Page 18 of Finally Home

“Perfect.” I grab the last tube of Colgate and get in line. There’s only one person in front of me, so hopefully, this doesn’t take long. Then I can brush my teeth and address that little ensemble Hollie was wearing.

“Sweetheart, you seem to be out of Magnum condoms. Do you know if there’s any more in the back?”

Sure, buddy, I’m sure you need them.

My palm covers my mouth, but it’s too late. The snort is audible for this stranger in front of me to hear.

Oh, for fuck’s sake.When the stranger scowls over his shoulder, I see that it’s none other than Hollie’s ex, Brett. If I didn’t already know this guy doesn’t like me, his expression would definitely give it away. I follow his gaze as his eyes travel up and down.

Fuck. I was in such a rush to leave the room and get this nasty taste from my mouth I forgot to grab my shirt—and shoes, for that matter.Jesus, buddy, take a picture. It might last longer.

“What? I’ve got nothing to hide,” I taunt and shrug as I cross my arms over my chest.

He scoffs and rolls his eyes before turning back to the female behind the counter.

“Hey, Brett, you coming or what?” a voice calls out from behind me. I turn to find Hollie’s older brother, Topher, looking down at his phone in one hand and the other hidden in his pants pocket. Still wearing the suit from earlier, only without a tie and a few buttons now open, he looks like he couldn’t be more bored. You’d think one might be up in his room, spending time with his fiancée, instead of planning to go out somewhere with his bestie.

“I’m coming,” Brett shouts back.

I widen my eyes at the sheer volume.It’s cool, I don’t need to hear out of this ear.

Brett leans forward, resting his elbows on the counter. “You know what, never mind the condoms,” he tells the girl. He reaches out and tucks a piece of fallen hair, and she visibly shudders.

What a slimeball.What the hell did Hollie see in this tool?Actually, what does Topher also see in him for them to be best friends? Birds of a feather flock together; therefore, if oneperson is a total jerk, the other likely is, too. I couldn’t imagine Rhyland being this much of a douche canoe.

“I’ll be in my room by 2:00 a.m.” He slips a card out of his wallet and places it on the counter. “My name is on my business card here. I’m sure you can look up my room information for when you get off.”

Yeah, because that doesn’t break so many hotel protocols.

He shoves my shoulder with his as he passes by. It catches me off guard that I nearly drop the toothpaste.

“Oh, my bad. Didn’t see ya there.”

Sure you didn’t.Clearly, he’s full of shit. I haven’t moved since he looked over his shoulder. But the last thing I want to do is upset and embarrass Hollie by calling Brett out on his bullshit. Something tells me that if I did that, it would only make things worse for her.

The young girl, a different employee than the one who checked us in, gives me an uneasy smile as I hand her my item for checkout. I honestly feel bad for her. Of course, it’s not my place to make sure she’s okay, but I can’t help but imagine how I would feel if that were my sister who was being talked to like that. Hell, the way Joel talks to her isn’t that far off, and I fucking hate it every time.

“You know guys who ask for Magnum condoms, more chances than not, actually have micro dicks, right?”

She laughs, and I watch the tension leave her shoulders as we complete the transaction. “Have a good evening.”

I smile genuinely, not flirtatiously or anything, but just reminding her that not every man is a major creep.

As I head back up the main stairs, I feel someone watching me. I glance back to find both Topher and Brett staring at me.Do I have a target on my back or something?

Fuck it, I’m never going to see these assholes again. I wiggle my fingers in a cheesy wave. Topher grabs Brett’s arm and dragshim toward the hotel bar, but Brett never removes his eyes from me.

What the hell is his problem?He might want to remove the scowl on his face, otherwise maybe his face will freeze like that, like Mom always said growing up.

When I reach our hotel door, I pause. It’s then that it hits me like a ton of bricks that never seeing them again means never seeing Hollie again. Just one weekend, that’s all this is supposed to be. I rub the ache that forms in my chest.

The lights are off when I enter the room. Quietly, I make my way to the bathroom and brush my teeth without gagging. I’ll never take mint toothpaste for granted again.

When I slip under the covers, I chuckle at the pillow lump beside Hollie separating us. Guess she meant that rule when she laid down the law earlier. Well, to be honest, it’s probably a good thing after how other things transpired earlier.

“Good night, Hollie,” I whisper over the top of the wall.

I settle into the covers and stare up at the ceiling. Usually, I’m a night owl, and I don’t fall into bed until the early hours when the sun kisses the sky. Surprisingly, it doesn’t take long at all for my body to relax and drift off to sleep. The last thing I recall is my mind replaying her lips on mine.

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