“I can manage our bags. Mind opening the door, though?”
Still looking around, I went to do as Jason had asked. We walked the white tiled hallway that led to the elevators, and I stood there with my arms folded over my chest, reliving the moment from the parking lot. I couldn’t shake the feeling of static coursing through my body, manifesting itself as a thin layer of goose bumps lining my skin. Just knowing that AJ was in the vicinity had me all out of sorts.
Two sets of footsteps were approaching from behind and I wouldn’t even turn around. I couldn’t see that it was AJ, but I felt him, like the air around me changed all of a sudden. A gentle, high-pitched laugh accompanied the padding of soft-soled shoes as they came closer.
My entire body stiffened. Standing across from me, facing the couple, Jason raised his brow at my off-kilter behavior. Clearly, I was being more awkward than I realized, so I tried to loosen up. Taking a deep breath first, I spun on my heels and met the smiling face of Kira…or Reina…or whoever she was, as her eyes came to rest on mine. Her smile slipped away almost instantly. Beside her was a tall, familiar frame that I refused to acknowledge with even a glance.
I found myself studying her features. She stood at about 5’1 or 5’2, wore clean-cut bangs that edged just above her brow, while the rest of her brown tinted locks were swept up into a messy bun on top of her head. She forced herself to look away from me as she stood there clutching that toned, tan arm of the man standing beside her. I cleared my throat, unable to admit that it was AJ. Seeing them together stirred an emptiness from somewhere deep within me. I looked at Jason and forced a weak smile or my true emotions would’ve spill out through my expression.
Saved by the bell.
The elevator dinged and Jason let me step inside first, followed by AJ’s fiancé. She clearly knew who I was; I gathered that just from her body language. However, I wasn’t sure if Jason had made the connection yet.
AJ cleared his throat and stood motionlessly as the numbers rose….2…3…
It felt like an eternity had passed before the doors finally opened. Jason couldn’t get out fast enough for me. As soon as he was off the elevator and in the hallway, I nearly jumped out behind him, never looking back as the doors closed behind us and we were alone again. We found our room number in silence, and it shocked the hell out of me when Jason asked, “See that wasn’t so bad, was it?”
I looked at him as I passed through the threshold of our room. When I didn’t respond, he chuckled a little and added, “Seeing AJ?”
My heart skipped a beat. “You knew?”
He shot me an incredulous look and set our bags down on the luggage rack. “Kinda hard to miss your girl’s name inked on some other dudes neck.”
My cheeks felt hot again. I honestly thought AJ had gotten rid of that thing years ago. Especially when I got wind of how serious he was about his new girl.
“Did his girl recognize you?” He asked.
I shook my head. “I’m pretty sure she did. Maybe she’s seen a picture or something.”
Jason was thoughtful while slipping his shirt down his arms and tossing it over the back of the chair. “Well, now all you have to do is actually speak to the guy and all will be right with the world.”
Jason was no stranger to the guilt that I carried for leaving Charleston like a woman on the run. He understood why I did what I did, but he also agreed with Dr. Gill that in order for me to heal, I needed to face my demons – apologizing to AJ, or even just speaking to him to ease some of the torment that I put myself through.
“You sound like Dr. Gill,” I said with a smile, digging my makeup bag out of one of my suitcases.