Since this was a vacation, I had decided to treat myself by touring the simplest yet most important places.
So I decided to start with—
THE LOBBY.
I mean, it only made sense.
People walked in and out through there every day. Musicians performed there. Guests sat around, talked, waited, ate, and probably did a hundred other things I had never bothered to notice.
So, naturally, I had decided to experience it firsthand.
I stepped out of the elevator and began heading toward my destination.
But before beginning my very important tour, I decided I should have breakfast first.
A tour on an empty stomach?
Absolutely not.
I made my way to the regular dining hall and took a seat.
A waiter approached me almost immediately, handing me the menu.
I glanced through it.
Since I wasn't looking for anything heavy, I settled for something simple.
"Just a couple of crisp toasts, please," I said. "And when I say crisp, I mean almost nearly burnt."
The waiter gave me a slightly confused look.
"Nearly burnt?"
"Yes. There's a very thin line between crispy and completely destroyed, and I trust you to find it."
He nodded slowly.
"And a cherry fruit drink."
He took my order and left.
I sat back, rubbing my palms together in anticipation.
I wasn't sure why I was so excited about toast, but at that moment, it felt like the most important meal in the world.
After a while, the waiter returned.
He placed the plate in front of me.
I stared.
It looked exactly how I had imagined it.
NEARLY BURNT.
I smiled.
"Now that's what I call good listening."
I immediately picked up a piece and took a bite.
Crisp.
Almost burnt.
Perfect.
I followed it with a sip of my cherry drink.
Then another bite.
And another.
It went on slowly, bite after bite, until I suddenly looked down at my plate.
Empty.
I blinked.
Well.
Maybe I didn't realize I was this hungry.
I called the waiter, and he came immediately, taking the empty plate from my table.
With my stomach satisfied, I stood up and began my tour.
Don't judge me.
A vacation was a vacation, and I had made it my personal mission to experience everything this hotel had to offer—even the things people usually walked past without a second thought.
I started with the reception desk.
Nothing particularly exciting was happening there.
There were just guests checking in, asking questions, and dragging suitcases behind them.
Still, I watched for a few seconds before moving on.
The lobby itself was much larger than I had initially noticed.
The marble floor reflected the warm lights hanging from the ceiling, while elegant furniture was scattered throughout the space. Plush sofas surrounded little glass tables, giving guests places to sit and relax.
A few people were having conversations.
Others were glued to their phones.
One man looked like he had been waiting for someone for so long that he had practically become part of the furniture.
I continued walking.
Then I spotted a grand staircase.
I stopped.
It was beautiful enough to make me want to take a picture of it.
So I pulled out my phone and snapped one.
Then I continued on my way.
I passed a small café area where guests sat with cups of coffee and pastries. A little farther away, I noticed several paintings hanging across the walls.
I stopped in front of one.
I stared at it.
It stared back at me.
Neither of us understood what the other was trying to say.
I moved on.
Then I heard the music I had heard countless times whenever I rushed through the lobby.
I followed the sound until I found a pianist playing near the far end of the lobby.
I smiled.
Now this is what I came for.
I stood there for a while, listening as the music floated through the lobby, blending with the soft chatter of guests and the occasional sound of luggage wheels rolling across the marble floor.
It was strangely peaceful.
People were moving everywhere, yet the music somehow made everything feel slower.
I wandered toward the huge windows overlooking the city.
The view was beautiful.
Cars moved along the streets below while buildings stretched into the distance, their windows catching the sunlight.
I leaned slightly closer to the glass.
Maybe touring the lobby wasn't such a ridiculous idea after all.
I turned around and continued walking.
There was even a concierge desk tucked near one side of the lobby, where guests stopped to ask questions about restaurants, transportation, and places to visit.
I couldn't help smiling.
I had technically come to this city for a simple and a little chaotic vacation.
Yet somehow, I was standing in my hotel lobby acting like it was a tourist attraction.
Honestly?
I was enjoying myself.
It was then I realized, I had completedly forgotten about deadlines, manuscripts, meetings, or everything waiting for me back home.
I was just...
Aubrey.
A woman on vacation, who had just eaten nearly burnt toasts and was now currently touring a hotel lobby like it was the eighth wonder of the world.
And strangely enough, I was perfectly okay with that.