The final words from Mrs. Williams were met with nervous applause. The room buzzed with a palpable mix of excitement and tension as the women imagined the one special person they hoped to find—and who might try to beat them to him the following morning. Ariel's mouth felt dry as she glanced back at Mandy. Their gazes locked for a brief, tense moment. Mandy's cool smile met Ariel's brittle one.
That Mandy.
"Well, I suppose that’s all for tonight. I wish you all luck come morning," Mrs. Williams declared with a large grin, dismissing the crowd.
Ariel slowly rose from her seat, hoping to blend into the departing crowd. Her escape was thwarted when the old woman called out softly, “Noah’s room is located in the back half of the Inn.”
Ariel blinked, startled. She looked around, but no one else seemed to have heard the exchange. Mrs. Williams's words had been almost a whisper, yet they felt like a shout in the quiet room. After a moment, the old woman gave Ariel a knowing nod and left, her expression saying, You know what to do. Ariel could barely contain her urge to sink back into her chair.
"Coming?" a voice asked from behind her.
It was Taylor, her smooth smile spreading across her red lips. Ariel straightened up, frowning, and led the way out the door, with Taylor and Mandy following closely. As they moved through the congested hall, whispers floated around them.
"I'm going to sleep outside of Akito’s door tonight; it's the only way I'll avoid Daichi asking for my hand tomorrow!"
"Daichi? Eww. I hope I'm not stuck with someone horrible."
Ariel focused on the wooden floor beneath her feet, trying to shut out the conversation.
Noah. Jasper.
Lost in her thoughts, Ariel nearly collided with Leroy.
"Easy, Ariel. Trying to take me out?" Leroy joked, coming face to face with her.
"Oh, sorry, Leroy..." Ariel mumbled, stepping back.
"How about that meeting, ladies?" Mr. Warner asked, approaching and taking Mandy’s arm with a meaningful look.
Ariel pursed her lips, choosing not to comment. Jasper, however, seemed impatient with trivial matters.
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"If that's all, Mr. Warner, we’ll call it a night."
Mr. Warner, slightly taken aback by Jasper’s abruptness, glanced at the women but then nodded.
"That's everything."
"Good. Then you’ll excuse us," Jasper said, looking expectantly at the rest of GPI.
"Sure, good night to you all. I think I’ll be seeing you early tomorrow."
As Ariel turned to leave, Mr. Warner’s last sentence made her pause.
Who will Mr. Warner pick? Mandy? Shiloh? The mystery woman... but he can't.
A warm hand rested on Ariel’s shoulder. Looking up, she saw Leroy gazing down at her with kind eyes.
"If you need any reinforcements tomorrow..."
Ariel smiled. "I’ll know where to find you."
The smile faded when Mandy’s familiar voice reached her ears.
"Good night, Jasper. Thank you for the Magnolia," Mandy said, standing firm as Jasper tried to usher her out the door.
Jasper turned to face her, offering a slight nod. "You’re welcome."
A blush crept over Mandy’s cheeks, and Ariel’s cheeks flamed as Mandy allowed Mr. Warner to lead her away.
That Mandy.
As the halls grew emptier, their group moved with relative ease.
"Any news?" Ariel whispered to the monk, her eyes trained on Jasper’s dark figure ahead.
A smirk appeared on Leroy's lips. "Nothing to report except twice the usual glares."
Ariel let out a relieved breath; she had had more than enough surprises for one night. John fell into step beside them, appearing lost in thought. With a slight frown, Ariel touched his shoulder.
"John?"
The priest blinked and looked at her warmly. "I’m fine. Just thinking."
Ariel nodded, sharing his preoccupation.
"Thank you again, John, for the Magnolia," she said after a moment, glancing at a couple kissing goodnight.
The priest’s humble smile was met with a soft blush on Ariel's face. "You’re very welcome, Ariel."
The monk huffed beside her. "He wasn’t the only one to give you a Magnolia, but I see how it is..."
"Hm... you’re right, Leroy; there was that other guy..." Ariel replied thoughtfully, her eyes sparkling playfully.
The monk shot her a look. "Thanks."
With a sigh, Ariel summoned her most dramatic expression of gratitude and took Leroy’s arm.
"Thank you, Leroy, for my Magnolia and hair clip."
Leroy looked down at her, nodding. "That’s more like it."
As they continued walking, Ariel noticed the numbers on the doors beginning to lower: twenty-two, twenty-one, nineteen...
Room eighteen loomed ahead. With purposeful strides, Taylor passed them.
"As fun as all this has been, I’m going to have to say goodnight," the priestess said, reaching for her door handle and pointedly avoiding the monk’s gaze.
But Ariel noticed—stealing a glance—Leroy’s gaze was not avoiding the priestess.
"Goodnight," Ariel and John echoed as Taylor shut herself in her room.
The lighting in the hall was dim, but Ariel could have sworn she saw a slight blush touch Taylor’s cheeks. Ariel nudged the monk, who let out a belated "night" as the door closed.
"What?" Leroy shrugged at Ariel’s hard look.
Shaking her head, Ariel looked away. Sometimes Leroy...
Their small group continued on in thoughtful silence, following Jasper’s lead. A moment later, room seventeen appeared.
"Tonight was nice. You enjoyed it, didn’t you, Ariel?" John wondered as they approached his door.
Ariel smiled as brightly as she could, hoping Mr. Warner and everything she had seen that night didn’t show in her eyes as she gazed back at the priest.