Tropesville

Chapter Four

Syverson POV

I waited for Mika for nearly three hours before I decided to go to bed. Sleep didn't come easily, partially because I never sleep well, partially because this damn pull out bed was lumpy as shit. But mostly I struggled because I was worried about Mikaela. Where could she be for over three hours? I suppose it's possible she ran into someone she knew, she must know Matt and Olivia's families, but three hours was a long time.

Maybe she was staying away until she thought I would be asleep so she didn't have to talk to me again. I didn't blame her, not really. I mean, I'm not happy with the way she acted, but on refection my reaction was probably a bit much.

I had showered in fury, scrubbing so hard in my anger, I thought I'd tear through my skin. But as the warm water soaked in and my old shoulder injury pained a little less under the heat, I calmed down and thought about it from her perspective. Maybe she wasn't still in love with Matt. But it seemed to fit the circumstances and her actions. Maybe that's the real reason she never kept guys around for more than a few dates. She used them to avoid thinking about Matt and moved on. Is that all I was to her, another notch in the belt to forget her pain? That shit stung. Not just because I felt used. I never thought she seemed the type who would do that to someone.

In the two years I had known her, I never thought she was a liar, she had always seemed genuine. Maybe I didn't have the skills to read people that I thought I did. This whole thing confused me.

One thing I was sure of was her attraction. The way she reacted when I pulled her close to me, that wasn't a look of fear, or guile, she had been turned on. She looked ready to jump me. I had to admit I'd been close to kissing her despite my anger, but in the end, I wasn't sure. Was she was still caught up in Matt? What if I was wrong? What if she was telling the truth and lied out of embarrassment or shock?

Having calmed down, I thought I'd talk to her again, maybe actually listen to her this time. But she was gone when I came out. I dressed in some sweats and waited for her to get back so we could order some dinner. When she didn't come back after an hour I couldn't wait so I ordered us both a pizza. In the half an hour it took for the pizza arrive, she still hadn't returned. I tried calling her, but she had left her phone and her bag in the room. She had taken a keycard so she should be able to get back in. I waited a while, then I ate without her and put the leftovers in the minifridge. I pulled a few of the beers out, laid on the bed and watched tv, turning it off after the beers had given me a low buzz.

When it was nearly midnight I started to worry. I should go look for her, make sure she isn't in trouble. I argued with myself. Maybe she wasn't coming back, but I knew that couldn't be true, she wouldn't leave her bag here if she meant to leave for good. Maybe she was locked out of the hotel. Maybe she had found someone else to hook up with. I laid on the sofa bed, trying to ignore the growing worry in my gut. I knew I wouldn't be able to go to sleep if she wasn't here. I couldn't help thinking of scenarios where she was hurt or locked out.

"Fuck it," I said. I sat up and started to put my shoes on when I heard a thud on the hotel door, as if someone had thrown something at it.

Then I heard the giggle. It was Mika. Had she kicked the door? I waited for her to come inside but she didn't. I heard several thuds and the handle kept jiggling. What the hell? I opened the door and found her on her knees, trying to put the key card in the reader.

She craned her neck to peer up at me and I saw the glassy look in her eyes. She was drunk. Falling over on the floor, a giggling mess, drunk. I had never seen her have more than a couple of drinks. My surprise must have shown on my face because she peeled into laugher.

"What the hell, Mika?" I whispered, it was late, the hall was quiet and I fully expected someone to come yelling out of their rooms. "C'mon, inside."