Page 138 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol 4
"I can go get it for you while you check in."
"No, really, it's okay. It's late. Go get some sleep."
I wasn't going to fight with her. She was right, I was exhausted. I pulled the duffel bag off my shoulder and set it on the ground. "See you in the morning, then, Hailey."
"Mhm."
I walked back out into the parking lot. I hit the button to unlock the car and made my way up the stairs to my room. Before I wentinto my room, I looked back over my shoulder. She hadn't come back out yet. I went into the room, switched on the lights, and closed the door behind me.
It looked like any other motel I had ever been in. A little dingy and a little musty smelling. It was becoming homey to me. I pulled my toothbrush and toothpaste out of one of the plastic bags and quickly got ready. Before I climbed into bed, I stared at the door between our adjoining rooms. I opened up the door on my side. Hers was still closed.
I wasn't exactly sure what I was doing. But it felt strange not saying goodnight to her. I tapped on the door. "Hailey?"
There was no answer. She must have already fallen asleep.
"Goodnight," I whispered to no one in particular.
***
I knocked on her door again. "Hailey?"
I had tried her when I had come back after my run to let her know I'd be ready to get going again soon. But she had still been sleeping. Check out was in ten minutes now. I knocked on the door a little louder. "Hailey?"
No answer.
I'd try again in a few minutes. I carried my bags down the stairs and walked over to the car. And that's when I saw her. She was curled up in the back seat of my car, her head resting on her duffel bag. It felt like I was seeing something I wasn't supposed to see, like I was intruding.
She had slept in the car? I scratched the back of my neck.Shit.I had let her spend the night in the car.
I thought back to when I had told her she should just fly to California. She said she didn't have the money. Why hadn't I offered to share a room with her? What was wrong with me?
Missing Pieces - Chapter 7
Hailey
Saturday
A tapping sound made me open up my eyes. I wiped the drool off the side of my face. For a second I forgot where I was. I looked out the window of the car to see a handsome face with the most breathtaking blue eyes staring back at me. And then I remembered where I was. And I remembered who that face belonged to.Crap.I quickly sat up and ran my fingers through my hair.
Tyler opened up the door. His lips parted like he was about to say something, but he immediately closed them again.
I plastered a fake smile to my face. "It took you long enough," I said with a laugh. "I was hoping to get on the road early."
"What?"
"I came down here hours ago hoping you'd be ready soon. I must have fallen asleep waiting."
He frowned. "Hailey, if you..."
"What?" I laughed again. "Now I know you like to sleep late. Give me one second, though, I need to use the bathroom before we head out."
He didn't say anything as I stepped out of the car. I felt my cheeks burning as I quickly walked toward the entrance of the motel.He knows.It was all over his face. And despite the factthat I had done some quality acting, he didn't seem to believe me. I didn't need his pity. I could afford to stay in a motel if I really wanted. But it wasn't just about me. Money was literally the key to life and death right now. I wasn't going to waste it on some crappy room in a motel that was just as good as the back seat of a car.
The man behind the front desk lifted his head as I made my way inside. "Was he happy that you ended up wanting to share a room? I'm sure he was glad you changed your mind."
I was so relieved Tyler hadn't followed me in to hear the lie I had told the owner last night. "Yup," I said. "Do you have a restroom I could use?"
"Second door on the left."
