by Perry, Mia
He looks at me, too.
“Jack, why do you look at me like that?” my cheeks turn red.
“Hey, why do you look at me like that?” His eye balls almost pop out.
He turns back to focus on the road with full energy.
Chapter Eleven
10:30. Florence, South Carolina.
We exit the highway and hit the Lucas Street. We see a sign that says The Country Inn.
“Let’s check it out,” Jack says. He pulls the car to the parking lot. “Wait here.” He rushes into the lobby.
I really hope he can find two rooms for us. I definitely need a hot shower and a good sleep. But I worry how much a room in this fancy hotel would cost me. Probably over a hundred bucks? I’ve been in many fine hotels and know the price range for sure.
Jack walks out quickly. “Let’s go. I got a room.”
“Alright,” I say, getting out of the car. Then I sit down again. “Jack, did you say one room?”
“Yeah.”
“Don’t you think we should get two rooms?”
“Sure, if you want to pay a hundred and seventeen bucks,” he says. “Plus tax,” he adds quickly.
“But,” I’m trying to explain.
“Don’t worry. They have two beds.”
“I know that. But we barely know each other.”
“So you think I may hurt you, huh?” He continues before I can explain, “You can lock me in the closet.”
“Jack, this is not a joke. Can you please promise not to do anything to me and you fully respect my privacy?”
“I promise. Come on, let’s go.”
I grab my duffle bag and get out of the car.
“They gave me a family discount,” Jack grins like he won the lottery.
“But we are not a family.”
“Shhh,” he put his finger at his lips.
We take the elevator to the third floor. Jack gives me a card. I push the card into the door slot. A green light shows. Jack pushes the door. It opens.
The room is dark. Jack searches for the switches on the wall. Soon, the lights are on.
The room is pretty neat. At the door, there is a desk and a sofa. Two queen-size beds occupy most of the room.
Jack grabs the TV remote and sits on the bed near the window. Then, he begins to switch channels real quick.
“Jack, I need to take a shower.”
“Take your time.”
I walk to the bathroom and see the coffee machine. Good. “Jack, mind making a coffee?”
“No problem,” he jumps up.
I walk into the shower and lock the door. Soon, I smell the coffee brewing.
I take off all my clothes. Freedom! I have been wearing the same clothing for two days. They don’t feel good. Nor they smell good.
I wash my hair carefully. They are long and are all mingled together.
The hot water runs down from the shower. Soon, the whole room becomes steamy.
Maybe I should try a bath? This is really tempting. But I know Jack needs a hot shower, too. I can’t keep him waiting forever.
My whole body is now covered with bubbles. Every inch of my skin feels so smooth. I let the hot water run down my head. Like always, I quickly begin to think about many things.
Then everything that happened on the road flushes through my mind. Funny. What if we really have twenty kids? Do we really need a school bus? If so, we will have to buy a house with a long drive way.
My kids go to school and tell their besties, “Did you know my dad is awesome? He was a murder suspect but he got away with it.” And then, “My mom is excellent, too. She ran away from my grandparents to marry my dad.”
Funny, Emilie. This is impossible. We? Me and Jack? We barely know each other. We are strangers to each other, seriously. There is no way we are going to have twenty kids.
Do I have the “feeling” with Jack? I don’t know. But I do feel good being with him.
Emilie, be realistic. Nothing is going to happen. The reality is, tomorrow, we are going to be in Miami. What happened in New York will happen again: We are going to go our own ways. This time, unfortunately, there won’t be another surprise for us to get together again—unless he can give me a ride to Cuba, which is absolutely, totally impossible.
I turn off the shower and step out of the bathtub. The water is dripping down my body all over. I grab a towel to wipe my body. It gets soaked. I toss it to the floor and then grab another one.
I put on my bra and panties. What else should I wear? My bathrobe? I don’t think that’s appropriate. So my next option is to wear my jeans and jacket. In a hotel room? I shake my head. I think for a while and then put on my bathrobe. Now what?
“That’s bullshit!” I hear Jack talking outside. “No way! I’m not coming back now… Listen, this is what I have to do… Yeah? So? I will come back… But that’s after this… No, no, listen…”
He is talking about his runaway on the phone. Whatever, I don’t care. All I need is to sneak into my bed. Once I get under the blanket, I’m safe. He is arguing with someone. He is not paying attention to anything else. It takes only a few seconds to dash to my bed. I can do it.
I love my plan. Smart girl, Emilie. I really want to give myself a big kiss.
