Page 77 of Tension
She leans over the counter and brings her face close to the bartender’s, telling him what she wants. I lean against the bar and look out at the crowd just as Adam and Kari approach us. Both are red-faced and sweating, their expressions filled with euphoria. For the first time, I wonder if they’re a couple, and if they think Yvonne and I are seeing each other too.
“Mateo!” Yvonne grabs my arm and turns me around, grinning maniacally as she hands me a shot glass. “It’s tequila!”
My stomach flips as my breath gets trapped inside my chest, and I try to swallow but my throat isn’t working. Yvonne takes her shot and slams the glass on the counter, then looks at me expectantly. I can’t believe this is happening, that she’s disregarding my sobriety.
After a few more seconds, Adam grabs my shot and downs it, giving me a look of disappointment. “Dude, that was lame,” he chastises. “I got the next round.”
Adam shoves closer to the bar as Yvonne and Kari laugh together, both of them oblivious to my internal turmoil. Instead of yelling at Yvonne like she deserves, I turn on my heel and push through the crowd toward the exit.
I step out into the cooler night air and suck in a breath, hoping to calm my racing heart. Anger and embarrassment burn through me as I stand there, looking up at the clear sky. Soon, I begin to feel betrayed by Yvonne’s actions. She was supposed to be my friend, the only one who knew about my sobriety tonight, and she let me down.
My thoughts turn to Vaeda, who has always been an advocate for my well-being, and my anger dissipates. I head toward the hotel as my heart races faster, anticipation blooming into eagerness. My footsteps quicken instinctively, drawn irresistibly toward Vaeda, toward the promise waiting in her eyes and her whispered words.
THIRTY
Mateo
The hotel hallway is dimly lit, the elegant sconces emanating soft, golden pools of light onto the plush carpet. My heart thuds erratically, matching the rapid rhythm of my footsteps as I step from the elevator, anticipation like a physical ache deep inside my chest. The sleek key card sits cool in my palm, the numbers etched upon it feeling like the gateway to a future I’m both desperate and afraid to embrace.
Every step toward her room quickens my pulse, excitement tangling with apprehension. The memory of the club, of Yvonne’s betrayal, still simmers beneath my skin, but even that can’t compete with the overwhelming pull toward Vaeda. She has become my magnetic north, and I’m helplessly drawn, unable to resist the allure of her presence any longer.
I pause in front of her door, number 1108 gleaming subtly under the muted hallway lights. My breath catches as I slide the card into the lock, the beep granting access like a whispered promise. The door clicks open, and I step inside, immediately enveloped in the soft, familiar scent of her perfume. It’s adelicate mixture of vanilla and jasmine that wraps around me like a caress.
My eyes roam over her room, the neatly made bed with its pristine white linens, and the small table beside it cluttered with Vaeda’s belongings. My gaze catches on the prescription bottle, standing stark and ominous against the polished wood surface.
I approach hesitantly, my stomach tightening with unease as I pick it up, the cool plastic familiar and uncomfortable in my palm. My eyes skim over the label, my heart freezing as the words “Vaeda Lewis–Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen, take one tablet every six hours for pain” glare back at me. My throat tightens painfully, a wave of nausea rolling through my stomach.
Hydrocodone. My stomach tightens at the sight, an involuntary ache reminding me of darker days. I place the bottle down gently, heart racing slightly as concern for Vaeda mingles sharply with my own complicated past. I try to shake away the memories as I place the key card and my cell phone down, pulling me firmly back to the present.
Yet, amidst the churning dread, my heart stutters with empathy. Vaeda is in pain, physically and emotionally, and suddenly, my struggle feels mirrored by her own. I also know the dangerous path this medication can carve, and the thought of her caught in its relentless grip sends cold fear skittering down my spine.
The sound of running water from the bathroom registers in my awareness, halting my scattered thoughts. The soft rush abruptly cuts off, replaced by a silence that rings loudly in my ears. My pulse picks up, nervous excitement weaving seamlessly with concern.
A few moments later, the bathroom door creaks open slightly, steam drifting out into the dimly lit bedroom. My breath catches sharply, every nerve in my body hyper-aware of her proximity. Vaeda steps into view, wrapped in a plush white hotel towel, herwet hair cascading in dark waves around her shoulders. Her gaze meets mine instantly, eyes wide and uncertain.
“Mateo,” she breathes out, surprise coloring her tone, her gaze flicking briefly toward the bedside table.
My heart thuds heavily against my ribs. “I hope it’s okay that I let myself in.”
She nods, biting her bottom lip slightly, the action sparking heat low in my belly despite the lingering worry. “Of course. I wanted you to come.”
We stand frozen, silence stretching taut between us, loaded with desire, but something shadows her eyes, a flicker of vulnerability she tries to mask behind a soft, hesitant smile.
“Vaeda,” I begin gently, stepping closer, the space between us shrinking with every heartbeat. “Are you okay?”
She swallows visibly, her eyes flickering away momentarily before returning to hold my gaze. “I’m fine. It’s just… my ankle is still giving me trouble.”
Her admission feels honest, yet incomplete. I reach out slowly, gently brushing damp strands of hair from her cheek, my thumb softly grazing her jawline. Her breath hitches, the subtle reaction igniting a fire within me that battles fiercely against my concern.
“You’re in pain,” I murmur softly, my eyes searching hers deeply. “I saw the prescription.”
Vaeda’s eyes widen briefly in panic before she quickly composes herself, offering a reassuring smile. “I’m only taking it if the pain becomes too much. I promise.”
Her assurance does little to calm the anxious churn in my gut, but I push aside my fears for the moment. I shouldn’t project my faults onto her. Just because I could never handle taking just one, doesn’t mean she can’t. Tonight is about us and finally giving in to the pull she’s fought desperately against, the undeniable connection that pulses between us.
“Come here,” she whispers, stepping into my embrace, her slender arms slipping around my neck. The feel of her body pressed close is electrifying, dissolving any lingering doubts. Her lips find mine, soft, warm, and insistent. I lose myself in her, in the taste of her kiss, the heat of her body, and the gentle tremors that ripple beneath my hands.
“Vaeda…” Her name falls from my lips like a prayer, filled with reverence and longing.
