Page 63 of Room Service

25

Jessi

We were in my car, driving back up to Charlotte with my stuff packed in the trunk and the back seat. Trent had insisted on driving, even though he’d looked at my car in disapproval at first, and I was in the passenger seat.

“If you came with the helicopter, why couldn’t we just go back with it?” I asked. I wasn’t complaining, just feeling curious and a little cramped in the car, especially when I didn’t have driving as a distraction from boredom.

Trent shot a glance at me. “Well, I didn’t want you to leave your stuff just so you would have to go back for it later, and it wouldn’t all fit in the helicopter. Don’t worry, though. I promise I’m a good driver.”

“I’m not worried about that. If I didn’t trust you, I wouldn’t have given you the keys to my car to begin with.”

He scoffed. “What, are you afraid I might harm your old scrap heap?”

The tone of his voice was teasing, so I knew not to take him too seriously, even though the words sounded a bit familiar.

“Don’t call my car an old scrap heap,” I threatened. “It’s all I’ve had for years. I got it pretty cheap, and I was ecstatic to get it.”

“I’m sure you could afford a better one by now.”

That gave me pause, and after a moment of thinking, I shrugged. I had enough cash in my bank account that I could probably buy myself another, nicer car. I could even afford a new car, probably, but that would just be a waste of resources to me. I was saving up. I didn’t know what for, but I was going to let it sit pretty in the bank until I had a reason not to anymore.

“It must be uncomfortable for you,” I said with a sigh. “My car is pretty small, and your height…”

“A bit,” he admitted. “But it’s not anything I can't handle for a few hours.”

When we finally made it back to Charlotte, I was mildly surprised that Trent took us to the hotel and not the mansion. I pouted a little because I wanted to see my parents, but it wasn’t a shock that he was still avoiding home.

“Let’s go in,” he said, shooting me a grin and jumping out of the car before I could follow.

I stared at him because this was the front entrance. What, did he expect me to carry my boxes up through the same entrance guests went through? It would make way too many people a little too curious about my life!

Before I could get my bearings, he was already around the car and opening my door for me. I undid my seatbelt and stepped out, taking the keys from him.

“Just lock it for now,” he instructed. “We can get everything later, I promise.”

I sighed and did as he asked. “As long as you help me get them all up.”

He grinned. “Definitely.”

Trent took my hand, twining our fingers together, and practically dragged me behind him with his hurried steps into the hotel. I could feel my eyes widen because we were in full view of staff and guests as we hurried through the lobby to the elevators. He had a slight skip in his step the whole way, and I thought he even whistled.

We stepped into the elevator alone, though there were others standing there, probably waiting for one as well.

“Don’t worry,” he whispered to me as the doors closed. “It happens to me all the time.”

I looked up to meet his eyes. “Really?”

He nodded. “When people recognize me, a lot of them tend to keep their distance. This is the first time I’m truly glad for it, though.”

“Why is that?” I arched an eyebrow, but I was distracted by his openly happy expression, so much that it caught me off guard when he suddenly picked me up and whirled me around.

“Because you’re finally back with me,” he said in a sing-song voice. “I wanted to come after you so many times, you know? But I didn’t, because I didn’t know why. I’ve figured it out, though.”

I met his eyes as my heart beat a little faster for a different reason. “Why?” I asked, my voice coming out breathless.

He grinned, then ducked his head down close. I thought he was coming in for a kiss, and I closed my eyes. I felt his lips at my ear instead.

“I love you, Jessi,” he whispered.