Back in my room, I showered to wash the remnants of Finn—his touch, taste, smell—from my skin and tried to focus on the positive. It was better to find out Finn was exactly like every other guy in Manhattan now, so I could gird my loins from falling even deeper in…I quivered. This was not love.

I was still in my towel when there was a knock on my door. “Ms. Gellar.”

Startled, I dropped my deodorant on the floor.

Another knock. “Ms. Gellar,” Lorraine repeated.

“One second,” I called before scurrying to the door, hiking up my towel on the way. My reservation didn’t include flashing Lorraine my 32 barely Bs.

“This is your checkout reminder,” she said from the other side of the door. “Please be out by noon so I can clean up for the next guest.”

My towel fell to the floor. Shit. Technically, I was late to check out, but since I planned to extend my reservation, I didn’t think she’d mind. Given how empty the place had been all week, I doubted anyone was waiting for my room. By the time I got myself decent and popped my head into the hallway to confirm, she was already down the hall, leaving behind only a hint of her flowery perfume.

Fifteen minutes later, I made my way to the first floor and with each step, the noise coming from the common room got louder and louder. I froze at the bottom of the stairs. The place was packed!

I felt the need to warn the poor innocents that Pleasant Hollow wasn’t much of a vacation destination, but first I had to find Lorraine. I weaved through the maze of people and luggage. Spotting her near the kitchen, I said, “Excuse me” and slid between a silver-haired couple who were gesticulating wildly. I kept my arms pressed tightly to my sides to avoid getting caught in the line of fire.

Whack. I lurched upon impact with a little boy—correction: a wet little boy—who’d crashed right into me. I took a step back and tripped on an umbrella. “What the actual fuck?” I said, instantly regretting my profanity in the company of a minor, but the child either hadn’t heard me or had already rushed to tell his parents about the lady who cursed.

I found Lorraine in the crowd and told her I needed to extend my stay.

Except instead of asking for my credit card as expected, she shook her head. “No vacancies. We’re at full capacity.” She gestured out the window. “Pretty treacherous conditions out there.”

I followed her line of vision. My mouth opened and stayed that way. Never mind cats and dogs, it was raining lions and wolves. “How long is it supposed to last?”

“Long enough for people to get off the road and book a room for the night.”

The hair on my arms stood up.