AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As if on cue, the pointed toe of a stiletto jabbed into his shin, making him jump back.
"Sorry.” Her nose wrinkled up, and she started to lick the tines of her fork. “I'll have to kiss that owie for you later."
Her mouth going anywhere near what promised to be a swollen purple bruise on his shin was decidedly unappealing. The date wasn't working. He didn't feel better. He wasn't distracted from the flesh rending pain of his heart being broken. All he could think about was Laine, and all he wanted was to stop.
Drastic measures were in order.
Downing half the contents of his freshly-filled glass, Jason leaned forward and took Pammy's hand, stroking his thumb across the palm. “What do you say we get out of here?"
Her tongue slid in a slow caress over her teeth. “I thought you'd never ask."
Jason flagged a waiter, and finished the rest of his drink. His stomach was starting to revolt, but the edge was off, and that's what he needed.
"Call down to the front desk, and get me a room. Any room. Have the key brought to the elevators."
"Sure thing, Mr. Henley.” And he was gone.
Just like the old days. Before Laine.
Jason helped his date up and escorted her, palm resting at the base of her spine, out of the restaurant to the bank of elevators. His skin felt clammy, and his mind kept wandering off, looking for the familiar cascade of chestnut hair at every table, listening for her laugh behind every door.
What was she doing right now?
A cool hand circled his, drawing his thoughts back into the hotel, to the pretty blonde ... who had just started sucking his finger. His dick felt like it was trying to crawl up his leg to get away. Shit.
The elevator doors swished open, and the night manager stepped out. “Jason, we're booked up tonight. There was some problem with the Fitz downtown, and we got a flood of their customers about an hour ago."
No rooms. No beds, except for the empty one in his apartment that still carried the scent of Laine's conditioner on one of the pillows. Hanging his head, he wondered why he'd let the date go on as long as he had. He should have known what a mistake it was when he'd picked Pammy up and his first thought hadn't been some acknowledgement of her hotness, but to wonder whether she flossed. “Can you get Dil for me? We'll be down in the lobby."
Turning to Pammy, he said the only lame thing that came to mind. “It's not you. It's me."
* * * *Behind the wheel of the Henley limo, Dil wore a look of utter disappointment. “You used to be my idol, man. Now, I don't even know what to say. Pammy was a sure thing. What a waste, makes me sick to think about it."
Jason, slumped in the front passenger seat, nodded, then shook his head and finally just shrugged. The vodka was catching up with him. “I'll send ‘er a dozen roses tomorrow. Enough. Let's focus. It's go time."
Dil turned a slow skeptical eye toward him and then through the passenger window to the apartment building beyond them. “You sure you don't want to call her instead? I've got the phone right here. Or better, wait until tomorrow."
"No, I screwed up. A romantic gesture is in order. I'm going to do it.” He grabbed the coins off the dash and shouldered into the limo door. On the second try he made it out and started toward the darkened side of the brick building. Most of the lights were out.
Dil came up beside him, hands stuffed in his pockets, shoulders shrugged forward. “Tell me again why we can't use dimes or pennies?"
Jason let out a snort. “She's special.” Then, after testing the loft, he threw the first silver dollar at the window.
Obscenities ran out of Dil in a steady stream as the first coin rustled through the leafy branches behind them and finally dropped onto the ground. “That wasn't even toward the building, man."
"Don't start with me. Practice throw."
"Don't lie to yourself. It was a pussy throw."
"Fuck, Dil. Language. People live here. This is a romantic gesture."
"Yeah, yeah, boss. Sorry."
"And now with the boss business.” Emotion clogged Jason's throat as he turned to Dil. “I thought we were friends."
"Throw."
Jason tottered, picked up the coin and then focused on the building.
