Heather
There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Oliver will come running back to me. Once he’s done with what’s-her-name, that is. Honestly, I think this is good for him to get out of his system before we get back together. So he can know, without a doubt, that with me is where he truly belongs.
Julie is so…dull.
I wonder if he even buys her nice things like he bought for me. Of course, I had to sell most of those things to afford to continue my lifestyle. It’s just a matter of time before I get back into Oliver’s pocket—I mean, get back into his heart. I laugh and the bed stirs next to me. I forgot that I’m not alone. Before I can come up with a plan to escape, he groans and holds the pillow over his head to block out the sunlight.
Whatever his name is.
Mark…Josh…Brandon. That’s right. Brandon.
He literally ran into me down at the hotel bar last night. He was so freaked out that it was sort of pathetically cute. I was more than desperate to sleep away my frustration over Oliver not returning my calls. Preferably with someone other than Casey—that was getting old.
Poor Nora though, she didn’t look well after I’d left her hospital room, and Casey, he’s just a walking disaster.
“Oh, man.” Brandon rubs his eyes and opens them. He tries to focus with all the fresh sunlight in the room. “My head is pounding.”
“Here,” I say in a cold voice. I hand him a few aspirin and some water. “Take these and leave.”
He sits up slowly and rubs his head. He pops the pills in his mouth and guzzles down the water in two drinks. “I’ll leave when I damn well please.”
I scoff. “Oh my God, do I need to call security?”
Brandon’s smile widens and his hands creep underneath the blanket. He grabs my thigh and squeezes it—hard. “If you want me to do what I did to you last night again, just say the word. Your wish is most definitely my command.” His hand slides up my thigh and starts moving toward my inner leg. I let him touch me for a few more minutes so I can remember what it feels like, getting my fill and shaking him off as he laughs.
His laugh chills my bones.
“I was pretty drunk last night—what did you say your name was?” He rubs his eyes again. He’s pretty good-looking, but he isn’t sexy like Ollie. Every single woman I’ve ever encountered when I was next to him acted jealous; I always laughed in their faces when they even tried to talk to him. He always blamed me for him not being able to make and keep friends, but I was always looking out for his best interest: Me.
I bite my bottom lip. “I’m going to order breakfast—are you staying?”
Brandon nods and groans. He floats back down into the soft, expensive mattress. I roll my eyes and pick up the phone on the bedside table, dialing the number one. I wait three rings before I hang up. Annoyed, I dial another time.
“Good morning, this is the front desk. My name is Alejandro, how may I assist you?”
I sigh loudly into the phone. “Alejandro. This is Heather from room 1409; how many times do I have to ask you people to pick up on at least the second ring?”
He doesn’t speak.
“Okay, let’s just see if we can get my breakfast order right this morning, shall we?”
“Yes, Miss Heather. What would you like this morning?” His voice is steady. I know he’s probably rolling his eyes at me but I don’t care.
“Strawberries, pancakes and eggs, some bacon, and maybe a little avocado…can you handle that?” I snip at him. Alejandro reads my order back to me and then I hang up the phone. Brandon slides out of the bed and locks himself in the bathroom. I heard the shower running and I cringe.
Who takes a shower without asking someone in their own home?
I take this opportunity to get dressed and run a brush through my black hair. I apply a little foundation and natural-colored blush to my cheeks, then pinch them to make them a little pinker. I roll on some tinted lip balm and shiver at the thought of Ollie’s lips on Julie’s. I run my hand down my left leg and frown. I need to shave, but he’s in my shower.
The waiter with the food knocks on the door. I don’t have any money for a tip, so I search through Brandon’s pants for his wallet and find something else instead.
A large wad of rolled-up money.
I find his wallet and open it, taking out all the cash in there too and sifting through for a twenty. Then I put everything back in the way I found it and open the door for the waiter. He brings in the food and lays it out for us, serving me my usual morning mimosa. I hand him the twenty without saying a word so he’ll leave.
I hurry up and stuff my face full of pancakes and strawberries; I slide a few pieces of bacon into the bedside table for later. I like to eat in peace where no one can judge me sometimes.
Brandon comes sauntering out of the steamy bathroom, towel around his waist. He sits down across from me, shoveling food onto his plate.
“So, who were you running from last night?” I take a few more strawberries and nibble on them while he eats like a pig. “You said something about doing something bad.”
He nods. “I don’t know if I did something bad, but I’m leaving town just in case.”
I pout a little and whimper as if I really care that he’s leaving. “So soon? You couldn’t have done anything that bad—you don’t seem like a bad person. Not that I’m one to judge anyone right now.”
“I’m a bad person, trust me,” he mutters, and it kind of creeps me out. “You don’t know me, you don’t know what I’ve done to people, and you don’t know what I am running from.”
“O-okay, well…” I hold my arm toward the front door. “Feel free to mosey on out whenever you feel like it, then.”
He snickers into his pancakes. “Oh, I intend to. I just want to fill my stomach first. Is that okay?”
I nod and say nothing. I’m not quite sure if I should call the cops. I would have to explain how I know him and that would be embarrassing. He eats for a few more minutes and then pulls his pants on. He takes out his wallet and I cringe. He opens it and sees the money missing.
“Just give it back to me and I won’t hurt you.” He’s suddenly next to me, looking down into my eyes. “All of it. I’m serious.”
I squeak and take the roll of money from my pocket. “I have it all but the twenty I tipped the waiter.” I think he’s going to snap my neck off, but he sighs and takes the money from my hand and returns to putting on his clothes.
He hurries and dresses, looking around to make sure he’s not leaving any traces of himself behind. He stares at me for a moment from across the room. “I’m not going to hurt you—please relax,” he stays. “I’m just going to leave, okay? I have a train to catch anyways. I’ll bill you for the twenty.” He winks and takes one last look around before leaving me alone in the room. I quickly run to the door and use the chain and all the locks, letting out a long breath and clutching my chest.
That was a close one. At least he said he was skipping town. I feel gross enough to shower and finish the bacon in my nightstand, but I realize I’m alone again. Well, at least I’m alive.
I can’t very well win Ollie back if I’m dead, can I?