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She smiled to herself. “Maybe.”
He returned the smile, released the door, and held it open.
Jess drew a bath and soaked in it until she shriveled up and the water turned cold. She was beyond tired. She was sore and spent. She’d hoped for sleep, but instead, found she only tossed and turned in her bed. A drink would help, but she found the mini bar empty. No doubt it was Myles’ doing. He also held her pills, and though she desperately craved one, the last thing she wanted was to have to ask for it at a time like this. What had she just done? Her husband was gay. Gay. She did her best to think back over her marriage, searching for signs that he was interested in the opposite sex, but nothing apparent stuck out. It was too soon. She couldn’t go there. She was still in shock. The news and the sting, both still too raw.
In the meantime, a one-night stand or two couldn’t hurt. Sure, she had crossed a few too many lines by having sex with her employee, but, on the other hand, it made her feel something that she hadn’t felt in a long time. Desired. As she dozed off, she wondered how this had become her life. How she’d ended up halfway across the world with an essential stranger dishing out her drugs and a husband that no longer wanted the life they’d had. A husband who’d not only been living a lie, but had taken the last little bit of hope she’d had when he informed her their money was gone. Whether this were true or not, only time would tell.
One thing was certain though—Jessica realized that she had to get her life together and fast.
The phone buzzing jarred Jess from her sleep.
“Hello,” she whispered in the dark.
“Can I come over?” the deep voice asked.
“What time is it?”
“Four in the afternoon.”
She sighed. “If… you bring me a pill or two.”
The door clicked and Myles entered her room.
Jess pulled the covers over her head. “Jesus. I forgot you had a key.”
“Here.” He placed the pills and a bottle of water on the bedside table.
Jessica sat up and studied his face. “How did she die?”
Myles froze. He winced and then sat down on the bed beside her. “Jessica— let me be clear about something. That part of my life is not open for discussion. It isn’t something I want to revisit.”
She grabbed the two pills and tossed them back. “Got it.”
“About earlier,” he said, nodding toward his room. “I’m sorry. It shouldn’t have happened.”
Her mouth gaped open but she quickly recovered. “You woke me up to tell me this?”
He stood and began straightening the room. “No, it was time for your medication.”
“You know what, Myles? You can hide all you want to… but you’re no less fucked up than I am,” Jess muttered, throwing the half empty water bottle at his back.
He turned, picked the water bottle up, and placed it firmly back on her bedside table. He turned to go then stopped mid-stride. “Who’s hiding?” he called over his shoulder. “I’m right next door,” he said as though it were an invitation and then let the door slam.
Old habits die hard. It was always better to stop these things before they started, he knew. Myles studied the horizon out the window. He was involved enough as it was, and he really didn’t need this in his life to begin with. That woman was a train wreck waiting to happen and he wanted off the ride. The problem was he liked her. The trouble was she liked him.
Myles sat that way lost in thought until he heard the key card swipe click and his door open. Motherfucker. He guessed it wasn’t the cleaning lady.
But he didn’t turn to check.
“I’ll pay you,” she said, slurring her words.
Myles let out a long sigh. Good God.
He kept his back to her. “For sex?”
“Not for sex. That’s illegal. And skanky... and desperate—”
“I get your point,” he spat, cutting her off. “You need to cut back on the pills. I’m no doctor, but they’re prescribing you more than you need—by at least half.”
