Page 9 of Candid Moments
“I can eat but it’s a no to both. My room, my rules. Dinner will be charged to the already paid for room.”
“Denim, no. I might be at my lowest right now in every sense of the word,” I begin as I lament my erratic behavior with a deserving Corey and the undeserving desk clerk. “I’m a little broken but I’m not broke. Please, let me keep some of my dignity and pay for dinner. What would you like?” I ask with pleading eyes.
Truth is I’m on the verge of breaking down again if he doesn’t let me. My pride needs this win right now. I need to be in control of something in this cocktail full of uncontrollable variables. He answers with his heart because his facial expression lets me know he wants to turn me down.
“A burger, medium well if they have one. Everything on it and fries.”
“Thank you. I’ll order and get my things together if you want to shower first.”
“I’ll do that. We can split the closet and drawers,” he says before trekking over to the bed.
He opens the closet and pulls out the large blue luggage mat. After opening it on the bed, he places his bag on it. As he unpacks and gets ready for his shower, I scan the QR code on the hotel info sheet on the coffee table in front of me. After navigating through the menu, I order his food, a grilled chickenGreek salad for me with extra pita bread, three miniature bottles of Grey Goose, cranberry juice, and a bottle of water. I’m up and unpacking by the time he’s in the bathroom.
After hanging my clothes in the closet, I place my personal items, toiletries, undergarments, and night clothes in the top drawer of the dresser, leaving out the items I need for my shower. I find two extra pillows and a comforter in the top of the closet so I snag them and place them in the chair next to the sofa. When I sit back down, my phone vibrates so I snatch it off the table. Regret fills me as soon as I look at the screen and see his name.Corey.
There’s nothing he can even say to me right now.Nothing.I practically caught him with his dick out in a hotel room with another woman. Not one word can change that and he doesn’t deserve my time or energy to even entertain him. I press the side of my phone and power it off. It’s really fuck him. I’m a lot of things but a man’s second choice isn’t one of them. My heart will heal because I love myself more than I ever loved him.
The sliding of the bathroom door catches my attention and I glance up to see Denim walking out. Between the steam from the shower seeping out and his glistening chocolate skin, he looks like an ad for a damn men’s cologne. If my camera wasn’t inside of my bag, I would have captured the moment with multiple long shots to give him the justice he deserves.
My eye stalking is thwarted when he says, “Your turn.”
“Y-y-yeah,” I stumble out before standing. I grab my things then walk to the door. Before walking in, I say, “The food should be here in another thirty. Hopefully, I’ll be out if not, please don’t wait on me to eat.”
After a faint smirk, he says, “I won’t, so take your time.”
Once I slide the door close, I turn to the mirror. Even if I wanted to avoid the visual truth of how I feel, I can’t. The mirror practically covers the entire wall. So I hand wipe the steam away and glare at my pathetic self. My puffy eyes, streaked makeup, and disheveled hair are a sight for my red eyes. It’s confirmed; I look as shitty as I feel.
While shaking my head, I take my wide-toothed comb, wrap my hair, tie it up with my silk scarf, then place my extra-large shower cap over it. I start the shower, disrobe, then step inside. As the hot water cascades down my body, I try to evict the thoughts of tonight and my last eighteen months with Corey from my mind.
Unfortunately, after about fifteen minutes, I’m wholly unsuccessful with the eviction but my body and face are clean and I, at least, feel refreshed. However, I am a little uneasy about my clothing. I love every inch of my size fourteen body and I’m obsessed with my curves. This pink and black cami and shorts PJ set was a great idea when I was spending the weekend with my boyfriend. The man on the other side of this door isn’t him and all this ass on display seems a tad bit inappropriate. Since my options are limited to my packed bag, after pulling my shorts down, I take a deep breath and walk out.
He’s sitting on the edge of the bed. His eyes travel up my body but when our eyes meet, his quickly dart away and I smile. My smile morphs into an odd laughter and by the time I reach the sofa, it’s hysterical and I can’t stop it. He joins in too and we both laugh in concert. I’m laughing so hard. My entire body is shaking and there are tears in my eyes. It’s a much-needed emotional release, for the both of us. We continue until the knock at the door startles us both.
“Oh shit,” I say with a titter. “The food. One second!”
I inhale and exhale a few times to stop my laughter, stand, then trek to the door. The server walks in with a huge platter. I point him toward the small dining table in the kitchen area and he walks the platter there. I follow and when he hands me the bill, I add a tip then sign it. When he leaves, I lock the door then walk to the kitchen area. He joins me. After washing our hands at the sink, we sit to eat.
“Vodka,” he comments when I reach for the Grey Goose.
“Yes, and I really hate to drink alone. On the rocks or with this?” I ask as I grab the cranberry juice bottle, leaving no room for him to respond in the negative.
With a smirk, he says, “I’m a 1942 man, but tonight, I’ll take that, no chaser.”
I pass him one of the small bottles then grab one too. The cranberry juice is for my second drink; right now, I need a straight shot. So, after I twist my top off, I raise it. He does the same and we tap bottles in a toast.
“To moving on?”
“Moving on,” he agrees before we both take our shots.
“Shit,” I utter as it courses down my throat. “I needed that.” I grab my huge salad bowl and smile at its cold touch. I hate when my salads are not served in chilled plates or bowls. He pulls his burger plate to him then we both bow our heads. In silence, we each bless our food then dig in. Being in this warm room, letting the vodka soothe my spirit, and eating this delicious ass salad is exactly what I need to end this horrid night on a positive note. “Now, I can sleep.”
“Good. He isn’t worth you losing sleep,” he mumbles before standing.
The faint sound of an alarm pulls me from my sleep and I turn over. It’s not my phone so I open my eyes and glance over at the bed. It’s empty; he’s gone. I reach for my phone on the end table, maneuver it from the charger, then look at the screen. It’s black; I forgot I powered it off last night.
Groggily, I ease off the sofa and journey toward the desk. The clock there reads six forty-two a.m. Too early for a damn alarm. I also notice it isn’t ringing either. The alarm must be in a nearby room.
After leaning my ear to the wall, I ascertain the alarm is coming from the room next door. Just as I’m about to bang on the wall, the alarm thankfully stops. I drag myself back to the sofa and climb back into my cozy spot under the comforter. The moment I turn over, the door opens.
