Page 3 of Strip for Me

“How arewe going to get the hotel to tell us anything about Andre?" I ask Liz as we stand outside the hotel he had brought me to. It's in town, and it’s one of the most expensive ones. I know he must have some money to be able to afford a room here, I Googled the room price one night when I was bored and found out the rooms go for over six hundred a night. The hotel is in one of those old buildings, but it’s been beautifully restored. It mixes the old with the new in a classic way. There’s a massive fountain just outside, with a statue of a mermaid that has water pouring out of her hands. The hotel is called Mer Hotel, and I’m sure it has something to do with the old-looking mermaid statue.

"I am going to, and you are going to act pretty," she says, and I laugh.

"Act pretty? How do you do that?"

"Bat your eyelashes, squeeze your chest together with your arms, you know, that kind of stuff," she says, and I laugh when I see her do a funny eyelash bat.

"I'm going to pretend you didn't just imply that I'm not pretty on my own," I say with a fake sniffle, and she laughs with me. I need the laughter to get over my nerves. I move my hand to mystomach and remind myself why I’m doing this. It’s for my baby. The doctor’s appointment went well, and I already have a scan booked. I really hope Andre wants to be involved, and maybe he can come.

"You know you are, but maybe I should just handle this,” she says with a shrug and walks into the hotel. Liz is far prettier than me, and that’s why she is doing this. Also, she has a slightly crazy amount of confidence, a confidence I only wish I had. Liz has long, blonde hair, a curvy body I would kill for, and massive, blue eyes that draw people in. In school, people used to refer to her as a Barbie doll. They weren't wrong. Except she is far smarter and used to have the boys wrapped around her finger at school. I’m sure Liz has more than one boyfriend at the moment, but she wouldn’t confirm or deny that to me. Whatever works for her.

I quickly catch up to Liz, looking like I'm dressed for popping to the supermarket, and Liz looks like she is ready for a night out in her tight, black dress. A few people stare as we walk into the quiet, posh hotel. Not at me but at Liz, dressing in club clothes in the middle of the day does catch people's attention.

Liz walks straight up to the desk and leans over it. The poor man who only looks eighteen or so, has bright-red cheeks as Liz speaks to him. I stand near the sofas in the room and watch as the boy nods at everything Liz says. He quickly types some things on the computer and writes something down. I watch in disbelief as Liz accepts the note of paper off him and leans further over the table to place a kiss on his bright-red cheek.

I do not know how she does it, but Liz always gets her way.

She walks back over to me and links my arm in hers as we walk out.

"That's your baby daddy's home address and number. Apparently, he was only in town for two nights, and his villageis just outside the city," Liz says, and I nod in shock a little. She simply smirks at me.

I shake my head and look down at the note, the address is for a house in Escrickwell. I quickly Google the address on my phone and find it's only twenty minutes away. There aren’t many pictures of the village online, and it looks like a sleepy village with a large road going through it.

"I guess I'm going to Escrickwell." I say, and Liz nods.

"Do you want me to come with you?" she asks me with a worried expression.

"No, not this time. This is something I need to do alone," I say, and she hugs me briefly.

"Here are my keys. I will get a cab," she says and presses her keys into my hand.

"You don't have to," I get out, and she shakes her head.

"I do, and I will have chocolate, Chinese food, and hugs waiting for you in case this goes bad. I will also be keeping a copy of that address, just in case I need to go and kick this guy’s firm butt," she says making me laugh.

"It was firm," I say, and she chuckles.

"Good luck, El," she says and pulls me into a bigger hug. I break away and raise my head.

I can do this. I need to do this for my baby and well, because it's the right thing to do.

I glance down at the note in my hand.

I need to find Andre Courture.

Four

ELLIE

Liz'sold Kia Picanto was not designed for the old country roads I have to drive down as I follow Google maps to Andre's address. I forgot how bad the roads can get outside the city, some of them are alright, but these are not.

The roads just keep getting smaller until I pull into what I think is the main part of the village. There are several shops and a small garage I spot as I drive through the village. I think the house is on the outskirts, which in some ways is a good thing. If he kicks me out, at least, there will be no one around to hear the nasty words I have planned for him. The downside is that there is no one around if Andre goes mad. I finally find the house I'm looking for, and I turn off my phone. It has its own driveway, and it is the largest house on the street. The red-brick walls match the others on the street but with a garage separated from the house at the side. The house has two white pillars by the white front door.

Overall it looks like my babies’ father has money and a lot of it. I bet he won't even remember me, and I was, most likely, one of literally dozens of one night stands.

The urge to turn around and run fills me, but I pull the keys out of the car. It takes me a few times to unclip my seat belt with shaky hands.

"I can do this," I mumble to myself as I open my door and get out of the car. There's a similar house on the other side of the road, but everything is quiet. I don’t think there is anyone around, and all I can hear is the sound of birds chirping. I really didn't think about it. He might be at work, it is a Friday. I glance my phone to see it's only one in the afternoon.

---