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I nod as I force a small smile on my face.
“I’m not going to lie, it will be awkward, but the sooner we talk, the sooner we’ll feel comfortable around each other. We might as well talk now, it’s not like I have any plans for tonight.”
“Okay, let’s do this,” he says.
The silence is uncomfortable as we get in the elevator, and it keeps getting thicker as we walk to the room. I have zero social skills and don’t know how to approach this situation.
When we get to the door, I’m not sure what to do, so I hold the keycard out to Rhett.
He takes it from me, and I don’t miss as the corner of his mouth twitches. He swipes the card and pushes the door open. When he waits for me to walk in first, I feel a warmth blossoming in my chest.
As my eyes dart around the room, my mouth falls open.
“Wow,” I whisper, totally awe-struck by how stunning the room is. There’s even a tiny lounge with plush couches and a TV. I can’t remember when last I watched TV.
“Do you like it?” Rhett asks.
I glance over my shoulder to where he’s still standing in the doorway.
“It’s beautiful,” I say. Placing my bag next to the couch, I smile at Rhett. “You can come inside.”
He walks a little closer as his eyes sweep over the room.
We’re back to being awkward, and wanting to break the ice, I ask, “Why are you doing this for me? You don’t know me.”
A soft look fills his eyes, and it feels like he’s giving me a glimpse of himself. Looking at him now, he doesn’t come across as someone who would hurt me. Yesterday I was scared out of my mind, but after he’s done nothing but help me the past few hours. I’m starting to think that I might have overreacted a little.
“A man once gave my sister and I a chance. He kept us from living on the streets, and I want to give you that same chance.”
“Thank you,” I whisper. I wonder if Rhett understands what this means to someone like me. “I don’t know what made you look at me yesterday, but I’m so thankful that you did. All of this,” I sweep my hand over the room, “is so much more than I could ask for. But the fact that you saw me when everyone else kept looking right through me, I have no words to describe what that means to me.”
The look on his face is gentle as he says, “You’re welcome, Evie.”
He moves slowly towards me as if he’s worried that I’ll run off if he walks too fast.
This day started out horrible, and if someone told me I would end my day in a luxury hotel, and allow a man I’ve just met to hug me, I would’ve thought they were crazy.
But here I am, and I don’t stop Rhett as his arms wrap around me. As I rest my cheek against his chest, I pinch my eyes closed.
How is it possible that such a kindhearted and remarkable person like Rhett sees someone as ordinary as me?
Just being noticed by another human being fills me with the profound thought that I’m not invisible. For a moment, it feels like I matter. It’s food for my battered soul, and in a way, I needed it more than I needed shelter and nourishment.
When he pulls back, his smile is kind. The gentle look in his eyes only makes me feel more at ease.
Rhett holds the keycard out to me, and when I take it from him, he says, “I’m going to leave so you can get some rest. I’ll be back early tomorrow morning.”
He walks to the door, and as he starts to pull it closed behind him, I take a step forward. “Rhett!”
The door instantly swings open, and a worried look tightens his features.
“In case something happens, I just want you to know that you’ve already made a difference in my life.”
“Nothing’s going to happen, Evie. I will see you tomorrow.”
I nod and stand still as he closes the door behind him. It sounded like a promise, but nothing is set in stone.
At least for tonight, I’ll be safe, warm and fed.
