“Cool.”
I nod quickly and move to the door before either of us can make it any worse. I'm down the hallway in record time, heart hammering against my ribs like it's trying to get out.
I've always loved the feeling of falling for someone new. That kind of freefall where anything feels possible and your whole body knows something your brain hasn't caught up to yet. Love. Romance. Mystery. Charm. Fantasy. I've chased that feeling before. But I've never felt it this strongly for someone and been this uncertain it was going anywhere.
With Seth there are moments I'd swear he's right there with me. In the gym. The car. The bed. His hand at my throat. And then he pulls back, and I'm left standing in the wreckage of it wondering if I imagined the whole thing. Or I pull back. Either way we are not on the same page.
A well-placed orgasm in a hotel room does not equal love, romance, or long-term commitment. It equals temporary satisfaction and eventual disappointment. Heartbreak.
For me, at least.
Protect your heart,I tell myself as the elevator descends.
The doors open into the lobby and Kelly and Sawyer are walking in at the same time that I exit. The relief I feel at the sight of them is immediate because now I have something to focus on besides the three-hour drive home with Seth and whatever is happening between us that neither of us wants to acknowledge.
“Hi!” I say, forcing a cheerful smile even though I’m running on less than three hours of sleep and multiple questionable lifechoices. I hate lying. I don’t do it. Pretending to be fine feels like lying. I’m not fine right now.
Kelly waves, looking fresh and put together because of course she does, while Sawyer skips ahead, her face lighting up when she sees me.
“Hi, Bri!” she says lightly, her cheeks tinged with pink, her eyes flickering with something between embarrassment and relief.
I don’t give her time to overthink it—I pull her into a tight hug, feeling her smaller arms wrap around me instantly. God, I missed her. I didn’t expect to feel it this quickly or this much. And it’s not just because there are moments where she reminds me of a younger me, or who her father is, but because she’s silly, and good, and so smart. I like being around her. She feels like another friend.
“Thanks for staying with her last night,” I say to Kelly.
“Of course. We basically slept the whole time. Okay,” She slings her purse over her shoulder. “I’m off. Gotta catch my plane and then I need a long shower.”
I smile and squeeze her arm. “Thank you. Have a safe flight.” She heads toward the hotel exit while I shift my attention back to Sawyer, whose eyes look worried.
“Does my dad know what happened? Is he mad?” is the first thing she blurts out.
“Look, I forgot to mention this last night because I didn’t think he was coming.”
Her face freezes for a second, and then her eyes widen. “Dad’s here?” She says it quietly, almost like she already knows the answer.
I nod. “Yeah. He’s not upset or anything, but he’s running on very little sleep, so he might be a little grumpy.”
She lets out a soft snort. “Isn’t he always a little grumpy?”
“That he is,” I grin. “I think it’s a requirement for his job. Has to be intimidating in the goal.” I pull my phone out of my pocket and shoot Seth a quick text.
Bri: Ready when you are.
Not even a second later the elevator doors slide open, and he steps out. When his gaze locks on Sawyer it’s like all the stress melts off his handsome face. He moves to her quickly.
“Hi, Spirit,” he murmurs, his voice soft in a way I’ve only ever heard him use with her. He wraps her up in his arms, hugging her so tight I can practically feel the relief in his shoulders.
Sawyer clings to him just as fiercely, burying her face in his chest.
“I’m sorry, Dad,” she mumbles softly.
“What happened?” He holds her out like he’s inspecting her for injuries.
“I got really scared.”
He nods. “We’ve flown a lot together. Any reason you were scared this time?”
"I don't know. It just felt different." She pauses. "I'm sorry. For making you drive all the way out here. For ruining your night."
