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“Can we just eat and then, hang out? Will you stay and not talk to me about anything related to skating?”
Belle nodded and asked, “Want to watch a movie?”
“So much,” she said.
“Okay. I’ll find something, and we’ll eat and watch it.”
“Thank you,” Chandler said.
“Before we start our no-skate talk, though, Chandler, you should know that whatever Cat said to you doesn’t matter.”
“It does, because she’s my sister, and she’s not here. My parents aren’t here, either. The people closest to me are the people my parents pay to work at the house or for my skating career.”
“Are you including me in that?”
“You are being paid to be here.”
“Because I need a job, and because my dad has to pay someone back home to do what I was doing, so he can’t afford to pay both of us while I’m here, but not because I want to take money to hang out with you.”
“It’s fine. I get it. It’s just hard sometimes to think that everyone leaves when I disappoint them.” She shrugged a shoulder.
“I’m still here,” Belle said.
“You’ll leave, too, though,” Chandler replied. “Maybe not tonight, but you will. Everyone does.” She forced a smile. “Can we put on that movie now?”
“Sure,” Belle said.
CHAPTER 24
Chandler rolled over and found Belle lying next to her. They’d long ago removed the trays outside for the room service staff to pick up and had lain down to finish the movie. The movie, too, had been finished, but Belle still hadn’t gone to her room. She’d stayed, and they’d talked about things other than skating because Belle actually seemed to listen to Chandler and understand what she needed better than probably anyone in Chandler’s life. Their conversation had naturally died down as they’d both gotten tired, and Chandler thought Belle would say goodnight, but she didn’t. Chandler had fallen asleep with Belle lying next to her, watching the news on TV, and when she’d woken up to use the bathroom, Belle had still been there. She was under the blanket now, sleeping facing Chandler and looking so beautiful and peaceful.
Chandler wanted to touch her face, reach for her, and wrap her arm around Belle’s body, but she didn’t. She didn’t want to risk waking Belle and having to explain why she’d been touching her in the first place. So, instead, she stared for a minute. Then, she climbed carefully out of bed and went to the bathroom, wishing she didn’t have to pee like crazy and that she could hold it because she had no idea if Belle was a light sleeper and if the flush from the toilet would wake her. After she washed her hands, Chandler left the bathroom and noticed the sun shining just a little through the thick hotel room curtains that she’d pulled to cover the window as much as they could. She also noticed Belle sitting up and rubbing her face.
“Dad?” Belle said.
“Uh… No,” Chandler replied.
Belle looked over at her and shook her head. Then, she pointed to the phone in her hand that Chandler hadn’t noticed.
“Oh, sorry,” Chandler said and walked back over to the bed, where she checked the time on her own phone.
It was just after six in the morning.
“What happened?” Belle asked before she paused for an answer. “What?” She sounded scared, and then, she stood up.
Chandler averted her eyes because, apparently, during the night, Belle had slipped out of her sweatpants and was now only wearing her boy shorts and the T-shirt she’d shown up to Chandler’s room in.
“How bad?”
“What’s going on?” Chandler asked impatiently.
Belle held up her finger and bent down. Chandler averted her eyes again because Belle’s ass was only a few feet from her face, and those boy shorts were white and basically see-through with how the light through that curtain hit them.
“Okay. Yeah, I’ll get a flight out as soon as I can. Can you get home?”
Chandler’s heart fell.
“Don’t worry about the bill. We can pay that. Just tell them to send it to you. Insurance will pick up some of it. I’ll deal with them, if I have to,” Belle said and, with her free hand, pulled up her sweats one leg at a time. “Yeah, okay. I’ll be there as soon as I can. I have to go to Chandler’s to get my stuff. We’re in a hotel for a competition right now, but we’re local. I’ll book a flight when I get there.” She sat on the side of the bed. “Dad, you’re telling me everything, right? It’s nothing more serious?” She paused and reached for a bottle of water on her side of the bed, taking a long drink and setting it back down. “Okay. I’ll be there later today. I’ll try to find a direct flight. I’ll see if Teddy can pick me up at the airport since I don’t have my truck there, but if not, I’ll get a ride, and I’ll meet you at home if you’re sure you don’t have to stay there.”
