Page 164 of Surprisingly Us

“I can’t.”

Then, I’m rushing out the door.

CHAPTER 50

Colette

The click of the hotel door sends a blast of cool air against my wet, naked body.

I’m stunned.

Moments ago, I was standing in front of Rhys, stripping my wet clothes off, expecting him to make a move, when he bolted. Now, I’m shivering and humiliated.

What the hell just happened?

A violent shudder wracks my body. My eyes drop to the pile of wet clothes on the floor. There’s no way I’m putting those back on right now, so I move toward the closet to see if there’s a robe I can put on. As luck would have it, there are two cotton robes hanging next to Rhys’s wet jacket.

I wrap myself in the thick cotton robe, sighing with the relief that its warmth brings. It doesn’t make the sting of Rhys’s rejection hurt any less but at least now I’m warm.

I move into the bedroom area. It’s simple. A king bed with white bedding, two bedside tables with lamps, and a large dresser with a flat-screen television sitting atop it. I pull back the covers and slide in. The room is paid for, so no reason to waste it.

After being cold and wet, the robe and comfortable bed allow my chilled muscles to relax as they warm. I stare up at the ceilingand wonder where Rhys went. If he trudged back out into the storm, deciding he would rather be out there than anywhere near me.

I want to block everything out, but when I close my eyes, I see Rhys standing in the bathroom doorway, a look of horror on his face.

I roll to my side, facing the window and let the sound of the rain outside calm me.

Then, too tired to get out of bed and find my phone, I use my smart watch to call Hannah.

That’s right. I hadn’t been completely naked in front of Rhys. I’d still had my smartwatch on. Why does that visual make me feel even more mortified?

“Hi! How’s it going?” Hannah’s voice echoes under the thick covers.

I look around the empty hotel room. “I’m lying in a hotel bed.”

“Wait. Aren’t you supposed to be with Rhys tonight? What happened?”

I take a deep breath in. “Rhys and I were going to have sex but because of the storm there was traffic downtown and this was the closest place with a bed.”

“Oh my god, Lettie! Did you have sex? Is he there with you now?” she asks.

“No, we didn’t have sex. And I wouldn’t have called you if he was here.”

“Good point.”

“When I took off my dress and practically threw myself at him, he bolted.”

“What?!” Hannah’s screech is so loud, I lift my arm out of the covers to save my ears. “I’m going to kill him.”

“Get in line.” I want to rage along with her, but when I speak, my voice comes out wobbly.

“I can’t believe it. Well, this is Rhys we’re talking about, so maybe I can.” She’s quiet a moment, before adding, “Why would he do that?”

“I don’t know. It seemed like we were on the same page.” I think back to Rhys’s demeanor when we came into the hotel. “He might have been a little annoyed that I was asking him to be my first, but I told him it didn’t have to change anything between us. I assured him it didn’t have to be special; I just want to have sex for the first time so I can move on. I did exactly what we talked about. But he still freaked out.”

Reliving the moment by telling Hannah only makes me feel worse.

I never thought getting rid of my virginity would be this challenging. I’d assumed guys were usually up for getting laid and Rhys would be no different. I thought it would be an easy yes for him.

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