Page 26 of Beautiful Distraction

“The hot guy also has a girlfriend,” I retort and turn totake in Mandy’s room.

Just like mine, the décor is rustic yet simple with a low-roofedceiling, fitted only with a rugged bed, night table, and a large, solid woodencupboard. A few scarce pictures of birds adorn the otherwise empty walls.

“Honestly, I don’t know why we’re staying here,” I say. “Wecould just ask him to drive us to a hotel.”

“Because.” Mandy waves her hand.

“Because what?”

She shrugs. “It’s cozy here.”

And free, which she doesn’t add, and neither do I. We lefthome early and would arrive at the luxury hotel early, meaning we’d have to payfor the extra days.

“It is,” I agree as my gaze sweeps over the room one moretime. Simple and cozy—such a strong contrast to the red Lamborghini andthe expensive clothes. I sigh and turn around to regard her. “But we’reimposing. Give me another reason why we shouldn’t leave.”

“Because he’s a Boyd,” Mandy says. “I still can’t believeyou kept that fact from me for more than three months.”

Oh, here we go again.

“I didn’t know. Besides, what does it matter who he is whenhe’s obnoxious as fuck?” I groan and head for the door. “You know what? I’llsee you later. And if I hear his stupid name one more time, I’m leaving with orwithout you.”

“Well, you can’t. We’re stuck, remember? The car’s brokendown, and we’re not heading back home before we’ve seen Mile High. You mightwant to start to loosen up a bit and have some fun.”

How could I forget the stupid tickets? They’re the reasonwhy we’re here and I can’t escape the one guy I want to escape.

“Whatever.”

Mandy’s laughter rings as I close the door behind me.

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CHAPTER SEVEN

The storm picks up again. The night’s one drawn-out opus ofsplattering rain and howling wind. I barely manage to get a few hours of sleepbefore a noise wakes me.

I sit up straight, familiarizing myself with mysurroundings, my ears straining to place the sounds.

I’m still at Kellan’s place. So, that part’s not a dream.

The sky is still dark and starless, with nothing but themoon lighting up the room. I’m surrounded by the sound of the wind, the swayingof branches, the soft spattering of rain.

Pure, complete nature.

It must be what woke me.

Having lived in NYC all my life, I’m used to noise: theconstant rumble of traffic, the honking, the hollow thudding of the music innearby bars and shops, the shouting of the drunk on a Saturday night. I’m soused to my life in the city and the fumes that the complete absence of noiseunnerves me.

It’s supposed to be calming, and yet I find it peculiarlystrange.

I feel as if I’ve been sucked into a black hole and spat outon another planet.

As if I’ve become the air itself, trapped somewhere betweenthe earth and sky, and I don’t know which way I want to go.

Somewhere in the distance, I hear the agitated chirping ofbirds, celebrating that soon a new dawn will break. Slowly, I sink back intothe pillows and pull the covers up to my chin.

As soon as I close my eyes, I hear it again.

It’s the same sound that woke me.

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