Page 66 of Road Trip
“Hey, I’m not going to let you do this, Abra Monet. I see you.”
I turned on Stevie. “I can’t do this. I can’t, Stevie. I can’t.”
She hugged me, and I couldn’t help it. My whole body started shaking and I felt tears pool in my eyes.
“I walked away from Aaron once. I was a lucky woman because he waited for me and took me back. Don’t let fear keep you from him. He’s in the lobby waiting for you. Let me have Aaron settle the check, and you and I can go meet him.”
“No, I’ll go. I’ll be fine. I’m sorry.”
She smiled at me and rubbed my back. “I’ve been there, girl. You need to go see what’s in store for you and face it. If you aren’t feeling him, let him go. If you feel for him what I think you do, give this a chance.”
I gave her a weak smile and walked toward the hotel. If it had been anyone other than Stevie, I probably wouldn’t have been able to take those steps. I took a few deep breaths and wiped under my eyes in case I had any makeup damage due to my unexpected tears.
I walked through the two sets of doors and looked around. The pit was circular and there was a walkway all the way around that led by the main desk, concierge, and gambling rewards on one side, and the other led to the club and then shops, more restaurants and the tattoo shop. My eyes scanned the place and I didn’t see anyone who even remotely looked like Kelly.
Kelly
When she stepped through the doors, I had to remind myself to breathe and to put one foot in front of the other. She was dressed up looking like that priceless doll again, but this time she had both a look of vulnerability and determination. She looked around and bit down on her lip, looking frustrated, and was starting to walk back out when I finally remembered I was supposed to be moving toward her.
“Abra.” Her name was like a sucker punch followed by a sweet caress. It lightened my heart, socked me in the gut, and propelled me forward.
She didn’t smile as I approached her. Her eyes were wide and she looked like she might bolt at any time.
As I stepped up to her and took her hands, she frowned. “I thought you weren’t coming,” she said quietly. “And I couldn’t decide if it would be worse that you died in a fiery plane crash, or if you decided not to see me. That’s how fucked up I am, Kelly, and I don’t like it. I don’t like feeling this way.”
Whoa. Her mood was as black as her dress. I gave her hands a squeeze and moved closer. She seemed to shrink a little, but didn’t try to move away. She looked up at me with a skeptical expression.
“I don’t like that you felt that way either. I’m sorry I caused you to worry. I’m sorry if I made a mistake, doll.”
Her eyes never left mine. Her hands were limp as I raised them and kissed each of them, hoping to find some way of connecting with her.
“You look so beautiful, Abra. I would have spoken sooner, but you kind of took all the air out of the room.
She raised an eyebrow. “Funny. I didn’t recognize you. You look really good in that.”
I looked down at the clothes I’d bought. “I asked the cab driver to send me in the direction of the best clothing stores for coming here and going to a show. He dropped me at Planet Hollywood and I went through the Miracle Mile, thinking that was a clever name, but in actuality it probably was that long. I hope I look presentable. I had no idea how I should dress for this thing.” I’d picked up some designer something or other black jeans, a charcoal Henley, and black boots. It cost more than I probably spent on clothes in a year, but the way Abra was sizing me up I hoped meant I did good.
She was hard to read right now. So distant. It was as if she was still deciding whether or not us meeting up was a good idea. To be honest, I’d been nervous, too. I hadn’t texted her once I landed because I needed to think, I needed to plan what I was going to say to her when I saw her again. The meeting wasn’t going exactly as planned.
In my mind I would tell her what I’d decided on this trip home. Sure, my job meant a lot of sacrifice, and I still wasn’t sure how I felt about going out on patrol again. I’d have to ease back into things slowly, and a desk job made me feel more comfortable about it. Any scenario I saw myself in, I saw myself with her. My feelings for her were the realest thing in the middle of all this questioning. I questioned whether I would continue being a cop. I was certain I wanted Abra.
“Stevie and Aaron will meet us at the show. Before we go, I just want to know one thing.”
Her tone scared me. I’d hoped I would get here and we’d pick right up where we’d left off, but apparently my tardiness had set things back a bit.
“Kelly, did you come here because you felt like you had to, or did you come here because you really wanted to be with me? Either way, we can still have fun, both in the bedroom and wherever we go, but if it’s the first one, tell me now so I can just have fun and not worry about tomorrow. I mean, if you just want to get laid...”
Her words wereher attempt at trying to cover her own fear. I knew that.
“I guess I could ask you the same question. I know how I feel, Abra, and I’ve been up front with you from the start, that I want you for more than any pleasure you can give my body. But are you feeling like you need to get out? Because if you are, you do what you have to do. I won’t stop you. Just know that I came here because the few hours we were apart had me rethinking my career, my future, my life, everything, all to have you with me, to have you be a part of my life. It might sound crazy, but that’s why I’m here. I’m here because I love you, Abra. I don’t care if it sounds impossible. I am so in love with you. I have no idea what’s going to happen in my future, but I feel like if we are together, I can do it.”
She pulled away from me and started walking toward the elevators. The next contraction of my heart seemed to be on a break, because everything stopped. She walked away from me, after I told her I loved her. She walked away…
I fought the urge to run after her and throw her over my shoulder, make her listen to me. Why was she being so cold? Was this the dark place she’d warned me about?
We stood side by side at the elevator entrance and waited for the doors to open. My heart was still hiccupping a little. I couldn’t believe I’d told her I loved her and she’d walked away. What had I done wrong?
The doors opened, and we climbed on with two other couples. They had all gotten an early start with their consumption for the night. They were loud, grabby, and obnoxious. I was so glad they didn’t get off when Abra started to leave. I followed after a second, almost getting closed in the doors. She walked down the hall a bit before she stopped at a door, still not saying anything. She pulled the card out of her bra and opened the door.
