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The hotel manager had shown up with security.
I'd heard the jerk on the phone through my earbud. He'd called hotel security.
Leo stopped and looked at me for instructions.
I signaled him to wait.
If they really called the cops, damaging property was a crime. I couldn't drag Leo into that.
"My earbud is in there. I need to get my things."
The security guard wasn't having it.
"If you are not registered guests, you need to leave the premises immediately. You are disrupting our hotel's operations."
Two of them stood in front of the door like sentinels, blocking us.
The manager stepped forward to explain.
"If you have personal issues, resolve them elsewhere. You cannot cause a disturbance on our property."
He made a "please leave" gesture.
I got it. The hotel had to protect their guest.
The jerk had only registered himself yesterday, saying I didn't need to be added.
Great.
Now I wasn't even considered a guest. I had to leave.
Harper looked disappointed. All that built-up excitement, and the show was getting cut short.
The manager stood there, waiting for me to move.
"Fine. Since I'm not a guest, you're kicking me out, right? Then get me a room!"
The manager was caught off guard for a second.
"I'm sorry, we are fully booked tonight."
I'd been waiting for that. I showed him the confirmation on my phone from the booking app I'd just used.
"You said you were full. How could I book a room then?"
The manager's face flushed.
"Well, you still can't stay here. You need to go check in first."
I handed my ID to Leo.
"You go check in. I'll stay here and make sure that pair doesn't run."
Harper, re-energized, pushed her cousin.
"Go, go! And try to get a room on the 5th floor!"
The manager took Leo downstairs, leaving Harper, me, and the two security guards in a standoff outside room 503.
The pair was probably right behind the door.
The six of us just stood there, motionless, our heads lined up like the six dots on a domino.
