already received her college acceptance letter.” She smiled. “University of Florida.”
I didn’t mention that I’d gone there, more out of habit. My education was not something my clients were generally interested in. “Nice.” I hadn’t pegged the cheerleader for having the grades to get in someplace like that. “But I bet you’ll miss her.”
She tucked in her blouse. “It’s only a couple hours away. She said she’ll come home every weekend.”
“She’s a good daughter.” I wasn’t sure how to ask what was really on my mind.
She slipped on her shoes, and I stood and pulled on my jeans. She moved toward the door.
“Elizabeth.”
She looked back.
“Would you tell me if you needed anything?”
“Would you let me help you?”
I didn’t answer.
She moved closer. “Don’t worry about me.”
“I can’t help it.” I fought the words, but they jumped out of my mouth anyway. “You’re my best friend.”
She grinned. “Is that what you say to all of them?”
A pause.
Seeming awkward, she reached to kiss my cheek. That was how I knew they weren’t interested in anything more than sex—when it was done, they kissed my cheek, not my lips.
“I hear you’re taking a few days off for Christmas,” she said. “I’m glad. You deserve it.”
I hadn’t realized when I decided on the days that they were Christmas Eve, Day, and the day after.
She shifted away from me.
“Promise me,” I said, “that you’ll come to me if you need anything.”
She hesitated. “All right.” She turned and walked toward the door. Before she opened it, she added, “Friendship works both ways.” Then she left.
I finished dressing and then grabbed my bag from the closet, the backpack I’d used in college a million years ago. I filled it with some clothes. Then I noticed the bag from Barnes and Noble on the shelf. I stuffed it into the backpack with no idea what I was going to do with it.
I patted my back pocket to make sure I had my wallet and then slipped out the back door.
The hotel was down the street, just shy of a mile away. The sun fell as I walked, first through the throngs of busy shoppers and then alongside of the busy road. There was no sidewalk. I probably looked like a vagabond.
The hotel was huge, new construction that sat next to the onramp for 295. The lobby was all marble and dark woods and dramatic lighting. As I approached the front desk, I wondered if the jerk who’d bothered Kimber would be here. I was surprised that time I’d met him that he was working the front counter. Perhaps it was his daddy’s way of trying to teach him thankfulness. It obviously didn’t work.
He was nowhere to be seen. I wasn’t sure if that was good or disappointing. I wasn’t in a patient mood. Beating the shit out of him sounded nice. I hadn’t fought in years, but I handled myself well. It was mostly about confidence. That was easy.
I paid for a room. Luckily, they had space. I hadn’t thought to make a reservation.
It wasn’t until I was in the elevator that I realized the girl who’d checked me in was very attractive. Something was seriously wrong with me.
I had three days to figure it out. I wondered if I could make it three days without sex, if I would make it. Perhaps I’d visit the young lady in the lobby. I hadn’t had sex just for me in a long time. Part of me wanted to do it just to defy Penny.
The extra money I spent to be on the top floor was worth it. I opened the door to the room and headed straight to the balcony that looked out to the lights of the mall. The people on the sidewalks blended together like water in a stream. Christmas lights twinkled as they wrapped lampposts—I hadn’t noticed them as I walked right by.
The view was nice, calming, far away.
I turned and went back inside, dropped my bag on the bed, and looked around the room. The colors blurred with the lack of light.
I wasn’t sure what to do with myself. I hadn’t really thought about it. I wasn’t
I didn’t mention that I’d gone there, more out of habit. My education was not something my clients were generally interested in. “Nice.” I hadn’t pegged the cheerleader for having the grades to get in someplace like that. “But I bet you’ll miss her.”
She tucked in her blouse. “It’s only a couple hours away. She said she’ll come home every weekend.”
“She’s a good daughter.” I wasn’t sure how to ask what was really on my mind.
She slipped on her shoes, and I stood and pulled on my jeans. She moved toward the door.
“Elizabeth.”
She looked back.
“Would you tell me if you needed anything?”
“Would you let me help you?”
I didn’t answer.
She moved closer. “Don’t worry about me.”
“I can’t help it.” I fought the words, but they jumped out of my mouth anyway. “You’re my best friend.”
She grinned. “Is that what you say to all of them?”
A pause.
Seeming awkward, she reached to kiss my cheek. That was how I knew they weren’t interested in anything more than sex—when it was done, they kissed my cheek, not my lips.
“I hear you’re taking a few days off for Christmas,” she said. “I’m glad. You deserve it.”
I hadn’t realized when I decided on the days that they were Christmas Eve, Day, and the day after.
She shifted away from me.
“Promise me,” I said, “that you’ll come to me if you need anything.”
She hesitated. “All right.” She turned and walked toward the door. Before she opened it, she added, “Friendship works both ways.” Then she left.
I finished dressing and then grabbed my bag from the closet, the backpack I’d used in college a million years ago. I filled it with some clothes. Then I noticed the bag from Barnes and Noble on the shelf. I stuffed it into the backpack with no idea what I was going to do with it.
I patted my back pocket to make sure I had my wallet and then slipped out the back door.
The hotel was down the street, just shy of a mile away. The sun fell as I walked, first through the throngs of busy shoppers and then alongside of the busy road. There was no sidewalk. I probably looked like a vagabond.
The hotel was huge, new construction that sat next to the onramp for 295. The lobby was all marble and dark woods and dramatic lighting. As I approached the front desk, I wondered if the jerk who’d bothered Kimber would be here. I was surprised that time I’d met him that he was working the front counter. Perhaps it was his daddy’s way of trying to teach him thankfulness. It obviously didn’t work.
He was nowhere to be seen. I wasn’t sure if that was good or disappointing. I wasn’t in a patient mood. Beating the shit out of him sounded nice. I hadn’t fought in years, but I handled myself well. It was mostly about confidence. That was easy.
I paid for a room. Luckily, they had space. I hadn’t thought to make a reservation.
It wasn’t until I was in the elevator that I realized the girl who’d checked me in was very attractive. Something was seriously wrong with me.
I had three days to figure it out. I wondered if I could make it three days without sex, if I would make it. Perhaps I’d visit the young lady in the lobby. I hadn’t had sex just for me in a long time. Part of me wanted to do it just to defy Penny.
The extra money I spent to be on the top floor was worth it. I opened the door to the room and headed straight to the balcony that looked out to the lights of the mall. The people on the sidewalks blended together like water in a stream. Christmas lights twinkled as they wrapped lampposts—I hadn’t noticed them as I walked right by.
The view was nice, calming, far away.
I turned and went back inside, dropped my bag on the bed, and looked around the room. The colors blurred with the lack of light.
I wasn’t sure what to do with myself. I hadn’t really thought about it. I wasn’t
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