Room Service
Chapter 5
Air burning in her lungs, Lily rushes in through the iron-wrought gates of the hotel, handbag slapping against her hip as she semi-jogs up the entryway, towards the entrance. Shit, shit, shit!
Her coffee maker had chosen a very inopportune moment to take its last dying breaths earlier in the evening that day, and so she'd had to resort to getting her usual dose of espresso from the Starbucks located two streets over.
Now, thanks to the slight detour in her schedule, she's—a glance at her watch—a full fifteen minutes late to work—which, all things considered, probably isn't that big a deal, since she's never been late before, but the twinge of panic settled beneath her ribs doesn't seem to understand logic all that well.
She pulls in large gulps of oxygen, stood right outside the entrance to the lobby, and takes a second to pat down her hair, unwilling to look like an escapee from a madhouse when she strolls in. The doorman, Nick, holds the door open for her, eyebrows arched in amusement, and Lily chuckles sheepishly before walking inside with a grin. "Thanks, mate."
The split second of distraction from the view before her that this interaction requires, costs Lily rather expensively when she collides against someone just two steps from the doors with vehement force.
"Fuck," she hisses, eyes scrunching and grip tightening around the coffee cup, whose lid pops clean off from the pressure, sending some liquid sloshing over the rim before she manages to right herself. "Ah, crap. I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking—"
"Evans! Oh, thank fuck, it's you—" Lily looks up at that summer-warm voice, eyes latching onto familiar hazels and a relieved smile, which is quick to turn into an alarmed grimace a moment later. "Not that—I mean, I'm not glad that you almost dropped coffee on yourself! Are you alright? Did it get your fingers?"
"A bit, but I'm fine. We'll get this cleaned up, don't worry." She transfers the cup to her other hand and readjusts the lid, shaking out her fingers to rid herself of the coffee residue. A half-turn and a longer look at James reveals that he's dressed in a cool blue button-down shirt and black trousers, jaw clean-shaven and smelling faintly of some pleasant after-shave. But beyond the pleasant flutter that takes flight in her stomach at the sight, the suitcase handle gripped in his hand catches her attention more pointedly. "What's—are you leaving? I thought… um, I thought you were staying here until the 31st?"
Under the haze of dejection clouding her vision, she almost misses the way his eyes light up a bit at the question. But before the mortification of her transparency can catch up to her, James's gaze falls to his watch. The very next second, his brows pull together in the middle, feet shifting restlessly.
"Fuck, I'm really late, I—" he looks up, "no, no, not leaving the hotel. I just have a client meeting in Southampton, and I'll be back by tomorrow night."
"Oh, alright." Lily nods, probably smiling a little too brightly for what the news demands, but can't find it in herself to reign it back in when his expression softens. "Have a good meeting, Potter."
"James, and—" he blows out a quick breath, fingers running through the spilling black of his hair. "—I was, um, wondering if I could have your number?"
Sorry, what now?
Her lips part in surprise, mouth running dry. "My number?"
"Only if you're okay with it!" James hurries to add, pink splashing over his cheeks as his eyes dart between both of hers anxiously. "I swear I won't bother you if you don't want to give it. And I won't pester you all day if you do, either. It's just that—well, I thought… ah, God, Evans! I really don't have a good enough excuse right now, so if you could just say something so that I don't miss my damn train—"
"Go on, then." Lily nods her head towards the doors with a quirk of her brow. Disappointment flashes over his face, plain as day, but he gives her a tight-lipped smile nevertheless, stepping back with a curt nod. Before he can fully turn away from her, however, she decides to put him out of his misery. "Keep an eye on your phone, Potter. I'll text you."
Based on the speed with which he looks back at her, she fears he's snapped his neck. "You're—what?"
"Well, I already have your number from the booking. So, I figured it'd be faster if I texted you, what with your imminent danger of missing the train and everything." She lets her smirk widen, bolstered by the way his whole being seems to come alive again. "It's just practical, wouldn't you agree?"
"Absolutely. You're so smart," he agrees immediately. Lily laughs, watching as he looks torn about something, still. "You really will? Text me, I mean?"
"Just as long as you leave first." She rolls her eyes fondly. "Goodbye, James."
"There we go," he echoes himself, finally grinning, vibrant and glowing, as he turns around after another prolonged look at her. "Goodbye, Evans!"
Lily finds herself still smiling by the time she approaches the reception desk, and notices Mary's watchful gaze on her, chin propped up on daintily folded hands. The smirk on her lips has already curled to dangerous levels, and Lily instantly schools her features with a loud clearing of her throat.
"You know, that was—"
"Don't even start."
Mary laughs so loud she chokes on her own spit.
WhatsApp Private Chat
Lily Evans to James Potter
5/10/2021 08:53 p.m.
xxxxx
Lily: Hello Bill
Greetings from The Golden Stag
James: Evans! Hi!
Look at that, would you? We have inside jokes already!
You know what they say...
Lily: That you're shite at being a receptionist?
James: That they're the mark of true friendship
Excuse you I make a beautiful receptionist!
You simply feel threatened by my superior customer service prowess
Lily: Tell me
Is your journey to Southampton turning out to be MAGICAL?
Do you wish to kiss the fingers of the train driver for it?
James: It is, thank you for asking
And I might just do it. You'll feel appropriately embarrassed of your teasing then
Lily: I doubt I'll be the one feeling embarrassed in such a situation James
Also I suppose I can safely assume that you did not miss your train now
James: You said James!
Typed*
You're right, I did not, despite all your coffee-spilling efforts. But I must admit I would not have minded too much if you had dramatically shown up at the station to stop me
Lily: I literally spilled the coffee on myself not you
James: You said James!
Typed*
Lily: You already sent that once
James: Yes but you didn't respond to it so I thought I'd say it again
Lily: Was the Typed* necessary a second time?
James: Didn't want to pretend that I was suddenly cooler twenty seconds later
Lily: You're an idiot
Okay I've gotta go now. Someone's about to check out
James: Okay
No wait
LILY!
Lily: Yes yes I'm still here
What
James: Thanks for texting me
Lily: Bye, James
Have a good journey
A/N - Thank you for reading! Come say hi on Tumblr xx