Leo's Chance(43)

I look around but no one is close enough to hear what we’re saying. I shake my head slowly. "No. Never could. Never will."

She smirks and crosses her arms under her breasts. "Well, good to know that it’s not just me."

I stare at her for a minute before replying, "If that helps you sleep at night, so be it." I turn and walk away.

**********

I leave as soon as I possibly can without it looking rude. It's early, but I’m looking forward to getting back to my hotel room and waiting for Evie’s call. I walk into my room and throw my stuff on the dresser and start taking off my jacket when I hear a knock on my hotel room door. Who the hell could that be? Thinking it’s most likely housekeeping with some question or another, I fling it open and Lauren is standing there. "Jake, before you close this door on me, please, can we just talk for a minute?"

I stare at her. "Lauren, there’s nothing to talk about–"

"Please. I just wanted to see you for a minute. I’ve been waiting in the lobby for an hour. Please."

"Lauren, say what you want to say quickly, from right there. You have thirty seconds. And I’m being generous with that."

She purses her lips before saying, "Don’t you see! This is OUR time, now, Jake. Phil is gone and we can be together now. We can have everything now, Jake. We–"

I grimace and take a step back. "Oh my God. There’s something seriously wrong with you."

She steps forward. "No, the only thing wrong is that I don’t have you. Jake, I need–"

"You need professional help. I want you to leave now, Lauren. Why do you ever think this will work?" I try to close the door on her but she holds it open, refusing to leave.

I grit out, "Fine. Have it your way. I’m not going to have a bodily struggle with you at the door. I’m going to go get in the shower, and LOCK the door. By the time I get out, if you’re not long gone, I’ll call security to cart you out of here. Do you understand me?"

"Jake please–"

But I walk back to the bathroom, slam the door loudly and click the lock into place. I stand leaning on the sink for a few minutes with my eyes closed. God, just the sight of that woman brings back the memory of being a weak fifteen year old kid whose control had been completely taken away. I run my hands down my face and then turn to the shower, turning the water up as hot as it’ll go. I strip my tux off and leave it in a heap on the floor and step into the scalding water, standing under it as long as I can stand it before stepping out and blotting my red, stinging skin dry.

When I step back out of the bathroom, the room is vacated. I lay back on the bed, briefly considering calling Evie, but she said she was going to visit her friend tonight and I don’t want to interrupt her. She said she’d call when she got home. I close my eyes, feeling like I just need to rest for a minute. The emotions Lauren brings up in me always make me feel so damn tired. I just want to shut out the world for a little bit.

**********

I wake up, startled. What the f*ck? I bolt upright, scrubbing a hand down my face. I don’t think I even moved from the position I fell into on the bed. The clock says 2:58 a.m. It’s almost six in Ohio. Evie never called me. Shit! What if something happened to her? That f*cking bus. I knew I should have insisted on my driver. I’m pressing her number on speed dial before I even register picking up my phone from the bedside table.

My heart is hammering in my chest as her phone rings once, twice, three times. Then, finally, thank God, "Hello." Clearly I woke her up. My heart slows down but now I’m pissed. Why didn’t she call me?

"Evie."

She hesitates. "Hey." Something’s wrong.

"Hey, you never called me last night. I would have called you myself but I fell asleep waiting for you. I just woke up. I was worried."

There's silence for a second before she says, "Jake, I did call you. A woman answered your phone. She said you were in the shower." I can clearly hear the hurt in her voice. I blink, confused for a second before it comes to me. Fucking Lauren!

She must have answered my phone before she left my hotel room. Fucked up timing. The lie that falls out of my mouth about having co-workers in my room for drinks and a female co-worker answering my phone makes me feel shitty because of the ease with which it forms. It’s like a reflex to lie immediately when it comes to Lauren. I spent so many years keeping secrets when it comes to her. God, I hate this. I’m not ready for Evie to take on this burden, though. I can barely handle seeing Lauren for five minutes, and I’ve known what happened for years. What is this going to do to Evie?

I ask her if she’s upset and she’s silent for a second. "If that's the truth, Jake, then no, I'm not upset. I just don't see why she would pick up your cell phone and then not leave you the message." I close my eyes very briefly and grimace, hating myself.

"I don't know either, but they were drinking so that's my only guess. I'm sorry, baby. You must have been hurt," I say quietly.

I don’t even want to think about what I would have done if a man had answered her phone while she was in the shower. Just the idea of it makes me feel murderous.

She sighs but finally says, "I was confused, Jake. It's okay. If that's what happened then it's not your fault."