The driver looked at me like I was a lost puppy. Then he glanced at the hotel. "You staying here?"
"That's right, I said.
At least I hope I am, if Terry finally shows up…
"Well, if I'm being honest, it's not enough," the driver said, tapping the meter.
A cold sweat descended upon me. "I-I'm sorry, my fiancé was supposed to be the one paying but he's not here, and actually don't know where he is at all…" I shoved the cash towards him. "Here, take all of it."
I must've sounded panicked because the driver took pity on me. "Half is fine."
The idea of underpaying a service worker was mortifying to me. My whole life up until I met Terry, I worked odd jobs in retail and food service, so I never wanted to bethat guy.
"No, please, I insist," I said firmly, shaking my head. I put the cash on the center console before he could argue.
He raised a brow in amusement. "What I was gonna say is, I know the owner of the hotel. He's a good guy. If you want, keep the cash and I'll put it on your tab at the resort. That fair?"
The idea of having a tab at the resort when I hadn't even checked in yet made me squirm, but I didn't have much of a choice. I reluctantly agreed, but still left half the cash in the driver's car, then I scurried away before he could try to give it back to me.
The path leading to the front entrance of the resort was lined with beautiful, fragrant flowers and gently swaying palm trees. Soft whimsical music played in the background, as if floating on the warm breeze. It struck me at once at how beautiful it was here. Being out in the open air calmed me down. Hell, I was on vacation! I should've been enjoying myself, not stressing out over imaginary problems.
Raising my head high, I strode into the front lobby. It had an open concept design so the scent of flowers and fresh air filled the inside space. All the employees wore friendly smiles and exhibited an aura of happiness. It was relaxing just to be around them.
At the front counter, a younger woman was tapping away at an expensive-looking new computer. But it was something else that drew my eye.
Or should I say someone. The alpha standing behind her was one of the most handsome men I'd ever seen. With warm brown windswept hair and kind eyes, he resembled a model on the cover of a magazine.
Speaking of alphas, where the hell was Terry?
I glanced around the lobby. He was nowhere to be seen. At this point I was getting frustrated.
We were supposed to be on this vacation together and he hadn't even replied to my text yet. I pulled out my phone and opened our messages.
That was when my jaw dropped. There was a read receipt. Terry saw the message but didn't reply.
Enough was enough. Hauling my carry-on bag tightly over my shoulder, I walked outside and hid behind a palm tree, hoping no one would overhear what I wanted to be a private conversation.
I rang up Terry. My heart raced as the dial tone went on and on…
He finally picked up.
"Hello?" Terry sounded tired, like he'd just woken up. I couldn't believe it. Did he read my text and immediately fall back asleep? Had he missed his flight? I knew he could be a little irresponsible, but this was ridiculous.
"Where are you?" I demanded.
There was a long silence in which the pit of my stomach got deeper and darker.
"Terry, you're not here in the hotel lobby, are you?" I asked when he didn't say anything. "The woman at the airport said there was only one flight from New York, but I didn't see you anywhere, and then I had to pay for the cab by myself and I didn't have enough money... Anyway, it doesn't matter, just tell me where you are. I don't want to check into the hotel by myself."
There was a low sound on the other end of the line, a mix between a sigh and a groan. "Listen, Leo..."
Those two words followed by a groan with the last thing I wanted to hear right now. "Yes? I'm listening."
"You're on your own, all right?" Terry said, a statement rather than a question.
"...What?"
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. In fact, there was no way that was what Terry said. I misheard him. I must have.
