“It’s not common here, either. You must be lucky.”
He takes his hand out of mine and opens the back door of the car. “After you, Mademoiselle.”
I roll my eyes and get in, sliding across the seat until I’m almost touching the other door. “I bet you’ve been waiting your whole life to use that.”
He shrugs, “Not really. It just sounded good.” He mutters something else under his breath, but I didn’t catch it. Louder he adds, “We can head back to the hotel I’m staying in.”
The offer is tempting, but no. I can’t do this past today. No more dates, and hopefully he doesn’t bug me about it on any more flights we might be on together. “Sorry, I can’t.” He starts to say something, but I cut him off. “I have plans with Hazel.” I don’t, not really. But I figure it’s the easiest way to let him down.
“Okay, I understand that.” He looks at the driver. “Can you drop her off at the hotel by the airport then take me to Knight Hotel?”
The driver turns around to face us, “It’ll be easier if I drop you off first since your hotel is a lot closer.”
“Are you okay with that?” Bentley asks.
Honestly, that works out better. Then there won’t be any chance he’ll talk his way to my hotel room. I have no doubt that he’ll try. “Yeah, that’s fine with me.”
His face falls, and I can tell I hurt his feelings. “Okay, we’ll do that.” The car moves forward until we come out of the side street onto one of the main roads. “Maybe we can grab breakfast in the morning.”
Damn. Looks like I won’t be avoiding this conversation after all. Let’s see, how can I do this gently? “I had a great time today, but I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to go on another date.”
“Why not?”
“Because our schedules are bananas, and we’d never see each other. Besides, I still don’t really know you.”
“Isn’t dating how you get to know someone?”
He has a point. “I’m just not ready to seriously date someone.”
We pull up to his hotel, and I can see the argument bubbling up inside him. “You say that now, but I’m betting you’ll go on another date with me. You’ll realize you miss my company and want something more than just your bed.”
Those words are a shot straight to my heart. He doesn’t have to call out my insecurities like that, but I won’t back down. “I’m sorry. I just can’t.”
“Okay,” he says as he opens the car door. “I’ll see you on the flight in the morning.”
“Bye, Bentley.” He shuts the car door and I watch him enter the hotel as the car drives away. He was right. One day I will want more. Today is not that day, though. At least, I don’t think it is.
Hazel is sitting on the bed, her eyes on the door, and a big goofy grin on her face. “I didn’t get a save me text, or call. I assume the date went well?”
I groan and toss my bag on the dresser by the door. “Define well.”
She jumps up and comes toward me until she’s right in front of my face. “I mean, since I didn’t get a call, that means you had an excellent time. When’s your next date?” It’s a wonder she didn’t start poking me to get her point across.
Sidestepping around her, I flop on my bed. “There isn’t one.”
“Oh no,” she gasps. “What happened?”
I shrug and my dress rides up. Is it too early to change into yoga pants, climb into bed, and watch Netflix? “Nothing. The date was actually pretty good. There were a few moments when he was an ass, but overall…it was good.”
She arches an eyebrow and squints one eye, studying me. “Then why isn’t there going to be another date?” She’s more invested in this than I am, and I need to find her angle. She’s never badgered me about dating as much as she has these past two weeks.
The television is on, and some guy behind a tall desk is droning on about the game last night. An image of Bentley flashes across the screen. Seriously, this has to come on right now? I turn my attention to the ceiling. My focus is safer there. “Because it’s not feasible. We don’t live in the same place, and we’re both constantly traveling. How in the hell would that even work?” I sigh, “there isn’t time to date with those schedules. Besides, I’m not ready to date.”
“With an attitude like that, you’ll never be ready,” she snaps. The bed dips beside me, and I know I’m about to get my ass handed to me by my best friend. “Look, you’ve moped over Braxton long enough. It’s time to move on.” I open my mouth, but she covers it with her hand. “No, you don’t get to talk yet.” I lick her hand and she snatches it back, wiping it on the bed. “Anyway, you are way too young to turn into a spinster. Go out and live a little. Why do I have to keep having this conversation with you?”
She has a point. Lots of them, actually. But I’m not telling her that. “Because I’m hard headed and don’t listen.” It doesn’t lighten the mood like I hoped it would. “I have trust issues, okay. He’s a celebrity figure. If you don’t believe me, look all over the internet. Women throw themselves at him constantly. Hell, two women did it today when we were at the pizzeria the second I left the table.” I take a deep breath before continuing. “I haven’t exactly had the best of luck with people sticking by me. My parents got pissed when I chose this career and I can’t remember that last time I’ve talked to them. Then Braxton ended up being a dud. Why should I open myself up to that kind of hurt again?”
Hazel grabs my arm and pulls me up until I’m sitting. “First off, your parents suck. You followed your dreams instead of settling on something that wouldn’t make you happy. Second, you knew what you were getting into with Braxton. That almost ruined our friendship, and as shitty as it is to say, I’m glad it ended. It wouldn’t have lasted, and I don’t know that our friendship would have survived if you kept it up with him.”
