Page 5 of Exactly What I Needed
Right in front of the Dark Banshee.
Chapter 3
Istared at those same molten gold eyes, the only thing that seemed to come into clear focus around me. The same gaze that had stared down at me. The longer my stare remained locked on his, the harder it was becoming to deny who he’d been looking at. He was tall, at least six feet, maybe two, possibly three inches? However tall he was, he towered over my five-foot-five frame. I blinked rapidly, watching him narrow his gaze and tip his head.
A sly grin spread across his lips, still not a word spoken between us.
My feet felt heavy and sluggish; my body heated up while I continued to stare at him.
Slowly, he extended his hand to shake.
Despite the nerves, my palm remained steady as I placed it in his outstretched grasp, and a shiver ran down my spine. Something plastic, in a rectangular shape, separated our touch. Knitting my brows together, I tipped my own head, mirroring his once again.
He kept my hand in his for another silent moment, his eyes dark and full of hunger, before slipping his fingers from mine. A chill swept between the ghost of his grasp as my eyes briefly slid to what remained in my palm, and I widened my gaze.
“I’m not that type of girl,” I finally said, breaking the silence.
He nodded slowly. “All the same.” He stepped an inch closer and placed his hands in his pockets. “Floor ten, room four.”
I slowly shook my head. An arrogant singer. So smooth with his offer. How many other girls had he done this with before?
He winked and then stepped backward as I was suddenly shoved to my left. Brief hellos were exchanged with the other two members of the band before my group was shuffled off the stage.
Ithadbeen me he was looking at.
My heart raced in my chest, my head swimming as I mindlessly followed the rest of my friends out of the arena. I didn’t even know his name; he didn’t even know mine.
My mind continued circling back to the first question. How many other girls did he do this with? Did he pick a new girl every night after a show? Whomever struck his fancy during the concert? If I did show up to that room, would I be made fun of and mocked if it was all a game by him and his friends?
Wait, why was I even considering going?
Shaking my head, I opened my hand and glanced at the hotel keycard. I should have just tossed this in the next trash can that I saw. Then there would be no option to show up.
But if someone found it, could they possibly break into his room? Maybe I should find a way to return it, just to be on the safe side.
Flipping it over in my fingers, I blinked in shock. Written in Sharpie on the other side was a phone number.Hisphone number.
Why in the world would I need that? But I definitely couldn’t just throw it away now. I may be rejecting him, but that wasn’t respectful or fair of me to just leave his personal number for some stranger to find.
I could text him and tell him I returned the key to the hotel lobby. Yes, that would be the best choice.
Tugging my phone from my back pocket, I punched in the number and typed out the text.
Hi. I didn’t feel comfortable throwing the keycard in the trash with your number on it. So I’ll return it to the hotel lobby. I’m flattered by the offer, but I don’t do one night stands.
My thumb hovered over the send button.
Just press it, Cosi. That’s all you need to do. You’ve never done a hook-up situation, so why would you be considering one now? Besides, you’d just be another notch on his belt if you did show up.
So just press send. It’s a simple text message.
“Cosette!” a voice shouted beside me, startling me.
I screeched and locked my phone, shoving it and the room keycard into my pocket.
“What?” I gasped, frightened. Sydney blinked rapidly, shocked, and then doubled over laughing.
“You look like you nearly peed your pants!” she choked out between fits of laughter.
