Her slurred words echo in my head, and now it all makes sense.
“What the hell, Nell?” I mutter, then keep reading.
She heard my conversation with Asher, that was not about her, it was all about Daniella, but I can understand why she would have misconstrued that, and as for my late-night intimate moment with Daniella, that could not be further from the truth.
Fuck, I need to speak with her.
I leave the room and head for the elevators; I need to get to the lobby to see of anyone saw her leave.
I try calling her again, but it just rings until her answering machine picks up.
I reach the ground floor and step out. People are everywhere with luggage, chatting and laughing while my world is being turned upside down.
As I call her again, I spear my fingers through my hair, grunting when I snag a knot.
My heart skips a beat when the call doesn’t go through. Pulling the device from my ear like it is a demon, I sigh.
She blocked me.
Forcing my feet to move, I walk in the direction of where we have breakfast and see some of my family eating and talking. My mom sees me and she must sense my distress.
“Romeo. What is wrong? Where is Nell?”
“Have you seen her?” She shakes her head, no.
My question gains my family’s attention. “She wasn’t there when I woke up, and I searched my room. All of her things are gone.”
“Did she say why she was leaving?”
I sigh, sinking into the seat next to my father. Asher nods to me, telling me it is time to come clean.
Taking a deep breath, I give my auntie a grateful smile when she places a mug of coffee in front of me. Taking a sip, I think over the best way around informing my parents of the deal between Nell and me, but I know that it is safer to just come outright and explain everything.
“Let me get all of this out before you interrupt.”
My mom goes to say something but my father cuts her off.
“Go on, Son.”
“I know that you mean well, Mom, but fuck, you have got to stop trying to marry me off. Nell was not my girlfriend when we got here. How we met was the truth. Her ex-husband and his new woman were being dicks to her, and I stepped in to help. It was the perfect timing because you were sending women to me, pushing them on me to pick a date for the wedding. After speaking to Nell for a short time, I saw something in her I liked, so I thought, why not make a deal.
“She was to be my date for the wedding. Convince all of you that we were happily dating, while Nell got a vacation out of it and time to reflect on her future. Since her divorce, she has not been living up to her standard.”
“She wanted something fun in her life,” my mom says, and I nod. “Go on.”
“Yeah. We went on a date or two before we came here and she got under my skin. I told Asher that…”
“You knew and did not tell me?” My mom slaps his bicep, and he grunts.
“Damn, woman, keep those brute fists to yourself.” He looks at my father. “Control your woman, Pops.”
My father chuckles, as does the family at the table.
“Boy, you know that I cannot control her.” He winks. “Unless we are in the bed?—”
“You finish that sentence, Anthony De Massy, and you will find yourself in a dry spell.”
“Eww, what the fuck?” I shudder, while Asher fakes puking.
