Page 44 of Exactly What I Needed
How could I ever doubt your badass-ness? Then the key is for tomorrow and whenever next week you need it too. By the way, did the side door work? I was worried that you’d get caught by someof our fans that were hanging around the entrance earlier at the studio.
Tomorrow. In his hotel room again. Alone. That was a recipe for disaster, no matter what I was telling myself. I quickly typed out my response.
Okay:) And yes, I came out alone and I don’t think any of the girls even bothered to glance my way.
His reply was nearly immediate, and I rolled over to my back, staring at it.
I’m glad. See you tomorrow, Princess.<3
It felt so foolish to be giddy over the fact that he sent me a heart with his text, but I was. I was way too old to be gushing over a secret crush, but here I was, staring at my ceiling. The world swirled slowly around me as I let myself feel this rush again. I felt like I was back in high school, fawning over my first boyfriend with Sydney.
Except I couldn’t gossip about this with her this time. She was seriously going to hate me when she found out. I couldn’t let herfindout. This had to come from me. I needed to be the one to tell her. But everything was still new and fresh, so it could wait until I knew if this was something more serious or not.
At least until after the concerts. That’s how long it could wait, then I would tell her.
Placing the phone against my chest, I took a deep breath. I would tell her after the concerts, and then whatever she decided, I could accept my fate. The guilt I felt over this secret washed away, mostly at least, now that I had an actual date set on telling her. Knowing that soon, she would bemade aware of my deception, and if she cut me off, so be it. I had made this bed, and I would lie in it, whatever that bed may be.
Chapter 16
My heart pounded as I parked my car in the hotel lot and stepped out. The door clunked shut behind me, and I clicked the lock button on my key, staring at the rising monstrosity before me. I was here. Asher was here, waiting for me on the tenth floor, where we would once again be alone in the very place that had started all of this.
And I was a little excited. Also nervous, but more time spent with him was exciting. Smoothing down some strands of hair that had slipped from my braid, I put my car keys into my pocket and slid out the room card. The sidewalk was bustling, busy people rushing in and out of the hotel. The city, though only a twenty-minute drive from our little town, seemed like an entirely different world from the one we lived in.
Walking up to the sliding glass doors, I entered the cool lobby and froze in a panic. Hordes of girls stood waiting at the elevators. Signs all supporting Void were scattered amongst all of them, patiently hoping to simply catch a small glance of at least one of them.
There was no side door this time. If they caught wind that I was going to see one of them, more specifically Asher, I would be a dead fish in the water. Maybe I should simply turn around and get out of here. If I never tried to breach the crowd, there would never be any suspicion of why I was here.
What if Sydney or any of my other friends were here?
I quickly scanned the crowd, looking for the blonde-haired bombshell who I called best friend, or really any of the girls. Luckily, as I did my fourth pass on the throngs of girls who squealed every time the elevator doors opened and someone unsuspecting got off, I didn’t see a single one of them.
I could risk this.
Gripping the keycard, I smoothed out my striped chic dress that stopped barely above my knees and began to trudge forward. I quietly waded through the crowd, pretending to blend and wander through to the doors. A couple girls glared at me when I accidentally bumped into them, but I avoided eye contact and eventually found myself standing in front of the elevator and two security men.
Flashing the keycard, they let me pass, and I pushed the button, then waited. Luckily, I didn’t have to wait long and listen to the whispered gossip around me as the elevator light came on and the doors slid apart. A couple got out, giving me a sympathetic smile as I hustled inside. Raising the keycard to scan, I quickly pressed the ten and waited impatiently for the doors to close.
Come on. Hurry up.I avoided looking at anything except the elevator buttons, not wanting to see the eyes that I could feel were locked onto me.
Finally, the doors began to slide shut, and I heaved a massive sigh.Thank you.
Alone at last. It was so quiet, even the elevator music seemed to be on hold today as I began to rise to the tenth floor. It felt like an eternity before I was finally there, and I rushed off the elevator, ready to escape into blissful solitude with Asher once more.
I didn’t bother to knock as I scanned my keycard and shoved the door open.
“You won’t believe the crowd that’s—” I froze the moment my eyes left the door handle.
Seated at the couch were the three other members of Void.
But no Asher.
The TV was on, playing something I didn’t even bother to look at in the background. My mouth was stuck open as Kieron lifted a brow and smirked.
He tossed an arm across the back of the couch behind Drake and faced me. “Well, well, well. What have we here?”
My heart thumped in my chest so loudly, I could’ve sworn they all could hear it. I felt sick to my stomach. Where was Asher, and why were these three in his room without him? I mean, I guess maybe that’s normal, but he knew I was coming over after work.
The toilet in the bathroom flushed as I remained locked in place, shocked. No matter how desperately I wanted to, I couldn’t move. I couldn’t find a way to speak, either, as the door opened and someone else came into the room.
