Page 16 of The Widower's Girlfriend
Unbelievable.
I jab the elevator button and tap my toe while I wait. That waiter, a perfect stranger, treated me better than friends I’ve known for over ten years. If that’s not a sign, I don’t know what is. My plan was to survive this weekend and then break things off with them, but now I’m thinking I need to do it sooner than that.
The elevator opens and I climb on, pressing the button for my floor and delighting when the doors close and I’m officially on my own, away from those hellcats. Back in my room, I kick off my wedges as soon as I cross the doorway and groan when I flop back on the bed, feet elevated, soft mattress supporting my back like a hug from the heavens.
After a few long minutes of deep breathing, I open my eyes and realize I need to get some dinner or I’ll be starving in the middle of the night. I sit up, intent on finding the room service menu and indulging in a juicy cheeseburger.
And that’s when I see it.
An unfamiliar navy blue suitcase sitting in front of the built-in hotel desk, a cream envelope sitting on top. My eyes narrow and I look around, feeling like I’m no longer alone in my hotel room. I approach cautiously, finally snatching up the envelope and pulling out a single piece of card stock.
I’m sorry. I don’t deserve it, but please give me a chance to apologize in person and explain. Walker
I inhale as much oxygen as my lungs can take before blowing it out in a rush.That man.
Now I’m tapping my foot for an entirely different reason. A bubble of hope expands in my chest and just like that I can’t think of anything but Walker. His tall, lean physique, the dark hair gelled to a stylish mess, that smirk morphing into a blinding smile that makes my heart trip, the way his lips teased mine. I want one more chance to smell that cologne, to feel his heat when I get close.
So I do it.
I text him.
Me: Thank you for the new suitcase. Very thoughtful.
I’ve barely hit send and I see a bubble pop up, showing me he’s already texting back.
Walker: Can I buy you dinner downstairs at the steak house in the lobby?
I put the phone down and pace my room. I’m conflicted, but ultimately, I have to see him. He said he’d explain and there’s part of me that badly wants to understand how he can go from warm and flirty to cold and distant in a split second. I can get my answer tonight and then walk away with closure.
Darting back to my phone, I tap out a reply before I can re-think it.
Me: Sure. Right now?
Walker: Yes! See you soon. ; )
Gah! Him and that winky face.
Sitting on the bed, I slip my wedges back on, promising my protesting feet that I’ll give them a break tomorrow. There’s a particularly pretty red silk blouse I brought but didn’t think I’d have the special occasion to wear. Meeting Walker for a dinner date certainly qualifies and I’m ridiculously glad I brought it with me on this trip. I put it on, change my jewelry, brush my hair, touch up my lipstick, and I’m finally ready to go.
On the elevator ride back down to the lobby level, I cross my fingers I won’t see my friends. I don’t want to deal with them right now. I can only focus on one thing at a time and right now, all my focus is on Walker.
The doors swish open and I see him across the lobby, his tall, commanding figure hard to miss even with plenty of people milling about. My heart leaps despite telling myself I can’t have him. This whole dating thing is supposed to be temporary anyway. Developing feelings for a fake boyfriend when he’s acting hot and cold would be reckless. I’m never reckless. Clumsy yes, but not reckless on purpose.
I take several steps forward to greet him, my face splitting with a smile as I take in how smart he looks in a suit jacket and observe his handsome face searching the lobby for me. Then everything slows down, each frame happening in slow motion.
His attention is drawn to my left, his eyebrows coming together in a frown. I follow his gaze and see my three friends exiting the bar, heading straight for him. My heart dives down to my shoes. Amy flicks her long blonde hair behind her shoulder and smiles at him. I know that look. It’s the same look a fox gives his prey right before he tricks them.
I’m attempting to approach, feeling like I’m walking through mud to get to him before they do. Still twenty feet away, I see them surround Walker, Amy in front. Her hand snakes up his chest to grab onto his lapel and I want to puke. She shifts not-so-subtly, pressing her body into his like the brazen, little hussy she is.
The flames from earlier reignite, this time raging high enough to burn down everything in my path. How dare they flirt with my pretend boyfriend? As far as they know, he’s the love of my life. A good friend would never cross that line and flirt with her best friend’s boyfriend. Ever. It’s in the girl code.
My vision narrows to just him and her, the rest of the world a red haze I can’t be bothered with right now.
Five feet away.
Walker swats her hand off his chest and tries to take a step back, bumping into Justine who giggles, the sound echoing in my head, mocking me with my choice of friends. His head lifts when I’m two steps away, his look of relief telling me all I need to know.
He steps to the side and grabs my hand, diverting me from the pack, my momentum keeping us moving together in stride.