I open the door and run. I bump into his body right away.
Jack is putting the iPhone back to his pocket. “Holy smoke,” Jack’s eyeballs almost drop out. “You are hot.”
“Jack, you promised not to do anything to me,” I remind him, rushing to my bed.
“Come on, I didn’t do a thing. You hit me, okay?” He checks his body with both hands. “Ouch, look, I was hit here… and here. They really hurt. Are my bones broken? I believe so.”
I cover my body with the blanket and look at him. He is a good actor, I believe. “Jack, why don’t you bring me a coffee and then take a hot shower? That will cure your broken bones.”
“Thank you, Doc,” he drags one leg and struggles to the coffee machine. “Sugar and cream?”
“Black.”
“Okay.” He comes back quickly. “Enjoy! And thanks for hurting me.”
“No problem. Any time.” I sip my coffee.
Jack comes out five minutes later. The water drips down his face.
“That was quick.”
“Sure it is.” He opens the fridge. “Wow… Want a chocolate bar?”
“I’m full.” We had a big dinner about an hour ago.
“Drinks?”
“Nope.”
He grabs something and jumps into his bed. “Oh, I’m so tired.” He takes a big bite of the chocolate bar.
I’m really tired, too. I close my eyes. Soon, I fall asleep.
I open my eyes—my iPhone wakes me up.
Chapter Twelve
It’s a text message from Anthony. “Emilie, where are you?”
I really don’t want to talk to this “boyfriend” any more. I put down my iPhone. Soon, it beeps again. I look at the screen. It’s another message from Anthony.
“We need to talk.”
“It’s over, cheater,” I text back.
A new message comes. “I was turned on by accident.”
You mean you fucked that fat ass by accident? This is the lamest lie I ever heard. “What do you want?”
“Can we start again? I love you.”
“NO!” I text back and then turn off the iPhone. “Son of bitch,” I murmur.
“You okay?” Jack asks.
“Okay,” I look into the far distance.
“Look, life is not always fair.”
“Do you want to know my story?”
“If you don’t mind sharing.” Then he adds, “Unless you really don't.”
Do I want to? Jack is the only one I can share my pain with now. I briefly talked about my family and what I’ve gone through—until before last night. Jack shakes his head. “Emilie, I didn’t realize you are so strong.”
Strong? This sounds odd. But I really like it.
“So, what made
you leave Boston last night?” he asks.
“Before I knew you, my boyfriend Anthony was the only one I could really share my mind with. But I never told him my parents have money. I want him to love me, not the money.”
“You did the right thing,” said Jack. “Guys can be evil.”
“Anthony liked to chat with my roommate, Sara. Well, I won’t say it’s flirting, but pretty much.”
“Is this Sara hot?”
“No way. But she thought she was the hottest girl in the whole world. You know what she liked to say?”
“What?”
“‘My boobs are bigger than my sister’s.’ And it turned out her sister was only eleven.”
“What a dumb head!”
“I had to work. Many times, I came back and saw Anthony in my room. ‘I’m waiting for you.’ He kept telling me. I knew he came for Sara but I didn’t say anything.”
“What a cheap ass.”
“Yesterday, I didn’t feel well. So I came back early. I opened the door and saw bra and panties on the floor. They were in my bed!”
“Those cheaters,” Jack’s eyes popped out. “They should be hanged.”
“And Anthony said, ‘You were supposed to be at work.’ He didn’t apologize. Not a single word.”
I try to hold back my tears. But they come out and run down.
Jack comes over and passes me a box of tissue. “This bitch deserves a good lesson. And that Sara bitch, too.” He look at me, “Where do they live?” Blood vessels pop up on Jack’s neck and temples.
I shake my head. “It’s over, Jack.”
Jack pats on my back softly. “Let me know if that bastard bugs you again. I’ll fix him in no time.”
I nod.
I can’t go to sleep. I stare at the ceiling. I wish I could wipe out all the memories about my past and start all over like a piece of white paper.
What’s going to happen tomorrow? A long ride, for sure. And then what? Saying goodbye to Jack? Exchanging phone numbers? What else? Who else can I talk to after he leaves? No one. Really.
Maybe I can find a job soon. Maybe I can still show people how strong and how independent I am. But… inside? Do I have anything left inside at all?
Slowly, I close my eyes.
I walk on the beach. This should be in Miami because there is no snow. Right. I see palm trees, too.
“Emilie.” It’s Anthony!
I begin to run.
“Emilie, come back,” Anthony calls.
