out of adding his details to her contacts and securing a promise from her to call him the second she was free?
Her earlier thoughts around something feeling off quickly morphed into a stomach-churning fear that something was, in fact, very, very wrong. This wispy shadow of a fear she wasn’t ready to face lurked on the edges of her mind.
Finding it difficult to swallow the sandwich, she abandoned it and shut down her thoughts before they led her into troubled waters.
Maybe, instead of borrowing trouble, she should call the hotel.
Scrambling off the sofa, she located her phone and searched for the Four Seasons Biltmore Resort. She didn’t hesitate or think it through before she called the number.
When the front desk answered, she asked for Arnie Templeton’s room and was promptly informed no one by that name was registered.
Had she said his name wrong? She searched her brain for the memory of him answering a personal call with what she assumed was his last name.
“Oh, um, well, he’s in a private bungalow,” she mumbled.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but the resort has several private bungalows and villas. Without a name, I’m afraid there’s nothing we can do for you.”
She mumbled her thanks and apologized before ending the call. Her hand shook as she put the phone down.
“No one registered by that name.”
Her spoken words hung in the air.
Had she been played?
No! No way. What they had was real. He said so. Didn’t he?
Soul-crushing fear made it difficult to breathe. A war broke out inside her with two opposing points of view hurling bitter words, breaking her spirit.
One part of her stood firm and resolute. This was a misunderstanding. Arnie had declared his feelings. They even spoke the L-+word. She was being silly, and as soon as he was able, he’d call.
The other voice in her inner dialogue was far less optimistic. She was an idiot for throwing her innocence away on an obvious playboy. The suggestion she was no more than a notch on his bedpost made her physically ill.
Unsure what she should do, Summer locked up, turned off the lights, and headed to her bedroom. On the way there, she stopped in the bathroom, took care of business, and then as she was turning off the light, she glanced at the trash can and saw pieces from the box of condoms they barely bothered to use.
She was numb as her feet moved. In the bedroom, she looked around, and all her mind’s eye saw was Arnie and the night of passion they shared.
Something snapped. With an uncontrollable rage, she ripped the sheets off the bed and piled them in the middle of the room. Wrapping her shaking body in a blanket, Summer curled up on the stripped bed with her head on a pillow with no case.
When she couldn’t get warm, she dragged a duvet-covered comforter over her as well. Inside the cocoon, her mind raced from one heartbreaking scenario to another until, exhausted and wrung out, she fell into a restless sleep.
The next morning unfolded in silence. She rose, took a shower, and got dressed by rote.
Every time desperation made her check for a message or a missed call, the silent phone mocked her.
By ten o’clock, she knew the only thing left was to go to the hotel and try the direct approach. Maybe he left a message for her. She could hope, right?
Donning an eggplant-colored sweater and a nice pair of pants, Summer completed the outfit with a cute pair of ankle boots and her best casual jewelry. She wasn’t about to show up at the Biltmore dressed like a waitress.
Fluffing her blow-dried hair and throwing on some makeup helped her feel less like an imposter or, worse, a kid.
On the way to the hotel, she drove through Mickey D’s and did a quick park and stuff of a cheesy biscuit and a regular Coke. Grease and caffeine helped ease the morning after an alcohol event.
Her heart rate increased the second she pulled up to the entrance and a valet approached. Part of her feared this was a bad idea, but she had to have some answers.
“I won’t be long,” she told the valet attendant as she handed off the keys.
Smoothing a hand down the side of her sweater, she made sure everything was where it should be and walked confidently toward the entrance. A guy loitering by the front door caught her attention. He was young, not much older than her, but what stood out was his conservative appearance.