Chapter 352
**Sara**
We pulled into the hotel's underground parking and went to the elevator. As the doors opened on our floor, I nearly collided with a couple walking past.
"Tom! There you are!" The man's voice boomed down the hallway.
I recognized Leo immediately, with Kate beside him. They both looked annoyingly fresh and energetic.
"Sara! What a surprise!" Kate's face lit up as she rushed forward to hug me. Her expensive and subtle perfume made me suddenly conscious of how I probably smelled like sweat and sunscreen after our bridge adventure.
"We were wondering when you'd arrive. How was the flight?" Leo asked.
"It was great," I said, trying not to wince as I shifted my weight. "Your family's jet is... something else."
"Did you guys just finish the bridge climb?" Kate asked, eyeing our slightly disheveled appearance. Her own outfit looked like she'd stepped off a magazine cover - not a hair out of place.
Tom nodded. "Just got back."
"Oh, the climb is incredible!" Kate gushed. "But you absolutely have to do the sunrise climb. It's magical when the first light hits the harbor."
I couldn't help the groan that escaped my lips. "Please don't encourage him. He's already threatened me with round two."
"It's worth getting up at 4 AM," Leo added, backing up Kate. "The colors are unreal."
"I don't care if you offered me a million dollars," I said firmly. "There is no way I'm dragging myself up those steps again at dawn."
Kate laughed. "Everyone says that after their first climb."
"Maybe some other time," I conceded, "like next decade when my muscles have forgiven me for today."
"Hey, we were about to have some drinks in our suite," Tom said, gesturing toward our door. "Want to join us?"
Leo glanced at Kate, who nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely. We just finished dinner ourselves."
"Your suite or ours?" Kate asked.
"Ours is already a disaster zone," I admitted. "I kind of... exploded my suitcase earlier."
Tom chuckled. "She's not exaggerating. It looks like a clothing bomb went off."
"Our suite it is," Leo said, sliding the key card into the door. He pushed it open and flipped on the lights, revealing the luxurious space.
Kate immediately kicked off her heels and perched on one of the plush armchairs. "So, Sara, how are you liking Sydney so far?"
"It's beautiful," I said, sinking gratefully onto the couch. "Tom's been an excellent tour guide."
"I bet he has," Leo smirked, heading straight for the minibar. "What's everyone drinking?"
"Whiskey for me," Tom said.
"Wine, please," Kate called out.
"I'll take whatever will make me forget I have legs," I said.
Leo laughed, pulling out bottles. "I've got just the thing. It's called tequila."
"Perfect," I groaned. "Make it a double."
Tom settled beside me on the couch, his arm casually draping over my shoulders. The familiar weight was comforting, and I leaned into him without thinking.
"So," Leo said, handing out drinks, "has my brother been showing off the city properly?"
"Definitely," I said, sipping my tequila and lime. "We did the Opera House tour this morning, lunch at Quay, the Botanic Gardens, and then the bridge climb."
"Wow, Tom," Kate raised her eyebrows. "You're really cramming it all in. What's on the agenda for tomorrow?"
"Beach day," Tom replied before I could speak.
Kate's eyes lit up. "Oh, the beaches here are incredible! Which one are you planning to visit?"
"Bondi, of course," Tom said, sipping his whiskey. "It's a classic for a reason."
"Great choice," Leo nodded approvingly. "The walk from Bondi to Bronte is spectacular, too, if you're up for it."
I shot Tom a warning glance. "No more walking. Tomorrow is a strictly horizontal day."
"You two should join us," Tom offered, looking at Leo and Kate. "We could make a day of it."
Kate and Leo exchanged a quick look that contained an entire silent conversation.
"We'd love to, but we already have plans," Kate said, swirling her wine. "Leo promised to take me shopping in Paddington, then we have lunch reservations at that new place in Darlinghurst."
"Date day," Leo explained with an exaggerated wink. "Gotta keep the romance alive."
"As if you need help with that," I muttered, watching how Kate's hand rested on Leo's knee with easy familiarity.
Leo topped off our drinks. "So, Sara, has my brother been behaving himself? I know he can be a bit... intense... when he's playing tour guide."
"Intense is one word for it," I laughed, feeling the tequila warming my blood. "He's been great, actually. Very educational."
"Educational?" Kate raised an eyebrow.
"Oh yes," I nodded seriously. "I've learned all about the mating habits of finance professors in their natural habitat."
Tom nearly choked on his whiskey while Leo burst into laughter.
"I like her," Leo said to Tom, raising his glass toward me. "She keeps you on your toes."
"You have no idea," Tom replied, squeezing my shoulder.
The conversation flowed easily after that, with Kate sharing stories about her first visit to Sydney and Leo recounting embarrassing tales from Tom's childhood that had me in stitches. By the time we finished our second round of drinks, my eyelids were getting heavy.
"We should probably let these two get some rest," Kate said, noticing my stifled yawn. "They've had quite the day."
"And they need energy for the beach tomorrow," Leo added. "The waves at Bondi can be pretty intense."
"The only intense thing I'm planning to encounter tomorrow is a beach chair," I said, stretching as I stood.
"Don't let him drag you up any more bridges," Leo called after us as Tom guided me across the hallway to our suite.
"I make no promises," Tom replied, sliding our key card into the lock.
The moment we entered our room, I made a beeline for the bed, collapsing face-first onto the plush comforter with a dramatic groan. The mattress felt like heaven against my tired body.
"I'm never moving again," I mumbled into the pillow. "This is my new home."
Tom chuckled, shutting the door behind us. "You're going to sleep in your clothes?"
"Bold of you to assume I have the energy to change."
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