I turn around and see Sara, wearing only a bra and a G-string. Her fat butt looks so ugly. “Emilie, come back.” She smiles.
I turn back and run. I bump into someone. “Got you, Emilie,” It’s Anthony. He holds me tight.
“Yeah! We got you,” Sara jumps on me.
I can’t breathe. I yell.
“Emilie, Emilie…”
I open my eyes. It’s Jack. “Are you okay? Why are you yelling?”
It’s a dream.
Jack rubs my back gently. “Take it easy, okay?”
I nod.
He goes back to his bed.
I lie down and close my eyes. I see Sara and Anthony right away. “Get away from me!” I yell.
Jack rushes over. “You okay?” He holds my shoulders. “It’s over. As you said, it’s all over.”
“Jack, don’t leave me alone,” I say.
“Are you sure?” Jack asks.
I nod and move to aside to make some room for him.
He lies down on his back and pulls the blanket to cover both of us.
“Hug me,” I say.
He turns over and holds me. His cock sticks out high like a baseball bat. It’s thick and hard.
“Jack?”
“I promised not to hurt you,” he says.
I hold him. His body is hairy and warm. His hot breath makes my heart race.
I move my body close to his. He doesn’t move.
I wrap my leg around his body. I can feel his cock becomes harder.
I sit up, take off my bathrobe, and then lie down. I wrap my arms tightly around his neck. He holds me with his strong arms. This makes me feel safe and secure.
I push my leg in between his. He lets my leg in. His leg is heavy. My leg turns numb instantly. But I don’t want to pull it out.
His penis pushes hard on my body. It almost touches my vagina. Fluid seeps out from the head. My panty gets wet. That gives me the cool and sticky feeling.
Somehow, I want him to break his promise. But he doesn’t move.
“Jack?”
“Let’s get some good sleep, okay? Tomorrow is going to be rough.”
“Okay.” Slowly, I fall asleep.
Chapter Thirteen
I wake up.
Jack is still asleep. He is lying on his back, snoring slightly. One of his arms is under my head.
I sit up. My hair gets stuck. I try to comb my hair with my hands.
It’s six thirty in the morning. I slip down to the floor and walk to the window. I lift the curtain a tiny bit and peek outside.
The sunshine has lit up the whole sky, which is the mix of white, blue, silver, orange, and red. There is no snow. We are getting there! Miami, I’m coming.
The hotel is right off the highway. I can see cars and trucks moving into and out of the highway. Come on, guys. It’s only six thirty.
Jack turns over. He stretches his arms, trying to hold me. He tries a few times and then stops. Too late, Jack. This man must be in an old gang. He tried so hard to keep his promise.
I step into the bathroom but do not lock the door. Being with Jack is safer than safe. I’m one hundred percent sure.
I finish my washing and come out.
Jack sits on the bed. His eyes are all red. He seems to need more sleep.
“Did you have good sleep, Jack?”
“Oh, sure. Maybe I slept too much. How about you, young lady?”
“I’m totally refreshed.” I wear only the bra and panties. I show him my body.
“There,” Jack tosses me the bathrobe.
What an old-fashioned gangster. I put on my bathrobe.
“Can I use the bathroom now?” he asks.
“It’s all yours,” I give him a stern look.
Jack is not all dumb. “Emilie, did I do anything wrong?”
You did everything too right, Mr. Gangster! I shake my head.
“Psychologists,” he shakes his head. “You never understand them.”
Jack comes out after two minutes.
“Are you sure you washed yourself?”
“Positive.”
I pull him close and sniff. “Ew, you smell like skunk.”
“I must be the best smelling skunk in South Carolina.”
“Jack, you are so gross.”
“I’m hungry. Let’s go.”
We put on proper clothing and rush downstairs. The hotel offers a continental breakfast. Well, junk food and coffee and milk stuff.
Jack eats a lot.
“Jack, have you ever been charged extra?”
“For what?”
“For the food you eat.”
“No way,” he picks up another doughnut. “I ate twelve eggs in a Marriott last time.”
“For your breakfast?”
“Yeah. And three muffins, too.”
“You didn’t get sick?”
“Me? Getting sick? Never. I drank water the whole day, of course.”
I really don’t understand this guy. He is holding an Amex Centurion card, which means thousands and thousands of dollars available. But he acts like he never gets enough to eat. He is ten times harder to understand than a psychologist.
We hit the highway. It’s warm. We see green everywhere—trees, grass, and farm fields.
“I love the weather. I can’t wait to see Miami.” I say.
