with
her elbow. “Come on, the hot guy’s obviously into you. What’s up with the angry
face?”
“The hot guy also has a girlfriend,” I retort and turn to
take in Mandy’s room.
Just like mine, the décor is rustic yet simple with a low-roofed
ceiling, fitted only with a rugged bed, night table, and a large, solid wooden
cupboard. A few scarce pictures of birds adorn the otherwise empty walls.
“Honestly, I don’t know why we’re staying here,” I say. “We
could just ask him to drive us to a hotel.”
“Because.” Mandy waves her hand.
“Because what?”
She shrugs. “It’s cozy here.”
And free, which she doesn’t add, and neither do I. We left
home early and would arrive at the luxury hotel early, meaning we’d have to pay
for the extra days.
“It is,” I agree as my gaze sweeps over the room one more
time. Simple and cozy—such a strong contrast to the red Lamborghini and
the expensive clothes. I sigh and turn around to regard her. “But we’re
imposing. Give me another reason why we shouldn’t leave.”
“Because he’s a Boyd,” Mandy says. “I still can’t believe
you kept that fact from me for more than three months.”
Oh, here we go again.
“I didn’t know. Besides, what does it matter who he is when
he’s obnoxious as fuck?” I groan and head for the door. “You know what? I’ll
see you later. And if I hear his stupid name one more time, I’m leaving with or
without you.”
“Well, you can’t. We’re stuck, remember? The car’s broken
down, and we’re not heading back home before we’ve seen Mile High. You might
want to start to loosen up a bit and have some fun.”
How could I forget the stupid tickets? They’re the reason
why we’re here and I can’t escape the one guy I want to escape.
“Whatever.”
Mandy’s laughter rings as I close the door behind me.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The storm picks up again. The night’s one drawn-out opus of
splattering rain and howling wind. I barely manage to get a few hours of sleep
before a noise wakes me.
I sit up straight, familiarizing myself with my
surroundings, my ears straining to place the sounds.
I’m still at Kellan’s place. So, that part’s not a dream.
The sky is still dark and starless, with nothing but the
moon lighting up the room. I’m surrounded by the sound of the wind, the swaying
of branches, the soft spattering of rain.
Pure, complete nature.
It must be what woke me.
Having lived in NYC all my life, I’m used to noise: the
constant rumble of traffic, the honking, the hollow thudding of the music in
nearby bars and shops, the shouting of the drunk on a Saturday night. I’m so
used to my life in the city and the fumes that the complete absence of noise
unnerves me.
It’s supposed to be calming, and yet I find it peculiarly
strange.
I feel as if I’ve been sucked into a black hole and spat out
on another planet.
As if I’ve become the air itself, trapped somewhere between
the earth and sky, and I don’t know which way I want to go.
Somewhere in the distance, I hear the agitated chirping of
birds, celebrating that soon a new dawn will break. Slowly, I sink back into
the pillows and pull the covers up to my chin.
As soon as I close my eyes, I hear it again.
It’s the same sound that woke me.
I cannot ignore it.
It sounds like…
I jump up, eyes wide open, my heart stopping, as I become
aware of one fact.
It’s coming from the adjacent room.
That’s where Kellan’s sleeping.
It’s unmistakably moaning, interrupted by heavy breathing.
And then soft voices.
Kellan has a woman in
there.
I reach out for my phone on the table. The clock says it’s
four a.m. I left Mandy and Kellan barely two hours ago. My heart sinks as I
recall the last few hours.
During dinner, which consisted of medium rare steak and
bread, Kellan was friendly, respectful, and formal. I expected more sexual
advances, but to my surprise, none came. There were no double meanings. No
lingering looks. No more
her elbow. “Come on, the hot guy’s obviously into you. What’s up with the angry
face?”
“The hot guy also has a girlfriend,” I retort and turn to
take in Mandy’s room.
Just like mine, the décor is rustic yet simple with a low-roofed
ceiling, fitted only with a rugged bed, night table, and a large, solid wooden
cupboard. A few scarce pictures of birds adorn the otherwise empty walls.
“Honestly, I don’t know why we’re staying here,” I say. “We
could just ask him to drive us to a hotel.”
“Because.” Mandy waves her hand.
“Because what?”
She shrugs. “It’s cozy here.”
And free, which she doesn’t add, and neither do I. We left
home early and would arrive at the luxury hotel early, meaning we’d have to pay
for the extra days.
“It is,” I agree as my gaze sweeps over the room one more
time. Simple and cozy—such a strong contrast to the red Lamborghini and
the expensive clothes. I sigh and turn around to regard her. “But we’re
imposing. Give me another reason why we shouldn’t leave.”
“Because he’s a Boyd,” Mandy says. “I still can’t believe
you kept that fact from me for more than three months.”
Oh, here we go again.
“I didn’t know. Besides, what does it matter who he is when
he’s obnoxious as fuck?” I groan and head for the door. “You know what? I’ll
see you later. And if I hear his stupid name one more time, I’m leaving with or
without you.”
“Well, you can’t. We’re stuck, remember? The car’s broken
down, and we’re not heading back home before we’ve seen Mile High. You might
want to start to loosen up a bit and have some fun.”
How could I forget the stupid tickets? They’re the reason
why we’re here and I can’t escape the one guy I want to escape.
“Whatever.”
Mandy’s laughter rings as I close the door behind me.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The storm picks up again. The night’s one drawn-out opus of
splattering rain and howling wind. I barely manage to get a few hours of sleep
before a noise wakes me.
I sit up straight, familiarizing myself with my
surroundings, my ears straining to place the sounds.
I’m still at Kellan’s place. So, that part’s not a dream.
The sky is still dark and starless, with nothing but the
moon lighting up the room. I’m surrounded by the sound of the wind, the swaying
of branches, the soft spattering of rain.
Pure, complete nature.
It must be what woke me.
Having lived in NYC all my life, I’m used to noise: the
constant rumble of traffic, the honking, the hollow thudding of the music in
nearby bars and shops, the shouting of the drunk on a Saturday night. I’m so
used to my life in the city and the fumes that the complete absence of noise
unnerves me.
It’s supposed to be calming, and yet I find it peculiarly
strange.
I feel as if I’ve been sucked into a black hole and spat out
on another planet.
As if I’ve become the air itself, trapped somewhere between
the earth and sky, and I don’t know which way I want to go.
Somewhere in the distance, I hear the agitated chirping of
birds, celebrating that soon a new dawn will break. Slowly, I sink back into
the pillows and pull the covers up to my chin.
As soon as I close my eyes, I hear it again.
It’s the same sound that woke me.
I cannot ignore it.
It sounds like…
I jump up, eyes wide open, my heart stopping, as I become
aware of one fact.
It’s coming from the adjacent room.
That’s where Kellan’s sleeping.
It’s unmistakably moaning, interrupted by heavy breathing.
And then soft voices.
Kellan has a woman in
there.
I reach out for my phone on the table. The clock says it’s
four a.m. I left Mandy and Kellan barely two hours ago. My heart sinks as I
recall the last few hours.
During dinner, which consisted of medium rare steak and
bread, Kellan was friendly, respectful, and formal. I expected more sexual
advances, but to my surprise, none came. There were no double meanings. No
lingering looks. No more
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