Page 8 of Run Game
The desk clerk puts on a flirty smile. “Good evening, sir,” she says in a sultry tone. “Welcome to Royal Suites. What can I do for you?” The bitch looks right at him in his stupid fucking tuxedo shirt, standing next to me in my wedding dress, and flutters her fake fucking eyelashes. Dalton grabs the envelope from my hand and takes out the paperwork. Does he not notice the way she’s looking at him like she wants to swallow him whole?
“Hi,” he replies. “My wife and I are checking in.” He slides everything across the counter. She takes it, trying her best to brush his hand with hers. But he’s oblivious as he quickly returns his hand to mine.
Take that, homewrecker.
“Thanks,” she says, changing her tactics by shyly pushing a piece of hair behind her ear, only taking her eyes off of him to type on her computer. When he doesn’t react, she goes back to doing her job. “Okay," she says. “It looks like you have a two-night stay in our honeymoonpenthouse. Everything is already paid for, and you have a five-hundred-dollar credit for room service. Here’s an extra key card in case you need it.”
Dalton looks at me. “No need for that. I’m not letting this one out of my sight now that I finally wore her down and got her to agree to marry me.”
This guy is too charming for his own good.
Jolene,not her name, but that’s what I’m calling her, continues to act like I’m not here, trying one last time to get his attention by giggling as she hands the paperwork back to him. But he’s still looking at me as he reaches out to take it and pulls me away without a word.
Maybe I accidentally flip her off over my shoulder as we walk away, too.Whatever.
Dalton leads me into the elevator, where an attendant awaits. He’s an older man, with gray hair and a big, bushy mustache. He looks like someone’s adorable grandpa. I always wanted one of those. But my parents burned pretty much every bridge with every family member we had before I was even born, so I never met any of them. I used to make up stories to tell kids at school about how my grandparents were rich and lived outside the country. I’d talk about how they would send me all sorts of exotic gifts and candy from their travels. Truthfully, I never had any of those things. Christmas would come around every year and my parents had blown all of their money on God knows what instead of even attempting to make me believe in the magic of Santa. I learned at a very young age that some people were just dealt a shitty hand in life. And I was one of them.
The only sense of belonging I’ve ever really felt has been with Mads and her parents. They’ve always treated me as their own, even though it’s not quite the same ashaving love from my own flesh and blood. Her mom was the one to sign me up for my first dance class when I was in the third grade. I would dance around their house and annoy the crap out of them, until one day, Diane told me I could turn that into a job if I wanted to. Being young and naive, I decided that I wanted to be a dancer when I grew up. I practiced so hard and put all of my energy into achieving my goals. But my parents were quick to tell me that girls like me don't get jobs like that. That I would never be able to achieve such a big dream. It made me want to give up, but I just couldn’t. It was my passion. I still gave it my all throughout high school and was offered a scholarship to the New York School of Dance, but I wasn’t even able to accept it. It covered tuition and board, but I would’ve been responsible for any other costs of living. I had no money saved and was denied for student loans because of mistakes I didn’t even make on my own.
It wasn't until I had to get a job in order to help my parents with some legal bills that I quit dancing altogether. Work took up most of my free time, and I was constantly too exhausted to even consider going to the studio on my days off. I miss it so much, but it's too late now.
“Where to, folks?” my new pretend grandpa says as the elevator doors slowly close.
Dalton holds up our key card. “The honeymoon penthouse,” he says.
“Newlyweds?” The man says, excitedly. “Congratulations!”
Dalton winks at me, making me crack a small smile. I can’t fucking help it. He’s just so handsome and charming.
“Ahhhhh,” the attendant continues as he presses the button to bring us to the top floor. “I remember my wedding day. Seems like just yesterday. My Marsha almostgave me a heart attack when those church doors opened. As she made her way toward me, I couldn't help but think of how lucky I was to get to share my life with her.” His eyes begin to water at the memory. “That was almost fifty years ago, and I love her now even more than I did that day.”
What would it be like to have someone love me for that long? I can’t even imagine it. Everyone that I’ve let into my heart has let me down by leaving or hurting me. Except for Mads. She’s all I have, and that’s all I need.
But she has a new someone now.
I’m beyond happy that my best friend has found love. Blaze is absolutely perfect for her in every way. He gives her love and support in ways that most people only dream of from their partner, and I could never be jealous of that. But I do wonder where I’ll be once they’re married with a family of their own. Will I still fit into her life? Or will I have to figure out how to go it alone?
The elevator dings softly as it comes to a stop. The doors open, revealing the lobby to our suite. Just like downstairs, everything is dark wood with gorgeous gold accents. The floors look like they have never been stepped on before. They’re so clean and shiny. This is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen.
Dalton puts a hand on my lower back and guides me out of the elevator. Before the doors close, the attendant addresses us again. “I have a good feeling about you guys. I wish you all the happiness marriage has brought me.”
“Thank you,” I say quietly before the doors close, leaving us alone.
FIVE
DALTON
This is it.
I’ve got Dia all to myself in this room for at least the next seven hours, which isn’t nearly enough time, but it’s all I have to make her see that we could be good together. I know that all won't happen in one night, but if I can even put a seed of doubt in her mind about getting annulled in the morning, that’s good enough for me. We've definitely done things ass backward here, getting married before dating or falling in love, but I saw an opportunity and I took it. If she gives me the chance, I can make her fall for me over time. I don't know what it is about this girl, but I want to give her everything. I want her to have the life she deserves.
Dia looks up at me, all traces of her prickly personality faded away. She’s so fucking beautiful, it causes a physical pain in my chest as I move closer to her slowly. Obviously, if she doesn't want me to touch her and just wants to sleep until we can go to the courthouse in the morning, I have no choice but to give her that. But I also know that I won’t go down without a fight. And that fight starts right now.
“Is it okay if I kiss you again?” I ask, gently gripping her waist with both hands. She nods, which is good enough for me as I close the rest of the space between us.
“Wait!” she shouts, putting her hand in my face right before our lips meet. “Rules. We need them.”
“Okayyyyyyy,” I say, drawing out the word. I should’ve known she wouldn’t make this shit easy. I take a step back, giving her my full attention. “Lay them on me.”
