“We don’t even know each other. What if it turns out he clips his toenails in bed or something just as gross? Or what if he wakes up tomorrow and decides he doesn’t want to be married anymore?” In true Charlotte fashion, she’s spiraling. I reach across the counter to steady her.
“What if he doesn’t? What if you spend the rest of your life waking up next to him and you’re both sickeningly happy? What if you get to live the dream everyone wants?”
Truth is… I wish I could take my own advice and learn to be happy. Learn to let go of the past.
“I know, but I just worry. It’s all happened so fast.”
“You know, there are many cultures that have arranged marriages and those work out. Is it fast? Yes, but that doesn’t make it wrong,” I tell her.
“How did you get so smart?” Charlotte chuckles.
“I don’t know, but don’t tell anyone because I don’t need them all expecting this level of wisdom from me. Now, I’m going to shower and find a flight. He’s not stillaround, is he?”
“Who?”
“Emmanuel?” I need to avoid that man like the plague. He’s not safe for me. He watched me sleep, and I have no idea what he did to me while I was out of it. Was I drugged? Is that why I passed out so suddenly?
My hands start to shake. I clench my fists to try to ward off the oncoming panic.
“I have no idea. Want me to ask Louie?” Charlotte asks.
“No, I just want to get out of here without running into him. It’s creepy that he watched me sleep… and embarrassing,” I tell her as I make my way to the bathroom.
“I’ll make sure you don’t have to see him,” Charlotte calls out from behind me.
After saying my goodbyes to Charlotte, I make my way to the check-in desk at the airport. My heart is beating so fast. I keep counting in my head, trying to calm my nerves. I can’t get over the fact that he was in the room with me when I was sleeping.
I went over every inch of my body while I was in the shower. I didn’t see any marks. I didn’t feel likeI’d been touched, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t. Why the hell was he watching me anyway?
And to think I was fully prepared to have a few hours of naked fun with that creep. I bet he would have been so good too. Always the way… The ones who can actually make you come are not the ones you should be in bed with.
“Hi, checking in for the flight to Atlanta.” I hand over my ID to the young guy behind the counter.
“Thank you, Miss… Carter,” he says after reading my name. “How many bags are you checking?”
“Just the one.” I left a bag of clothes with Charlotte, considering she came here with nothing.
Once I get to Atlanta, I have to make the drive to Madison, my little hometown. I’ll be as far away from the supposed cartel boss as I can get. Although I’m almost certain he’s already forgotten about me. Moved on to his next poor victim.
“Thank you.” I smile at the guy as he hands me my ticket. It’s better than acknowledging the ache I feel at the thought of Emmanuel turning his attention to another woman. I don’t want his attention, but I don’t really want to lose it either.
Something is very wrong with me. That’s nothing new, though. I just need to get home, get back to the store and my normal, boring life. Thatwill reset my… whatever it is that needs resetting to forget all about the tall, dark, dangerously handsome man in a well-fitting suit I’m leaving behind.
“Argh.”I am not doing this. Nope.
After walking through security, I find a seat at the gate and plug in my earbuds. I turn on the latest Taylor Swift album and lose myself in her music while I scroll through my emails and reply to all of Amy’s. The thought of messaging Rachel and Charlotte to get their reassurance crosses my mind. But I don’t want them to worry about me, so instead of bringing up my own issues, I message them with a distraction.
Me:
Enjoy your honeymoon @charlotte!
Rachel:
I still can’t believe you got married and I wasn’t there. But I’ve seen your new husband. I get it!
Me:
Right? The man is a goner for her. He’s got it bad.
