I asked to have the words laugh with me, love with me inscribed into his.
Mine has no beginning, no end, just now inscribed.
Hmm. I like that a lot, but I am curious what it means, exactly. Maybe like a live-in-the-moment sort of thing? I'm just grateful he didn't put something like rock on!
Sliding the ring back onto my finger, I yawn and stretch in the huge bed. I feel bad he slept on the couch while I slept in this bed that could fit ten people. His gesture of sleeping on the couch and letting me have the bedroom was very gentlemanly, though, which I appreciate. He's obviously got a considerate side under his wild exterior.
I crawl out of the bed and pull the fluffy white robe on over my panties. I ditched the bra and garter belt getup last night before I fell asleep, feeling silly for having them on to begin with. And I can't really blame him for the tease comment. I shouldn't have worn something sexy if I wasn't ready to actually have sex.
But…if he had been more of what I pictured in my mind, would the night have ended differently? Would I have slept with him if he had short hair, no tats, worked in an office, and wasn't a rock star? Maybe. I wonder what that says about me.
Quietly opening the bedroom door, I step out into the sitting room area and immediately notice the couch is empty, the blanket folded neatly and placed on top of the pillows.
"Talon?" I call out and peek into the bathroom, but he's not in there, or out on the balcony.
Assuming he went down to the lobby to get coffee, I grab some clothes out of my bag and head to the bathroom to take a hot shower. I look like a mess with my makeup still on from last night, and my hair is all stiff from the amount of gel, texturizer, and hairspray Kat used to get it to stay where she wanted it.
I take an extra long shower, enjoying the water pressure and the fact that I'm not running out of hot water in five minutes like at my apartment. Then I dry off and pull on my jeans and a purple V-neck T-shirt that I adorned with little rhinestones a few weeks ago. I blow-dry my hair as straight as I can, irritated that I forgot my flat iron, and open the bathroom door, hoping we can somehow figure this marriage thing out.
But he's not here.
Glancing at the time on my cell, I realize I was in the bathroom for at least forty-five minutes. It wouldn't take him that long to get a coffee. His cell phone, Zippo lighter, and cigarettes aren't on the dresser where he threw them last night, either. His bag is still here, but there's probably nothing in there he can't live without and wouldn't mind just leaving to make a quick getaway.
He's gone.
Blinking back the tears in my eyes, I stare around the room, hoping to at least find a note, but there's nothing.
Obviously his we're in this together statement meant nothing.
Tears of anger and disappointment burn down my cheeks as I quickly shove my clothes into my small bag and roll the wedding gown into a big ball and head for the door. I'll call Kat from the lobby and have her come pick me up and take me home. I don't even want to talk to Dr. Hollister or Kim right now. There's nothing they can say or do to make this better. Not even a team of experts could pick a guy who's willing to stay with me longer than one night.
Nunnery, here I come.
Just as I'm about to open the door, the electronic key beeps and Talon walks in, almost knocking me over. Eyeing me suspiciously, he lays his phone and cigarettes on the little table next to the door.
"Were you leaving?" he asks in disbelief. "You were just gonna ditch me here?"
I drop my bag and the huge gown at my feet. "I thought you left." I wipe at my eyes, embarrassed to be crying in front of him. "I woke up and you were gone. It's been over an hour. All your stuff is gone."