Page 5 of Room Service
“I did not pimp you out. Don’t be so vulgar.”
“Then what would you call it?” I ask.
“Ensuring you have a better life than—”
“Yeah, yeah, better life than you and Dad, I got the memo. It’s all I’ve heard for years. Don’t worry, it’s well drummed in, but that still doesn’t answer my question.”
The silence stretches between us, my eyes boring into her as I wait for her to give up the answer. And when she does, I feel like my whole life has been a lie.
“He bought our house, and he made sure we had enough money to live off for a few years.”
“Oh my god,” I say on a breath as it whooshes out of me. “And let me guess… that money is running out.”
Her silence speaks volumes.
“Unbelievable,” I say as I grab my coat off the back of chair and put it on. I need to get out of here. I need to get away from the very person who should never have even thought to do this to me. But there is one last thing I need to ask her before I go… “Are you even sorry?”
She holds her head high, nothing but a hard look in her eyes. “I did what I had to do, and when you’ve seen sense, you’ll realise that too.”
“Except it hasn’t panned out the way you wanted, has it? The guy I married is broke and I’m working as a goddamn maid to make sure I keep a roof over my head. I gave up my hopes of a career because you were too selfish to let me forge my own path.”
“He was a good man once, and he can be again. You just have to work a bit harder to make it happen.”
Fucking hell. She’s not got a clue.
I don’t say another word as I leave, shutting the door quietly behind me and making my way to the park to try and process the shitshow that is my life.
I sat in that park for hours, but the only conclusion I kept coming to is that my mother and father just wanted what was best for them and fuck the consequences. Having already grieved the loss of my parents’ love, I just became numb. Numb to them, numb to Derrick, numb to anything to do with my personal life. It didn’t even hurt like it should have, because they’d already hurt me previously. It was more like the final nail in the coffin. So, I made my plan, and I will see that plan through. I have to. For me, and only me. I blocked out that conversation with my mother, we’ve put a fake front over it, and this is the first time in a long time that I’ve let myself remember it for what it is—a fucking betrayal.
And yes, I may have let Derrick fuck me back when I was truly trying to give the marriage a shot, but it meant nothing. I felt nothing. It was just sex—really crappy sex.
I know people would judge me for that alone, but they haven’t lived my life. They wouldn’t have the first idea about how I’ve felt and dealt with all the crap thrown my way. They don’t get to belittle me because I don’t tell them anything. It’s easier that way. Celeste is the only person I’ve ever truly let in, and it will stay that way until I’m able to work through all of the emotions stored up inside me and really let them go.
I’ll get there, but for now, I need to cook this food for Derrick, and then I can retire to bed, where I’ll dream of a future that looks a little less dark.
Chapter Five
ELISE
Room twenty-nine.
I’ve stood outside it for the last five minutes. It’s on my list for today. Bugger. I already double checked with the schedule coordinator to make sure it definitely required housekeeping this morning, and they confirmed that it does.
I hope that means he’s vacated the room and isn’t in there in all his manly glory to make me feel like a goddamn teenager with a crush.
With a deep breath, I open the door and see the room is empty. That means nothing though, as I thought it was empty the other day, so I strain my ears and listen for any sounds coming beyond the bathroom door. I wait several seconds, but there’s nothing.
Okay, get in, get out. Simple.
I have no idea why I’m acting so bloody erratically about this guy, but the sooner I’m out of here, the better it’ll be for my bloody sanity.
I quickly strip the bed, noticing another three condom wrappers on the side table as I do. It figures he’d be a bit of a player. I can see why women would fall at their feet for him—hell, I almost had myself.
I gather the wrappers and throw them in the small bin next to the side table. Why on earth they couldn’t manage to throw them in the bin themselves, I have no idea, it’s not even that far to go, for goodness’ sake. I go about my business, making everything clean and fresh, admiring how the room seems to glisten now I’m done. Feeling pleased with myself, I gather up my supplies and make my way to the door, only for it to open and fly straight into me. I let go of everything I’m holding, and it splatters to the floor as I struggle to remain upright.
“Shit,” I blurt out as I struggle to regain my balance and start to fall backwards. I close my eyes, waiting for the inevitable thump to sound as I hit the floor, but it doesn’t come. Instead, I feel a body behind me, arms going around me, and the distinct feel of someone’s breath on the side of my neck as they hold me in position.
And not just anyone’s breath. Not just anyone’s arms. Not just anyone’s fucking body.
