But wait. She’d better double-check that she wasn’t taking the diva act too far.

She leaned forward.

“Guys—are you sure you’re up for carrying me to my room? If not, we can—”

“Theo, I think she’s calling us weaklings,” Ben broke in. “She’s saying we aren’t strong enough to carry her up to her room. Are you going to take this lying down?”

Theo shook his head.

“Oh, absolutely not. That’s an insult I won’t stand for.” He turned to the back seat. “Maddie. Zip her in.”

Maddie saluted him.

“Yes, sir.”

Anna folded herself back up. She was grateful for all of the yoga she’d done over the past few years, which made it possible for her to fold her body like this. And that movie she’d done early in her career where she’d had to hide under a bed for hours, which had forced her to get rid of any latent claustrophobia. Maddie zipped the suitcase most of the way closed, and Anna smiled to herself.

Then she thought of one more thing.

“Hey, Maddie?”

She could feel Maddie’s head come down to the suitcase.

“Yeah? Everything okay in there?”

“Oh yeah, everything’s fine. But, um, if you can, without being obvious—can you take some pictures of this? In the lobby, I mean. I desperately want to see this from the outside.”

Maddie chuckled.

“Oh, don’t you worry. There’s no way I’d let this go without being memorialized. I’ll head into the lobby while they’re getting you out of the car, so I can get the best vantage point.”

No wonder Ben had called his brother and Maddie. He was right, she was a pro.

She normally wouldn’t have asked for evidence like this—she normally would have specifically banned evidence like this, actually—but while they’d been waiting for Theo and Maddie at Ben’s apartment, she’d googled Maddie based on what Ben had said about her and had been reassured. If she’d worked for a member of the royal family—especially that member of the royal family—the woman must know how to keep her mouth shut; she probably had way more top secret photos on her phone than of a suitcase. And it was clear Ben had already told Theo and Maddie about them—he’d just said “Anna” on the phone to Theo, who had known exactly who he was talking about.

Plus, she probably wasn’t the only one who had noticed she and Maddie had gotten along well; she was pretty sure there was no way Maddie would jeopardize her career—or any potential professional relationship—by blowing this secret sky-high.

Anna could feel the car slowing down. They must be pulling up to the hotel now. She felt that same giddy anticipation she’d felt when they’d left Ben’s apartment. This was just so profoundly ridiculous, and she loved everything about it.

Early in her acting career, when it was just starting to get off the ground, she’d felt this kind of thrill about all of the fun, actressy things she’d gotten to do. When she’d met Denzel Washington, when she’d gotten fitted for an awards show dress for the first time, when she’d first been in People and Us Weekly in the same week. But then, all too quickly, that glitter had faded, and all of those previously exciting things had become imbued with stress. Now when she got fitted for dresses, she worried about whether she would win or lose at the ceremony. Now when she met another actor she’d respected for years, there were often so many cameras pointed at them she couldn’t relax. Now when she was in People, she worried about what the less-kind celebrity press was going to say about her later that day.

It had been a long time since she’d just let herself relax and do something ridiculous like this, one of those wacky celebrity stunts she’d never believed could be true until she’d become one herself.

She certainly never would have expected that she’d let a guy she’d slept with—was sleeping with? Was it present tense or past? She’d figure that out later—and his brother carry her around in a suitcase to dodge the press. Or that she’d enjoy it. Life was full of surprises. All she knew was that walk from Ben’s apartment to his car had been hilarious, and she hoped the trip from the car to her hotel room would be just as fun. She couldn’t wait to see Maddie’s pictures.

“See you in there,” Maddie whispered when the car stopped. The car doors opened and she felt Ben, Maddie, and Theo all jump out of the car.

“Oh, no, thanks, we’ve got it,” Ben said. To the bellhops? “Precious cargo.”

Anna couldn’t help but smile. She could just picture the smirk on his face when he said it. So many men had hit on her in so many elaborate ways, but Ben’s corny compliments got to her.

And then, slowly, she and the suitcase slid across the back seat.

“One, two, three!” Ben said, presumably to Theo. At three, they lifted her out of the car and up the steps of the hotel.

She could tell as soon as they got inside, just by the quality of the sound. The wind from outside was gone, replaced by the din of tourists and travelers and bustling staff. But she had no concept of what direction they were moving in.

Oh no. What if someone stopped them on the way up to her room? Hotels like this had tight security, which she usually appreciated, but now it might be her downfall. What if someone thought Ben and Theo looked suspicious with that enormous suitcase and asked them where they were going? What would they say? She should have called ahead and told the hotel that she would be getting a delivery, and to let them up, just in case. Because now . . . oh God, if they tried to say they were with her, there was no way for her to verify it. Her phone was in her bag, currently on Maddie’s shoulder, so even if she could contort herself enough to send a text message inside this suitcase, she wouldn’t be able to.

Anna made herself take one long deep breath, and then another. Okay. This would be . . . a little weird, but it would be fine. She’d have to pop out of the suitcase; that was what she’d have to do. Hopefully the manager would question them somewhere private, so she wouldn’t have to do it in the middle of the lobby. Despite her fears, she fought back a giggle at the mental picture. That would definitely get her some tabloid headlines.

“Excuse me.” Ben and Theo halted at the woman’s voice. Oh no. This was it, that must be the manager. She was a woman; she’d introduced herself to Anna early on in her stay. Anna had liked her, very no-nonsense but with a sense of humor. She’d at least laugh when Anna popped out of the suitcase.

“Guys. The elevator to the room is that way.”

Maddie. The voice was Maddie. Anna’s shoulders slumped in relief.

“I told you it was that way!” Ben hissed.

“You did not! You didn’t tell me anything!” Theo whispered back.