Chapter 34
Hot Springs Resort just threw open its doors, and the ads have been pulling in folks non-stop.
David rolled up to Hot Springs Resort with Alice. After flashing their invite at the front desk, the receptionist personally escorted them to the swankiest room in the joint.
"This room's specially reserved for Mr. Tudor by our boss!" the receptionist chirped.
The double bed was decked out with rose petals in a heart shape, balloons, and streamers all over the walls. The room smelled like a dream. At the entrance, there were two pairs of slippers, one gray and one pink. On the dining table sat an unopened bottle of red wine and two glasses.
Alice shot a slow look at David.
David sighed, whipped out his phone, and dialed his buddy.
As soon as the call connected, Desmond Young's voice boomed through the noise. "David, you there yet?"
David held the phone away a bit. "I'm standing at the door of the room you set up for me."
"Hahaha! You dig it?" Desmond laughed loudly, "Knowing you were coming, I set it up just for you! You like it?"
David's face darkened. He glanced at Alice, took a few steps away, and said coldly, "I brought a kid here to chill. Alice is only 19. What’s with the romantic setup?"
Desmond was stunned. It took him a few seconds to react, "You didn't bring your girlfriend?"
Desmond looked embarrassed. "I checked the guest list and the rooms left when I came over, and there’s nothing else available."
Desmond scratched his nose guiltily. "How about this? You and Alice crash here for the night. Some folks are only staying one night, so there’ll be rooms open tomorrow. I’ll have the staff clean it up for you then, cool?"
David glanced at Alice on the sofa.
Alice was curled up with her legs, lost in her phone.
This trip was supposed to cheer Alice up, and this mess was a curveball. If he pushed for a room change, who knew if it’d bum Alice out.
"Alright then." David agreed.
Desmond breathed a sigh of relief, clasped his hands together, and apologized again, "Sorry, man! If I knew you were with a little girl, I wouldn’t have set up this room. I’ll have someone clear it out right away!"
Alice watched as the rose petals on the bed were scooped into a basket and taken away, the balloons and streamers on the walls were also removed. She even saw someone pull a bunch of stuff out of the bedside table drawer and quickly stash it in a black plastic bag, like it was stuff she shouldn’t see.
Once the room was back to normal, David brought Desmond in to introduce him to Alice.
"Alice, this is Desmond Young, the owner of Hot Springs Resort and my buddy."
"This is Alice, Lucas's granddaughter. She's 19." David stared at Desmond, making sure to emphasize the age of 19.
Desmond smiled awkwardly, "Hey, Alice, right? Just call me Desmond."
"Desmond," Alice called out.
Desmond perked up.
He hustled over to Alice, whipped out his phone, and pulled up a map to give her the lowdown.
"This spot's for the ladies' hot springs, this one's for the gents, and there's a mixed one, but it usually opens after 11 p.m. We got all kinds of food and drinks while you soak, and we got staff at the entrance to keep any creeps out. If we catch any, well, let's just say a beating is the least of their worries."
Desmond wasn't as ambitious as Dylan and David, who could build companies. He was more into running leisure spots like Hot Springs Resort, golf courses, and fishing grounds. He didn't rake in the big bucks, but he lived easy.
"About a five-minute drive from here, there's a big entertainment venue I own," Desmond said, puffing up a bit. "After soaking tonight, come find me. Don't worry, if anyone messes with you, just holler, and I'll handle it."
Alice nodded, then glanced back at David.
David asked, "What's up?"
"Are you gonna soak in the hot springs later?"
David was caught off guard for a sec, then joked, "What? You wanna join me in the mixed bath?"
Alice shrugged, "If you don't mind, I don't either."
Desmond looked between Alice and David, then hustled over to David, throwing an arm around him and dragging him to the corner.
"What's wrong with you?" Desmond said, all serious. "She's only 19! Have you been single so long that you say such creepy stuff to a young girl?"
David was quiet for a few seconds. "I didn't say anything creepy."
"You mentioned a mixed bath. That's creepy!" Desmond looked at David like he couldn't believe it. "Alice just asked if you were gonna soak, and you twisted it into an invite to join her in the mixed bath?"
David was speechless.
"David, you're such a perv," Desmond scolded.
When it was almost dinner time, Desmond had the resort chef start prepping dinner.
Alice stood at the foot of the double bed, arms crossed, looking troubled.
David came out of the bathroom and saw her face. Just as he was about to say something, Alice suddenly spread her arms, jumped onto the soft bed, grabbed the quilt, and rolled around a few times. Then she sat up with messy hair and a blank look, "The bed's mine."
The room went silent.
David couldn't help but laugh. He walked over, tidied Alice's hair, "Alright, the bed's yours."
Alice let out a sigh of relief.
Remembering the nightmare of sleeping on the sofa last time in David's apartment, she was set on making David experience it this time.
David dried his hair, grabbed a hairdryer to finish the job, then picked up his phone and room card, and took Alice to the restaurant for dinner.
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