Page 48 of Room Service

18

Jessi

I woke up for the second time wrapped in Trent’s arms.

Why can't I just stay like this?

The thought was a wistful one because I knew all the reasons why not. I wasn’t just going to disregard them, thinking things could possibly work out. There was nothing to stake that kind of faith and hope on, after all.

Still, I gave myself a few minutes to enjoy being held like this. As far as I cared, Trent was the man for me. Once I left, I wasn’t sure I would ever look at someone else the way I looked at him. So, arguably, this was my last chance to get in some snuggling.

After several minutes, during which my mind woke up, I sighed, knowing I had to get going. It was early because my work schedule had pretty much been ingrained in me. Today, had I still been going to work, I would have been going in for the early morning shift. Someone else would have to take my place by now.

“I’m sorry, Trent,” I whispered, blinking tears away. I placed a soft kiss on his chest, then got out of bed carefully.

I needed a shower and a change of clothes, and I did those listlessly, even as I tried to be quiet so I wouldn’t disturb him. It would just be more difficult if he woke up, and I had to explain to him that I was leaving anyway, even after he’d asked me to stay.

Once he wakes up and I’m not there, he’ll realize this was for the best, I told myself.

That was what I was hoping for. I hoped he wouldn’t be too annoyed with me for leaving. Who was I kidding? He probably wouldn’t even care that much.

“I need to get this stuff out,” I muttered to myself once I was dressed, my hands on my hips as I looked at the disorganized mess that was my living room. I packed away my clothes from yesterday, picking up Trent’s and leaving them on top of my dresser. Then I packed away my toiletries and sighed. “Now for the move to the car.”

I started with moving the boxes. I was so glad I’d already sent a few outside because this was going to be a tedious process.

I picked them up one by one and left them outside the door. Once I had everything outside, I closed the door behind me. It was early enough that I wouldn’t have to worry about anybody coming by and taking my things if I left them alone for a little bit.

I carried them one by one over to the elevator. I checked to see if it was in working order first, then moved the rest of the boxes to the outside of the elevator. Once I had them all, I pressed the button to head down, and when the elevator doors opened, I pushed all my stuff inside. I had to put one of the boxes in the way of the door when it was about to close early, but I finally got everything inside. I breathed another sigh and waited until I got down.

The process repeated, with me pushing the stuff out, leaving them on the outside of the elevator, then taking them one by one to my car, waiting outside in the staff parking.

After half an hour, I was ready to leave. And I did, jumping into the front of the car and putting it in drive. There were plenty of people I would have liked to have seen before I left, but they likely wouldn’t have been awake.

I drove out of the parking lot, easing the car into the street, then picking up speed. I knew the general direction I was supposed to be heading. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been driving when I lost the fight with my emotions and tears started streaming down my face as I cried silently. Familiar streets and buildings fell away behind me the further I went, until I was out of town, and there was nothing but a long stretch road ahead, and fields of grass to either side.

My phone rang. It made me jump but my hands on the wheel remained steady. I glanced over at my phone, checking the screen and seeing the name on it. I grimaced.

Emily.

I hadn't exactly been avoiding her along with Trent, but she and I hadn't really met up since he’d showed. I hadn't talked to her either, and I wondered if she even knew what was happening. She hadn't been to the hotel since her father got sick and her brothers came back.

She would be annoyed with me if I didn’t answer, so I used my hands-free feature to pick up her call.

“Hi, Jessi,” came her usually chipper voice, though I could hear some slight strain in it. “Sorry I haven’t gotten in touch, things are a bit hectic over here.”

“That’s fine,” I said quickly in reassurance. “I should have tried to call you first. My mom told me as much as she knew but I wanted to ask how your dad was doing.”

There was a short silence. “Dad is… doing just fine. He’s resting.”

I let out a sigh of relief and nodded even though she couldn’t see it. I’d been a little worried that what happened to Matthew Thompson was serious because it was so unlike him to not work. Even when he’d supposedly retired, my mom and I had known it was an excuse to stay at the mansion instead of traveling all over the place, but he still worked from home and at the hotel branch nearest to him.

“That’s not what I called about,” she said hurriedly. “I wanted to talk to you about Trent.”

I wondered whether or not I should be surprised.

“You know about him and me?” I asked.

She sighed. “Well, I didn’t at first. You mom certainly doesn’t know.” The words were accusing, and I winced. “But I heard the rumors. I don’t know how much of it is true, but… my brother played with you, didn’t he?”