Tap. Tap. Tap.
A light, irritating noise breaks through my sleep. After the sex-with-no-sex I had with Alyssa last night, my body is heavy and languid. It takes a moment to realize the tapping sound is someone knocking on the door.
My eyes fly open. Shit! Bright light is breaking through the gaps of the curtains. What time is it? I roll to my side to check the digital clock on the nightstand. 8:42 AM. Fuck! Breakfast with the kids was at eight. The workshops start at nine AM.
I glance over my shoulder at Alyssa. She’s spread out naked on the bed. I pull a sheet over her and search for my sweatpants. Tugging them on, I rush to the door and crack it open enough to see out but no one can see in. Pippa from the bus and Lily are standing in the corridor.
“Good morning, Pippa. Hey, Lily Pily. Did you have a good night?” I say, blocking the view into the room.
Pippa’s gaze travels over my bare chest then her gaze flicks over my shoulder like she’s searching for something—orsomeone.
“It was fun. We stayed up until eleven and ate candy.” Lily smiles brightly.
“How is Alyssa feeling?” Pippa asks. Without waiting for a reply, she lifts onto her toes, trying to peek into the room and calls, “Alyssa, are you coming to class?”
“Sshhh,” I whisper. “She’s asleep. She was up most of the night.” I’m not lying. We’d only gotten to sleep two hours ago. Not because she was sick like I want Pippa to believe. Because we couldn’t keep our hands off each other.
“Oh, I hope she feels better soon. Do you think she’ll make it to the workshops?” Pippa asks.
“I’m not sure. As soon as she wakes, she’ll let you know,” I assure her.
“There’s only one bed, Dad. Did you sleep with Miss Alyssa? You might get sick too,” Lily innocently says with concern.
Oh shit. I’d forgotten that Lily had seen the room configuration when we dropped off our bags. Pippa’s eyebrows rise like she’s interested in my reply.
“There are two beds, sweetie.”
Lily shakes her head. “There’s only one. Remember you said if I kicked you in my sleep, you’d make me sleep on the floor?” She giggles like she did when I teased her about it.
Scrubbing a hand through my hair, I say, “Hotel beds can separate in two. Someone from the hotel fixed them for us.” I love my daughter, but if she doesn’t drop the subject, I’ll have to gag her. “Are you here for your dance gear?” I say, steering the conversation in another direction.
“Yes. It’s ballet today, I’m so excited.”
“I’ll help her get ready.” Pippa steps toward me like she wants to enter the room.
I don’t budge. There’s no way she’s getting inside. One look at that room and she’ll know what’s going on. “That’s not a good idea. I’m not sure if whatever Alyssa has is out of her system. I don’t want you two to risk catching anything. If I get her things, do you mind taking Lily back to her room and help her get ready? Or ask Margo if she can do it please?”
“Sure, not a problem,” Pippa says, sounding annoyed. I bet it’s because I’m not letting her in.
Closing the door—making sure I lock it in case Pippa tries to follows me in—I rush to the corner of the room where Lily’s luggage is stowed. Alyssa is sitting up in bed, a sheet dangerously close to slipping past her breasts. The sooner I get Lily’s bag ready, the sooner I can get back in bed with Alyssa.
“You made two beds?” She giggles.
I put a finger over my lips. “Shhh. I don’t want Pippa hearing you,” I whisper.
She makes a gesture of locking her lips with her fingers.
Quickly collecting Lily’s clothes, I crack the door open enough to slide my arm and the bag out. “I put your toothbrush in there too.”
“Are you coming to the workshop, Dad?”
“Yes, I’ll be down as soon as I’m sure Miss Alyssa is okay. I won’t be long.”
She smiles. “Okay.”
I say goodbye to Lily and Pippa, close the door, and lean my back against it, letting out a heavy sigh. I hate lying to Lily. But now is not the right time to tell her about Alyssa. Especially in front of Pippa.
“Is it safe to speak?” Alyssa whispers dramatically.