Page 11 of Holiday on the Rocks
I hated that I didn’t hate it quite as much as I wanted to hate it.
I selected a room at the end of the hall. It had a queen bed covered with a luxurious white comforter, white bedside tables holding charcoal grey lamps, and even a vase of red and white flowers. The view from the wide window was one that belonged on a holiday card. The afternoon sun shined down on the mountains and trees which were wrapped in a thick layer of snow. There was a bathroom containing a deep soaker tub (Yes, please), huge white walk in marbled shower, and a black and white swirly vanity.
I grabbed the first thing I could find out of my suitcase and threw it on because I didn’t give a rip about the other person in this house. Nope. I was staying in my room until everybody arrived.
I popped another pain reliever tablet, pulled the curtains shut, and crawled into bed. My head sunk into the softest pillow ever, and I felt the first peace I’d had in hours. While I was worried about my brain not allowing me to rest because of the huge problem downstairs, once the perfectly thick comforter that smelled like lavender was around me, I drifted off.
I don’t know how long I was sleeping when I started dreaming. My arm was nudged, and I cracked open my eyes to see the most handsome man in the world. The room was dark, and I hated to admit my past still owned a chunk of my heart.
Levi’s voice was low. “Hi.”
“Hmmm.” His smile alone sent a shiver up my spine, and I loved when he visited me in my dreams. “You’re here.” I closed my eyes and snuggled into my comforter. “Good.”
“How are you sleeping?” His voice was deep and quiet as it rolled over to me.
“Mmmm.” I wanted to sleep forever. “I’m so tired.”
“I wanted to check on you.”
I kept my eyes closed. “I like that.” I reached out and took his warm hand in mine.
He whispered, “The doctor said you needed to check your pupils every hour if you sleep.”
Alarms and bells went off in my head as I shot to a sitting position. “What?”
Oh crap, this wasn’t a dream; he was there and I’d held his hand. And was nice to him. WTH?
“Levi! What are you doing in here?”
He was on his knees on the side of the bed nearly face to face with me. “The doctor said if you slept more than an hour this afternoon, you needed to check your pupils.”
I scooted back. “I know that!” I ran my hands over my hair. He was leaning on my bed. Leaning on the bed for God’s sake! “I’m not stupid.”
“I didn’t say you were.” He stood. “Calm down, Langley.”
“Don’t tell me to calm down. Whoever calms down when told to calm down? You’re dumb.”
“Can I take a peek real quick and then you go back to sleep and hopefully wake up in a better mood.”
“No.”
His head tilted and his hair fell over his brow. “You let me check or I throw you over my shoulder right now and take you kicking and screaming back to the hospital. Do you hear me?”
“I’m good.”
His crooked smile was annoying as shit as he reached over and turned on the lamp and grabbed my magic eight ball. “What is this? Langley giving life choices over to magic?”
“Shut your face.” I tried to grab it from him but he pulled it away.
“Let’s let this little thing decide. Agreed?”
“Fine! If it’ll get you out of here!”
His big hands gave it a shake before he read. “Definitely fucking so.” He chuckled. “What kind of magic eight ball is this?”
My eyes rolled. “Shut up.”
Every nerve in me jumped when he sat on the edge of my bed. His face was inches from mine and my stomach twisted into a knot, and I hated it.
