Page 113 of Reckless

“You miss it?”

“Sometimes,” she leans back slightly so her shoulder is against my chest. “It’s been so long since I lived in Chicago. I could still find my way around with my eyes closed. Not much changes.”

“Are your parents still living here?” I never thought to ask that before. She’s talked about her childhood here and how she never left the city, choosing to go to college here. She only moved away after graduating.

“Yes, but they’re away at a conference for dad’s work, in New York,” she lets out a sigh.

“It would have been nice for you to see them.”

“It would, but I already knew they wouldn’t be around when I got here for the convention.”

I’m not sure if I’m making her sad talking about her parents. If she already knew they weren’t going to be here for her visit, I’m sure she’s not that upset.

“Would you like a drink?”

“Sure. Wine?”

I kiss the top of her head and walk over to the bar. Checking the fridges and cupboards, I find what I’m looking for. It’s fully stocked, and not just with wine.

“Red or white?”

“White, please,” she leans closer to the glass, pressing her hand against it.

I still have no clue what she is thinking about this huge change in scenery, and I hate it. Quickly, I open the wine and pour two glasses, then walk over.

“Here you go.”

She turns to take it, and I clink my glass against hers. We stand in silence for a moment, then she laughs.

“What?” I ask in confusion.

“We’re staying here all week.”

“You don’t like it?” I grimace.

“It’s gorgeous.”

“Fuck, you scared me. I thought you were going to say this is too over the top.”

“Oh, it is so over the top, Jude,” she laughs.

Her whole face changes and I can’t help but think she just needed to get her head around it. It is a blatant display of my wealth.

“I’m not gonna say take me to the Holiday Inn instead. Come on, let’s look around. There are so many rooms.”

She releases my hand and heads towards the bedroom. It’s like a switch got flipped and she’s back to her usual self.

“You’ve been messing with me,” I move after her, then lightly slap her ass. She yelps and looks at me over her shoulder, not hiding the grin.

“A little. I was just surprised.”

She turns again and heads into the bedroom, and straight to the bathroom, on the hunt for the bathtub and shower.

I follow her, leaning a shoulder against the door to the bathroom, watching in amusement. I guess I did right because she is smiling as she looks around. Who’d have thought amongst all this opulence and show of wealth, she was only interested in the damn bathroom.

Krista steps into the huge shower still in her shoes.

“I have no chill at all,” she peeks her head back around the frosted door. “This is insane, Jude.”

---