Page 49 of Only Ever Yours
Dropping my bag on the floor, I pulled my phone from my clutch and took a quick video before sending it to Jase.
Oh my God, this room is gorgeous. THANK YOU! xxx
When I didn’t get a response straight away, I didn’t worry. Jase was probably on his way and wasn’t looking at his phone. At a loose end while I waited, I unpacked the overnight bag. I had smart clothes for Jase in there, so he could keep up the pretence of seeing Felicity without having to take anything with him. Taking the toiletries into the bathroom, my jaw dropped again. The most massive shower-slash-wet room greeted me, decorated in what looked like Italian marble tiles, with two sinks and a partition for the toilet.
No wonder Jase had kept the price of this place from me.
After I’d finished unpacking and hung the clothes in the wardrobe, I explored the rest of the room and, eventually, found the minibar. Taking a small bottle of Prosecco from the fridge, I poured it and took a selfie in front of the window before firing it off to Jase.
You’d better hurry up or I’ll be drunk before you gethere xxx
Perching on the end of the bed, I switched on the TV, turning to a magazine programme with the sound down low, so I could hear my phone, and sipped my drink. After twenty minutes, there was still no sign of Jase. I frowned.
Are you nearly here yet? Our dinner reservation is at half-past xxx
Half-past came and went and still nothing. Not a message or a call or anything that told me where Jase was. My heart started pounding uncomfortably in my chest. The emotional side of my heart fought with the rational side of my brain.
What if he’s changed his mind?
What if he thinks this is all too much?
Maybe his taxi is stuck in traffic…
Maybe there’s been an emergency…
An unexpected tear slid down my cheek, and I swiped it away, swallowing hard. I had to face up to the fact that maybe Jase and I weren’t meant to be. Even as I tried to compose myself, another tear fell.
Where was he?
Downing the rest of my glass of Prosecco, the tears started to fall freely. How could I get so upset over something that hadn’t even happened?
A knock on the door brought me out of my reverie. Grabbing a tissue from the dispenser on the dressing table, I dabbed at my face and blew my nose before I went to answer it.
“Who is it?”
“Hollis, it’s me. I’m so sorry I’m late.”
Chapter Twenty
Jase
It isn’t supposed to go like this.
I knocked on the door, breathing hard and hoping Hollis wasn’t going to be angry with me. Her voice came from the other side.
“Who is it?”
“Hollis, it’s me. I’m so sorry I’m late.”
The door swung open, and the sight of Hollis with tears streaking her face greeted me. Instantly, I swept her up into my arms, pulling her close to my chest. I breathed in the coconut scent of her shampoo and kissed the top of her head. “Shit, I’m sorry. Are you okay?”
“I…I thought you’d changed your mind.”
Gently, I pulled back and held her at arm’s length. “You’re kidding me, right? How could I ever change my mind about you? About this?”
She wrinkled her nose with a sniff. “When you didn’t answer my messages, I thought you weren’t coming.”
Grabbing her wrist, I pulled her into the room and kicked the door shut behind me with a bang. “My phone died, and your brother was banging on about Ella again. Itried to get out on several occasions, but he always stopped me with another question. It wasn’t until Liam finally rocked up that I could get out of there.” I cupped her cheeks with my palms and forced her to look at me. “Believe me when I say I’ve been waiting for this night for the longest time.”
