Page 64 of Your Coffin or Mine
I head downstairs, not liking the way Vlad is still letting her touch him, and vice versa.
“What is that smell?” an older guy calls out loudly, pulling my attention from the bimbo Barbie on Vlad’s arm.
But before anyone can say another word, a sharp yip comes from the man’s luggage he’s holding at his side.
The man glances at me and his eyebrows lift to his hairline, and that’s how his expression stays as he turns to Vlad. “Can we speak to the manager? I need to know where to let him out. There wasn’t any information on the webpage.” The dog gets louder, and the man heaves the luggage up higher. “Shhhh, Fifi!”
Doyle appears from a side entrance, trying to direct the man to somewhere.
“We allow dogs?” Vlad bites out, his arm still coiled around bimbo Barbie.
I’m not sure how anyone could hear him ask over the dog barking, the flirting, and the overall panic, but everyone goes quiet.
Doyle blinks and his brows turn down with his frown. “We do.”
Vlad pulls his usual grumpy face. “Since when?”
“Why don’t we discuss it once the guests are settled?” Doyle says, looking like a super pissed-off rain cloud just parked above his head.
“Very well.” Vlad clears his throat and turns to the woman before handing her a handkerchief from his pocket. “Here, allow me.” His dark head bends over her platinum one and my heart drops to my feet.
That is definitely not the reception I got when we first met, and she’s dressed like something out of Kate Middleton’s closet.
He stares down into her eyes, murmuring something while smiling. She stiffens, and I want to vomit.
I bite my lips, upset, and don’t stay to watch the rest, turning around and heading back to our room.Our room.Jesus.He is not yours, Aubrey. No strings.You’re leaving in a few days.
I grab my phone to shoot a text to Bernadette, then head to get my coat. Some fresh air will be nice and it might distract me from being jealous.It doesn’t matter if he falls for the superficialite.
I shake my head inwardly at myself. It is ridiculous that I am being this jealous at all, much less whining about some hot chick coming to stay at his hotel. I will have to go back home soon and deal with my life once this whole grand opening thing is over—not to mention my new baggage with Chad—and I shouldn’t be worrying about who Vlad talks to in his own home.
Maybe it’s a good thing she showed up? I have a solid plan of hitting size ten within the next year via cupcakes and ice cream. Vlad may not be on board if she’s anything like what he wants.
I will never be a size two like that.
I scroll through the pictures we took yesterday, and my heart hurts at the soft smile in his eyes.So stupid.It’ll be better this way. It was fun while it lasted.
“Aubrey?”
I whirl around at my name and come face to face with the entire issue. He wears a frown, as if he can sense the confusion roiling in my stomach.
I can’t even meet his gaze. “Hey.”
“You dropped this.”
He hands me the rose, and I inwardly wince as my face burns with embarrassment.Way to go, Aubrey.I murmur my thanks and take it from him awkwardly, although I want to throw it on the ground and stomp on it.Totally not irrational.Instead, I paste a smile on my face.
“I assumed you would come down for breakfast?” he says, looking down the hallway.
“Oh, I think I’ll just grab a bite and eat in my room. You seem kind of busy this morning.”
He folds his arms over his chest. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing.” I frown and step back, inwardly wishing he would just go back to bimbo Barbie, so I don’t have to explain how jealous and insecure I am feeling.
“It’s something.” He eyes me up and down, like he’s trying to assess what’s pissing me off.
“Don’t you have important things to do?”
