Page 137 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol 4
"Why didn't you feel like doing anything?"
This girl was starting to drive me crazy. "I think you mentioned that you wouldn't talk at all if I wanted that?"
She pressed her lips together. "Fine. I won't say another word." She hit the button for the radio and rap music blared loudly through the speakers. She didn't turn the volume down or ask to change the channel. Instead she just folded her arms across her chest and looked out the window.
The loud music made the car shake slightly. When I first left New York, I had been depressed. I had listened to old love ballads and sang at the top of my lungs like a little girl. But now? Now I was pissed. I was pissed for wasting so much time. Hailey was right. Nothing in life was certain. And I had thrown all my eggs into one basket like a fucking idiot. So I had turned to rap music because it seemed just as angry as me. But it didn't help soothe my soul. I was sick of being sad and I was sick of being angry. I just wasn't sure if I remembered how to feel normal anymore.
I sighed and turned down the volume. "I didn't mean that. I just don't want to talk about why I'm here. And I won't ask you. Deal?"
"Deal."
But we didn't start talking again. We drove in silence for hours until my eyelids started to grow heavy. When I saw an exit sign with a motel, I hit my turn signal.
"Are we stopping?" she asked.
I jumped a little when she spoke. I thought she was sound asleep. "Yeah."
She yawned and stretched her hands over her head. "You're sure you don't want me to just drive?"
"I'm sure."
We pulled into a gravelly parking lot and I put the car into park.
"Home sweet home," I said as I climbed out of the car. The night air was crisp, despite the fact that it was the middle of summer. I looked up at the stars. For some reason, they made me feel grounded. No matter how far I drove, the stars were always the same. They made me feel like one day I could be the same too. The way I was before Penny. Before she ever crawled under my skin. I opened up the back door and grabbed my two bags along with Hailey's duffel.
"I can get that," she said.
"It's fine." I pulled it over my shoulder. "Let's go check in."
She quickly followed me into the entrance. There was an old man sitting behind the desk sleeping. I cleared my throat and his eyes immediately opened. A smile spread across his face.
"Welcome to the Indy Inn. How many nights will you be staying with us?"
"One night. And two rooms please."
He looked back and forth between me and Hailey. "Alrighty." He grabbed two keys from behind his desk. "Room 202 and 203. Are adjoining rooms okay?" He set the keys down on the counter.
"That'll be fine."
"Are you paying separately?"
"Yes," Hailey quickly said from behind me.
"Okay, I just need a method of payment for your room first then," he said to me.
I pulled out my wallet and handed him my credit card.
He slid the card into the reader. "Alrighty, Mr. Stevens. I hope you enjoy your stay. Check out is at 9 a.m."
"Great. Thanks." I picked up one of the keys off the counter and stepped to the side to wait for Hailey.
"And I'll need a method of payment for you as well, ma'am," he said.
"Of course." She rummaged around in her purse and pulled out a wallet. "You can go ahead, Tyler."
"It's okay, I can wait."
"No, it's fine. I left my phone in the car anyway so I have to go back and grab it."
