Page 76 of Frenched (Frenched 1)
my back were firm. “I won’t bother you, but if you want me for anything…”
I nodded, and he released me, took my face in his hands and kissed me full on my trembling lips.
“You go first,” he whispered.
“OK.” I sniffed and offered a small, watery smile before walking off in what I really, really hoped was the right direction. I never did see a sign.
No luck.
“Mia?”
I turned to see him unable to hide that grin I adored.
“You’re going the wrong way.” He pointed in the opposite direction, where I finally saw the fucking sign.
“Oh.” With all the dignity I could muster (not much), I wheeled my suitcase around and passed him again. “Thank you. For everything.”
“It was my pleasure,” he said, watching me. “Every moment.”
I forced myself to keep going.
It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
#
I rode the train to my stop with one arm over my aching stomach and the other hand cradling my forehead. I was glad there was an open seat because my legs felt too shaky to stand. Staring at my suitcase between my knees, I reminded myself to breathe and tried not to think about Lucas sitting alone on a different train, going back to that little apartment I loved.
I’d never see it again.
My lower lip quivered. I closed my eyes and begged God to get me back to my hotel room without another tidal wave of tears. It was one thing to cry alone in your room or even in front of a friend, but crying alone in a crowd was not something I needed to cross off a list. Jeez, hadn’t my pride suffered enough?
Barely holding myself together, I kept an eye out for the stop I wanted, got off when I was supposed to, and dragged my suitcase into the Plaza.
Inside the elevator, a few heaving gasps escaped, and then a wrenching sob. Squeezing my eyes shut, I tried holding my breath, which just caused my shoulders to jerk. When the doors opened on my floor, I bolted through them and tore down the hallway, weeping openly.
I dug through my purse for the key card and shoved it in and out. When the green light flashed, I pushed the door open and burst into the room, prepared to throw myself onto the bed and wail for hours.
Imagine my surprise when I found that I was not alone.
I gasped. “Tucker, what the hell are you doing here? You scared me half to death!” The door slammed behind me and I moved deeper into the room, one hand over my knocking heart.
Shirtless, Tucker rose from where he was sitting at the desk, and I panicked for a second, wondering if there was any evidence of my fling with Lucas in the room.
For one second. Then I remembered that I didn’t have to care. Fuck him. What the hell is this?
“Hello to you too.” Tucker came toward me, and took my suitcase from my hand, moving it to the side before giving me a hug. “It’s nice to see you. Are you all right?”
I was so stunned, I let myself be hugged and half-hugged him back before I could stop myself. I forgot how tall he is. His embrace pulled me up on tiptoe. His bare, muscular chest should have turned me on, but it didn’t.
I backed out of his arms. “Nice to see me? Are you kidding? What the hell is this, Tucker?” Stepping around him, I went to the desk and set down my purse. My heart was knocking hard on my ribs, and not in a good way. Something caught my eye to my left, and I noticed for the first time the huge bouquet of red roses on the coffee table. Those hadn’t been there when I left. I spun around and looked at him. “What’s going on?”
Tucker went over to a black garment bag on the bed, unzipped it and pulled out a white dress shirt, which he slipped on but didn’t button. “I know you’re surprised to see me,” he said, “and probably not all that happy, but I can explain.”
“I hope so.” I went into the bathroom for some tissue, dried my eyes and blew my nose. Ugh, I was a mess. In the mirror, I saw Tucker appear in the bathroom doorway.
“What’s wrong? Why the tears?”
I scowled. “As if you care.”
