Closing the door, I inhale heavily. My whole body is trembling with anticipation, and I fear the longer I am here—and the fact Royce is about to step foot in here—will remind me how bad of an idea this is.
I hear the toilet flush before he opens the door.Smart.
“Hey. Sorry, I was in the bathroom.” I hear the faint voice of Creed. “Everything okay?” he asks.
“Not really.” The sadness in Royce’s tone is loud. My heart throbs. “Can I come in?”
Creed falls silent for a moment, and I know he is hesitant.
“Of course.” Relief swarms me. I would hate the idea of him turning Royce away for me.
He would always choose Royce over me. That was the harsh reality.
I’m grateful I am tucked away in the bedroom. The living room is off the hallway of the hotel room so I couldn’t quite hear what was being said, but I didn’t have to. I know Royce will be talking about dinner and how I turned him down.
I don’t want to eavesdrop. I need out.
Sliding the door slightly, I tiptoe to the bedroom door and peek around the frame. The hallway is clear. Their voices were loud as they floated down towards me.
“I tried, Dad.” Royce sighs and I hear the sound of glasses clashing with the worktop.
“You have to remember you broke up with her, Royce… You broke her heart.”
I swallow down the lump that forms in my throat. Tiptoeing towards the main door, I slowly push down the handle and wincewhen it clicks. Panic sets in and I slip out the door, closing it gently behind me as I move quickly down to mine and Nora’s room. Banging on the door, I root around in my bag at the same time to get my room card but luckily, she opens it before I need to use it.
“Let me in.” I push past her and once I am behind the door, I let out an exasperated breath.
“What happened?” Nora glares at me and I sweep my eyes over her. She’s in her pyjamas, shorts and tee with a croissant on the top, and I smile.
“I went to Creed’s.” I shake my head, kicking my sandals off. It feels so good to not wear heels.
“Why?”
“Because he saw Royce kiss me.”
“Oh.” Her lips form an O.
“Yes, oh.” I slap my hand down on my thigh as I toss my bag on the work top and move to the large lounge area to pour a drink.
“Is that why your lipstick is smudged?” She raises a brow, and I turn quickly to look at her, eyes darting to the floor.
“Partly,” I admit.
“You kissed Creed again.”
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” I admit, pressing my hand to my head as I grab a glass.
“I do,” she chimes, grabbing the scotch and pouring it out for me.
“You do?” I raise a brow
“You have a crush on your ex-boyfriends dad.”
“I do not,” I protest and sulk as I slump on the sofa.
“You do.” She smirks, getting her own glass. “You just don’t want to admit it.”
I cross one leg over the other.