“Did something happen to you?” Mason asked, eyes slightly narrowed.
I didn’t want them to know. I didn’t want anyone to know, but it wasn’t exactly easy to hide when I wanted to burst out into song, as ridiculous as it would be. I was happy, but I didn’t need to broadcast it, especially to my suspicious-as-fuck brothers. I checked myself, rearranging my expression into something blank. I had to keep to my usual routine, and the usual me was always serious and polite, not grinning at everyone.
I was happy. Really, truly happy for the first time in a long while.
“Nothing happened,” I said, waving away his suspicions, though I couldn’t help a slight twitch of my lips. “But I would like to hear from you guys. You’ve supposedly been working. Do you have anything to show for it?”
That got them to start fidgeting, and I smirked. It was different from a grin, and I did it often so this one was allowed.
“What about you, Kevin?” I asked.
He frowned. “We have actually been working. If you want anything physical to show for it, you’re going to have to wait. It’s only been a few days.”
I sighed, shaking my head in mock disappointment. “Really, boys. I know I’m the oldest here, but I can't keep supervising you. I will if it’s the only way to get you to do shit, though, so why don’t I have the desks brought back in here, huh?”
Mason immediately shook his head. “Dude, no way! Work is so much more than just sitting behind a desk all day, you know? You can just keep doing that while we take care of everything else.”
I sighed. “That isn’t really fair to me though, is it? I feel like I’m doing all the work.” I pursed my lips. “I guess I have to admit I’m impressed. I haven’t heard any news of you hosting a party yet.”
His eyes drifted away from mine as he looked shifty.
“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.
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 wit
h 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?”
I pursed my lips at the wording. “First of all, never say that. You can't call what went down between me and Trent ‘play’, Emily. I don’t know what you’ve heard, but it’s true that I’ve been in love with Trent for a long time, and… we clashed when he came back.”
Emily hummed. “It was a bit of a surprise when he suddenly started looking for me. Usually, he wouldn’t give me the time of day. And then I show up on his doorstep, and he’s asking me all about you. I was worried, Jessi.”
“There was no need for you to worry.”
“But something happened, didn’t it? I’m not going to ask what… but there was something?”
I couldn’t answer her. I wiped my tears away as they blurred my eyesight, but I could feel my throat tightening uncomfortably. I was far from done with crying.
“Where are you right now?” she asked.
I sighed, knowing she probably heard the news that I was leaving, too.
“I’m sorry,” I said first thing. “I should have told you first when I was going to leave. You’re right. Something did happen between me and Trent.”
“Was it enough to make you run away?”
I shook my head. “I couldn’t stay there, Emily. I just… couldn’t stay close to him after everything. I’m already in too deep, and I know him. He might not be outright plotting it, but he’s going to break my heart if I stay, I just know it. He’s already done it so many times without trying, this wouldn’t be any different.”
Except it might be, I thought.
I pushed that thought away, or I wouldn’t have made the decision to run away. I’d pretty much bared all of myself to this man. There was no way I could handle any disappointment from him after that.
“Couldn’t you try to stick around and work things out though?” Emily reasoned. “I mean… you probably know my big brother better than I do, but he can't be that big of an ass, right?”
I huffed a small laugh. “I don’t know about that. I mean, he’s changed over the years since I’ve known him, but there are parts that are familiar. I might know him better but it’s not by much. But he… started making promises this time, and that’s probably the scariest part. I know they’re not things he can give me.”
There was a short silence, and I wondered what Emily was thinking. My own thoughts were replaying last night, from when Trent showed up at my door and asked me to stay, then started giving out praises like he actually believed everything he was saying. It… all had to be a lie, right?
“I see,” Emily finally said, her voice tight. “And there’s absolutely no way for you to change your mind?”
I shook my head slowly. “I don’t think that would be possible at this point, Emily. I’m sorry I didn’t talk to you about any of this before.”
“It’s fine, I understand,” she said. “He’s my brother, of course it would be awkward for you to speak to me about him. As much as I don’t like this, I wish you luck, Jessi. Keep in touch, okay?”
