a few minutes.
“You alive in there?” Carter’s voice.
“Barely.” I call out softly.
The door opens just enough for him to lean against the frame, careful not to let the steam spill out too much. Tate is behind him, dropping onto the bed, one arm thrown over his face like he’s finally letting himself feel the exhaustion he’s been ignoring.
Carter watches me for a second, his expression softer now that everything else is over. “You look like you’re about to fall asleep in there.”
“Don’t tempt me,” I murmur, sinking a little deeper into the water.
“You will,” Tate says from the other room. “And then we’ll have to come drag you out, and I’m not in the mood to deal with that.”
“You’re always in the mood to deal with me,” I call back.
There’s a pause. “Yeah, just not right now.”
Carter huffs a quiet laugh and shifts his weight against the doorframe. “Do you want anything? Water? Food? You barely ate earlier.”
“I’ll eat later,” I say. “I just needed this first.”
He nods like that makes sense. “Take your time sweetheart.”
He just stays there for a second longer, watching me like he’s making sure I’m actually okay now that everything’s settled. “I’m so proud of you Haven,” he says finally.
