Jason

 

 

 

My hotel is just a short walk from the convention center, but this morning, I need about twice as long to get there than I did yesterday.

They weren't kidding when they said it was going to snow. A lot.

Snow started falling shortly after I arrived two days ago, but until last night, it was nothing more than a few light flakes here and there, barely enough to cover the ground. It picked up last evening when I left the venue with some of our associates to head out for dinner. The men were commenting on the weather then, already worrying that they might not make it home after the convention ended, while I just shrugged it off. I checked my flight's status this morning and it was still on schedule. These idiots have so little to worry about that they make a mountain out of a dust speck.

But as soon as I step outside the hotel and see the total snow accumulation for myself – more than fifteen inches so far – I can't deny that even I am starting to worry about my chances of getting home as planned.

I trudge through the drifts of snow, cursing the flakes that are still coming down and threatening to ruin my hair. This damn presentation can't be over soon enough, so I can stop worrying. Luckily, I’m one of the first speakers scheduled to present, so I can rest easy about it for the rest of the convention, maybe even have a drink for lunch.

I step through the giant glass doors, tapping the snow off of my coat before I make my way down the same hallway where I had my encounter with the waitress yesterday.

She's still on my mind, and it annoys the hell out of me. I tried to tell myself that it was just because I left things in such a dowdy way, yelling at her and leaving her alone with the mess. Then, when I tried to apologize, if only to make myself feel better, I couldn't do it properly because her dumb friend kept interfering.

Admittedly, all of that bothers the hell out of me, but it's not the main reason why I can't get her out of my head. There's something about her, something that attracts and draws me to her like a fucking moth to a flame. And the most annoying part is that I can't pinpoint what it is. She's pretty, all right. Slim, delicate, brunette, blue eyes, red lips – oh, those fucking lips. She's so my type. She's feisty, but not a brat or a bitch like her friend appeared to be.

She's foreign, of that I’m convinced. Her accent gets thicker when she raises her voice, but I can't identify where she’s originally from.

As I pass through the glass door she darted through yesterday, I instinctively turn to look behind me to see if there is anyone there.

There isn't.

A part of me wishes I had thought to pay this kind of attention to my surroundings yesterday. Who knows what would have happened? Nothing, most likely, as I'm too occupied with my duties to chase after a cute little skirt. But had I decided that I wanted her, I would make sure to get her. That's how I operate.

I scan the convention hall for her when I reach the main area, but she's nowhere to be seen. It's still early, and there's only a handful of attendees gathered, standing around in circles, sipping on coffee and conducting friendly small talk. None of the waitress girls that staffed yesterday are present. A surge of cold panic courses through my veins and I find myself struggling to catch my breath.

Will I not see her again?

And why the fuck am I worrying about that?

I check the time in an effort to bring my mind back to what really matters. My presentation, our business, our image. I have to focus.

"Jason!"

I'm startled by Danny's voice. He laughs when he sees me jerking back at his call.

"You all right, man?" he asks, his tone a bit too friendly for my taste. "You seem a little out of it."

I paste on my confident smile and reach out to grasp his hand in a professional shake as he closes in on me. "Just a little tired is all."

"A little nervous, are we?" He winks at me, and I swallow the distaste it brings.

"No," I lie. "It'll be fine. I'm not worried."

He nods dramatically. "Of course not."

I have no choice but to say yes when he asks me to grab a coffee together. There's no one else to talk to, nowhere else to be. My eyes wander left and right as we make our way through the convention hall. I know I'm looking for her, but I can't even admit it to myself.

Who cares if she's still here? Who cares if you see her again? This shouldn't concern you. You have bigger things to do.

Get your shit together.

Focus, you idiot. Focus.