“Thanks, and you too.”
With that, we hung up. I wiped away the fresh tears, took a deep breath, and drove on.
My destination was Myrtle Beach, and it was a six-hour drive to the new hotel I’d be working at. I just wanted to get there and start getting settled in. I wasn’t sure about a lot of things, like where I would stay and what my position there would be in the kitchens, because there was always some hierarchy. But right then, I just wanted to get out of the car.
I had a week. When the manager told me, I’d wanted to let him know that I wouldn’t need it, but I got it anyway. I would have a week to change my mind, if I wanted to stay at the new hotel or go back to Charlotte, but I doubted I would.
As abrupt as it was, I knew I needed this change. And besides, after I’d set it all up, it was too late to change my mind, wasn’t it? What would be there for me to go back to anyway, now that I’d actually left? Trent would be annoyed with me after I stole away for a second time while he slept. It would do me no good.
Even if Emily said I could change my mind, there was no point now. With all the rumors I’d left behind, I could just imagine what the staff would come up with if I suddenly came back after a transfer. And even if I was making a mistake, it was made. If I went back and Trent ripped into me for it, I couldn’t take that any more than him not keeping the promises he’d made to me.
You’re doing the right thing, I told myself. It was the only thing I could have done in the situation I was left in.
I truly believed that. But… why did I keep looking in the rearview mirror? There was no way someone would be coming after me to stop me, to get me to go back. I knew that logically, but the further I got from my hometown, the more my heart dropped.
It was my fault for having expectations. It’s time to move on… to my new, boring life.
19
Trent
It was just about lunch, and I’d paused working for the time being. After a moment of sitting back with my eyes closed to relax, I sat up and reached for my phone.
Still nothing.
How busy could she be that she wouldn’t even reply to my texts? Or was she going to go back to ignoring me, as she had before? Even after last night? I’d thought things would be different, but was it just me?
Fuck, I thought to myself as I came to a realization. I am such an idiot.
How exactly were things supposed to change for the better between us? I hadn't even talked to her about things yet.
I need to talk to her, I decided. Right now.
I didn’t know if she’d be on her break or not, or if she would still be in the kitchens. But I decided to give it a try, and picked up my phone to call her. I would have to come up with an excuse for how I got her number. Considering how prickly I knew she could be, it would be less weird if I asked someone for her number than if I got it using my standing in the company.
Before I could dial the number, the door opened with enough force to slam it against the wall,
making me look up. I was surprised to note my unexpected visitor was my half-sister.
“Emily,” I said, putting my phone down. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“Trent.”
The way she said my name made me look at her a little more closely, and I only then noticed how she was trembling. She had her hands fisted at her sides, her eyes were narrowed at me, and her lips were pressed flat.
“You look livid,” I muttered. “What’s wrong with you? Did something happen with Dad?”
She growled at me, and it was shocking enough that my eyes widened. I was pretty good at keeping my composure around other people in most situations, but I was caught off guard right then.
“Why the fuck are you still sitting on your ass, huh? Get up! You’ve got places you need to be.”
I arched an eyebrow at her. “What are you talking about?” I said. “I still have plenty of work to do here—”
She cut me off by crossing the space between us and slamming her fists down on my desk. The force of it was enough to make a loud sound that made me jump. I tried to play it off as I shrugged, even though she didn’t look like she cared in the least that I was a bit ruffled by her behavior. I glanced down at her hands, wondering if she felt okay after slamming them so hard, but I figured she would snap at me if I asked, so I kept my mouth shut. My little sister was just a tad bit angry.
“You are going to get Jessi back,” she outright demanded.
I blinked, not understanding. “I’m sorry?”
“You will get your ass on the family helicopter,” she said through gritted teeth. “You will go and retrieve my friend, big brother, and you will bring her back. I know you probably don’t understand because you have a black heart, but she is the closest thing I have to a best friend.”
“I didn’t know the two of you were so close,” I said tentatively. What was she on about anyway? Get Jessi from where exactly?
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