Page 119 of The Hotel Room

Kate heard the doorbell ring and sighed, setting her mug down on the kitchen counter. Through the window, she saw Nick standing on the porch, a large box balanced on his hip.

Opening the door, she offered him a polite but distant smile. “Hi, Nick.”

“Hey,” he said, his tone warm but cautious. He hefted the box slightly. “I brought this for the nursery. Thought you might need it.”

Kate stepped aside to let him in, her arms folding across her chest. “Thanks,” she said coolly, her eyes flickering to the box. “You can give it to James. He’s working in the nursery.”

Nick hesitated for a moment before heading down the hall. Kate followed, her mind swirling. Did he know? Of course, he knew. He and James had always been close, practically inseparable. Had they talked about it? Worse, had Nick encouraged him? Shown him how to use his favorite app? The thought made her stomach churn.

She swallowed hard as Nick reached the nursery and set the box down carefully in the corner, where James was crouchednear the window, unpacking a stack of small shelves. James glanced up and stood, brushing dust off his jeans.

“Hey,” James greeted, his tone cautious but warm.

Nick gave him a nod. “Hey, man. Brought the stuff you asked for.”

“Appreciate it.” James extended a hand, and they exchanged a quick, familiar shake before Nick turned his attention to Kate.

His smile was small but genuine as he said, “Congratulations, by the way.”

The words hit her like a punch to the gut.Congratulations?She stared at him, her chest tightening with a mix of humiliation and resentment. Did he mean it? Or was he just saying it because he felt obligated? Had he and James sat around, casually discussing how James could betray her, and now this was his way of pretending everything was fine?

“Thanks,” she said flatly, her voice clipped. She kept her arms crossed, her posture rigid.

Nick’s smile faltered slightly, his gaze flickering to James, but he didn’t push. He glanced around the half-finished nursery, his expression thoughtful. “It’s coming along,” he said, his tone conversational.

“Yeah,” Kate said shortly. “Still a lot to do.”

James shifted uncomfortably, the tension in the room obvious even to him. “It’ll get there,” he said softly, his voice tinged with hesitation as he looked at Kate.

The awkwardness thickened, the weight of unspoken words pressing against her chest. She wanted to ask Nick. Wanted to demand answers.Did you know? Did you sit back and say nothing?But the humiliation of even broaching the subject kept her silent. Instead, she turned on her heel and walked out of the room, her footsteps echoing in the hall as she left them and their boxed offering behind.

Back in the kitchen, she rinsed the same dish over and over, her mind racing. Nick was James’s best friend. He had to know what had happened. Had he and James sat around, planning how to cheat on her? The thought was too painful to linger on, but it refused to let her go.

Then, through the faint hum of her thoughts, she heard Nick’s voice rise. Sharp. Angry. She froze, her hands dripping, as his words carried faintly down the hall. She couldn’t make them out, but the tone was unmistakable.

Her heart clenched. She didn’t want to eavesdrop—not again. The memory of pressing her ear against the bathroom door in that hotel room still haunted her. The way her stomach had churned as she’d listened to sounds that shattered her world. But now…this wasn’t the same. She needed to know.

Setting the dish down carefully, she dried her hands and crept toward the nursery, her bare feet silent. She stopped just outside the doorway, her breath catching as Nick’s voice reached her clearly now.

“Do you have any idea how lucky you are that she’s even letting you stay in this house?” Nick’s words were sharp.

Kate leaned against the wall, her chest tightening.

“You’re a goddamn idiot, James,” Nick continued. “You threw away the best thing in your life for what? A meaningless night? What the hell were you thinking?”

There was a pause, then James’s voice, quieter, broken. “I wasn’t thinking, Nick. I know I messed up.”

“Messed up?” Nick snapped. “You didn’t just mess up. You shattered her, man. You don’t deserve her forgiveness, and you know it.”

Kate’s breath hitched, her hand pressing to her chest. The raw fury in Nick’s voice was a stark contrast to the easygoing friend she’d known for years.

“Do you think this is easy for her?” Nick pressed, his tone softening slightly but still fierce. “She’s trying to rebuild a life with you, and you should be on your knees every damn day, thanking her for even giving you the time of day.”

“I am,” James said, his voice thick with emotion. “Every day, I’m trying to show her.”

Nick scoffed. “Well, it’s not enough. Not yet. And it might never be. You’d better be ready to live with that.”

Kate felt her throat tighten, tears pricking her eyes as she absorbed Nick’s words. He wasn’t excusing James. He wasn’t on his side. He was furious with him, disgusted even. For what James had done to her.

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