Mean girls—absolutely.
Friends—not likely.
In the past two days, I’ve made more friends than in my entire life.
Packing up my bags, I load myself up and walk toward the elevator, but as I approach, the sound of a door opening draws my attention. I look back to see Johnny walking out of the penthouse suite. He stops when he sees me, closing the door behind him. Smiling, I turn around to press the button for the elevator.
“Dee, are you leaving?” Johnny calls out.
I turn back to face him. “I have to, Johnny. Can you say goodbye to Anna for me, please?”
“You’re a cool chick, Dee. Just remember that. I’ll let Anna know.”
I give Johnny a short nod before swinging back around and entering the elevator. I turn to press the button for the lobby, noticing Johnny rushing back inside the penthouse as the doors slowly shut on this part of my life. Tears threaten to fall, and I close my eyes, fighting to keep them from spilling over as the elevator stops. Then, with a deep inhale, I walk to Mary-Ann, who’s at the reception desk.
“Leaving already, Dee? It’s early!” she states.
I nod and hand over the keycard. She takes it from me, and I turn to walk off without saying a word.
“You look after yourself, okay?” Mary-Ann states as I step away.
I can’t answer her.
I’m too worried I’ll burst out crying.
I feel terrible.
Horrendous.
A failure.
I walk out of the Rutherford Regent Hotel and into a cab that’s pulled in, hailed by the concierge who’s taken my bags from me. A friendly driver steps out to greet me and then helps put my luggage into the trunk. As I open the back door, I hearColt, “Dee, Dee, wait.” I turn to him, running up to me, dressed in the same clothes he wore last night.
With a long exhale, I scrunch my eyes closed.
Johnny must have told him I was leaving.
I turn to open the car door, but Colt quickly puts his hand out to keep it shut.
“What are you doing?” I ask, turning to face him.
He looks terrible, still smoking hot, but terrible.
“What am I doing? What thehellare you doing?” he asks, walking around to the back of the cab and taking out my luggage.
“Colt, stop.”
“No, you stop! Why the hell are you leaving without saying anything? This is the second time you’re trying to bail on me, and it’s not fucking good enough,” he demands, his nostrils flaring and eyebrows furrowing.
I shake my head, the only response I can give him right now.
“That’s not an answer, Dee.”
“What the heck do you want me to say? You make me all giddy for you, snog me like that, and leave the club with another woman. What’s there to say, Colt?” I question, exhaustion overwhelming me.
He tilts his head, and his eyes widen. “Okay, so I had a lot to drink last night, and I don’t remember any snog or leaving with another woman. All I remember is us drinking and having a good time. I swear, I passed out as soon as we got back to the penthouse. I didn’t even make it to the bed, Dee. I literally woke up just now on the floor to Johnny slapping me across the face.”
The feeling of a thousand blunt knives stabbing me in the chest overwhelms me. His words hurt me so much that I find it hard to breathe. “You’re telling me you don’t remember our first kiss in the hallway at the club?” I ask breathlessly.
