“I missed you too, baby. It was way too long to be away from the woman I love. But I’m not going anywhere for a while. So no worries. Okay? We can talk after you’ve had coffee and something to eat.”
She nodded, asked for a toasted bagel and cream cheese along with the coffee, and then turned towards the bedroom. As I reached for the phone she raced back and wrapped her arms around my waist.
“Wow. I could get used to this.”
“Yeah? Good. I wanted one more hug before my shower.”
“You can have as many hugs as you want and whenever you want them.”
“What about when you’re on the road?”
“We’re going to have a talk about that, but not now. It can wait ‘til later. Go get your shower, babe. Unless you want company?” Cupping her butt, I couldn’t resist pinching it. She squeaked in surprise and tried to look mad but laughed instead.
“You know if I hadn’t just been in the hospital I’d say yes. But I feel disgusting right now. I’ll definitely take you up on it later.”
“It’s a deal. Now get before I don’t care how dirty you are.”
Her giggles followed her into the bathroom as I picked up the phone and dialed room service.
Michelle…
The heat of the water washed away the hospital stink, thank God. It made me gag just thinking about it. I closed my eyes and inhaled slowly trying to make the urge go away. Nothing worse than the pre-puke feeling—hot, sweaty, shivering, and all that saliva. Yuck! Being in hospitals reminded me of when my parents died, and I tried to avoid them. But I guess this time there hadn’t been any other options.
As I tried to remember everything about last night, I kept drawing a blank. Over and over but I knew there was something missing, some vague memory stuck just outof reach. I needed to remember. Was anyone creeping around me last night? I didn’t remember feeling like I was being followed. The other day yes, but last night not really. So when was I drugged? The bar? Or did it happen when the room was trashed? Although how would I have slept through that? I’d have to have been drugged first. Definitely the creepier option, and if they could get into the hotel room once what’s to stop them from trying again?
Rinsing the shampoo out of my hair, I shivered even though I was standing under steamy hot water raining down on my shoulders. I would miss this shower when we went back to Cyn’s apartment. We had to go back there, right? Where else would we go? It’s not easy to find an apartment in the city. Although I guess we could move to New Jersey and I could find a teaching job there.
Shit. I can’t believe the freakin’ bitch fired me. Morality Clause my ass. What did I do? Date a rock star? End up in the hospital? There was nothing she could use to prove I broke the clause except I guess she didn’t have to. Stupid private schools.
Getting rid of the hospital stink helped, but it didn’t solve the overall problem. Who was the stalker, why were they doing this, and how the hell we were going to stop them before something else happened? Could it be Bob? He seemed too—I dunno—invisible. Did he even have the balls to do something like this? And how the hell had he pulled it off, if it was him?
With a sigh, I wrapped myself in one of the fluffy white robes the hotel supplied and went to find Flame. The sound of his voice made me hesitate in the bedroom doorway. I didn’t want to walk out in the robe in front of just anyone, and especially not in front of some room service dude
After a few seconds I realized he was on the phone. Pulling the robe tighter, I figured I’d give him a hug to let him know I was there, but his back was to me. His words sounded angry but he was almost whispering. I couldn’t make out what he was saying. I was about to let him know I was there when he slammed his fist down on the table. Shit. Angry Flame. Who the hell was he talking to?
I didn’t know what to do. I wasn’t trying to listen. Hell, I couldn’t hear what he was saying anyway, but I didn’t want him to turn around and see me there. I wanted to know who or what pissed him off so much. Seeing him angry like this was a first, at least for me. He was usually pretty even tempered.
Backing into the bedroom again, I opened the bathroom door and slammed it shut. Then walked into the living area talking like I didn’t know he was on the phone. “I’m all clean. Wanna play?”
Flame flashed what I figured he thought was a smile but it came across more like a frown. He held up a finger, the universal sign for give me a sec, and then turned away. At least I could hear some of what he was saying now.
“I’ve got to go. But listen to me, you stay away or else.” He slammed his phone onto the table so hard I’m surprised the screen didn’t crack. Shit, he was pissed. Who the hell was he talking to? Stay away or else? Now what? What the hell happened while I was in the shower? I was about to ask when there was a knock at the door.
Flame got up and went to the door signaling for me to stay back. He checked the peep hole and smiled. “Room service. Your coffee has arrived, babe.” Pulling the door open, he let the bellman wheel in the cart. I waited in the bedroom doorway staying out of sight. I still didn’t want anyone seeing me in a robe but my friends. Besides, it gave me a few minutes to try to figure out what was going on with Flame. His mood changed so quickly in the last two minutes he had to be hiding something or at least trying to hide it from me.
“Thank you, sir.”
I muffled my laugh. It was weird hearing Flame called ‘sir’. But I guess it was part of the job if you were on staff at a hotel like the Waldorf. As soon as the door clicked closed I made a beeline for the cart and the silver pot of pure heaven. The scent of the dark roast coffee filled the room and called me like a bear to honey.
“Ahhh coffee. All will be right in the world now.” Flame laughed as I poured the coffee into the white porcelain, followed by two sugars and some cream. Perfection in a cup. Inhaling the scent, I smiled and took asip savoring the taste like a fine wine. Of course Flame laughed even harder then. “What?”
“You crack me up. Coffee is just not that good. I’m sorry.”
“The hell you say. It’s the best thing ever, especially after the crappy decaf shit you brought me in the hospital.”
“Okay, maybe after that. Even the regular coffee was pretty suckful.”
Nodding, I took another sip before spreading cream cheese on my toasted bagel. I kind of expected the bagel to be cool and hard already but it was still hot and the cream cheese melted perfectly. If this was any indication of the rest of the day it was going way up from where it started.
