Page 45 of Winning Her

“Well, about that…”

I snorted. “No way. You actually have one planned, don’t you?” I turned to Kevin. “What about you?”

He raised his hands, palms out, and backed away slowly. “Do not look at me like that, I swear I’m not planning anything. Besides, I’d probably just step out for a walk instead of inconveniencing the hotel staff.”

“Why is it an inconvenience?” Mason countered. “It’s their jobs, isn’t it? And it’s not like I wouldn’t pay just because I’m the son of the owner!”

I held in my snickers as I watched them bicker between themselves. It was just like Mason to have a party planned. I’d known, but having the confirmation didn’t leave me as annoyed as I’d thought it would. Mason would always be Mason, after all. If he didn’t have the party at the hotel, I knew he’d go somewhere else to bother other people.

Kevin would probably get himself lost exploring. But this was our hometown, so I’d have to hope he wouldn’t actually get himself lost. Besides, these two weren’t kids I was supposed to babysit. We were all chipping in to help in our own way. I knew they were doing something for the hotel, even if I didn’t know what it was yet.

“You can have your party,” I cut into their bickering, and they turned to me with twin expressions of surprise. “But there have to be a few ground rules. You know you can't bother other guests when you do have your party, right? If you do, I swear I will kick you out.”

“Of course I wouldn’t,” Mason said indignantly, even as he still watched me in surprise.

I gave a sharp nod. “The other condition is you absolutely have to give me a heads up before this thing happens. I don’t think I’ll be making an appearance, but I know I’ll be getting calls for it once you set this party up, and I’d like to be prepared for it.”

They both stared at me for a moment, then shared a look between themselves.

“Something definitely happened,” Mason declared. “But you know what? I don’t care what it is. I’ll let you know before I start throwing any parties, and you don’t have to worry, they won’t be too wild.”

Both Kevin and I scoffed at that, and Mason put on a betrayed look. It was hard to believe him because of all the outrageous stories I’d heard. A lot of it was probably exaggeration, but I’d stopped going to his parties after the first few I was pushed into attending for a reason.

After some more brotherly bickering, they left and I went back to work. Only to pause and pick up my phone.

Finally, after years, I was feeling happy. It was all because of Jessi.

So where was she?

Probably just busy, I told myself, writing her another quick text to get back to me when she could. I promised myself I’d look for her later.

With that decided, I put the phone down and turned to my computer, ready to focus. I had several hours before I could see her and I had to make them count.

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.