Joost And me

His tears

He took me in the car with his private driver.
The drive there was uncomfortable and I felt a little nervous.
I think he noticed it because he heard me swallow very loudly every now and then.

"Where are we going Joost?" I looked at him and my voice was carried away in an echo of the silence.

"You'll see in a moment." He placed his hand seductively on my leg and let out a reassuring "mmm" from his mouth.

He had placed my bag between his legs, I hope with the thought: As long as her bag is not damaged. But I think more: As long as she can't get her bag.

"Are you an adventurous person Mara?" His mustache dances with his lips when he talks to me.

"I like adventure, just not on my own and I have to be able to trust the person I am with... If I want to go on an adventure."

"Can you trust me today, even though you don't know me?" He looked in my direction and searched my eyes.

"Depends on what you see as adventure.." I say.

"What do you think I see as adventure?" He smiles cheekily.

"I hope you don't see adventure like how it went last night." We both laughed at the joke I made.

There was a healthy tension between us, I also felt the lust coming from somewhere. But I stopped myself from touching him.

"You know Mara, I'd rather have a good conversation than have sex, yesterday I just wanted to love you but I did it in the wrong way." "Sorry about that." He added.

"It's okay, there was probably more going on in your head and I get that." I put my hand over his hand and gave him a reassuring pat.

He looked at me in surprise and also somewhat relieved, perhaps also relieved that he did not have to give full explanation.

"Look Mara, we're here." He pointed his finger at a large building with many floors, I think about at least 45.
I was so fascinated by the environment I had now found myself in that I had not even noticed that Joost had gotten out.

I glanced around and wanted to open the car door when Joost opened the door for me.

He stood with one hand in his pocket and with the other hand he held the door open for me.
I couldn't help but smile sweetly at him and get out. He slammed the door behind me and put his arm on his hip so I could link my arm with his.

Together we walked arm in arm towards the entrance of the building. The wind came up and blew through my hair, it started to become a cooler breeze and I felt cold.

I read the letters on top of the entrance to the building.

MAGNOLIA AND TULIP
HOTEL

"Hotel??" "Joost, what are we going to do in a hotel?" I said shocked.

Joost started laughing very hard and dropped my arm. He looked at me and burst out laughing.

"We're not going to sleep here hahaha, don't worry. I will drop you off at home tonight... if you want that of course."

"Ooo thank goodness, I was a bit shocked." I breathed a sigh of relief and placed my hand on my chest.

The hotel doorman opened the door for us and he and Joost seemed to know each other.

"Hey boy, did you come back?" The doorman smiled at us.

"Hey man, yeah! I always keep coming back here, especially for you." He gave the doorman an air kiss as we walked up the stairs to the lobby.

"Here, here's the elevator." He pointed to the elevator and I followed him into the elevator.

He pressed the button for floor 50 and then put his hands in his pockets. It looked charming, not sloppy.

As the elevator went up quietly, I looked at Joost from head to toe.
His black jeans, the legs of which fell just over his black Nikes. And his black North face jacket, which could actually be a size bigger.

The bright light in the elevator made his bleached hair appear even blonder. His eyes were a completely different shade of blue than you normally see, not too striking but simply beautiful.
He looked tired, like he was done with the day and he could sleep for 48 hours straight.

"Can you see it?" He asks, meeting my eyes.

"Yes.." I lean back against the elevator wall.

"If we ever see each other again - which of course is entirely up to you. Let me make sure I look a little nicer for you, okay?"

"No, you look good Joost." I whispered playfully.

"Well done." He winked at me and the elevator opened.

I looked around as I got out of the elevator, it was a modern bar with a dark interior. It also had a bit of a futuristic feel to it, due to the neon lamps on the wall with cheerful texts such as: 'BE HAPPY' and 'ENJOY EVERY MOMENT'.
Behind the bar, the walls were decorated with fake Magnolias and Tulips, based on the name of the hotel.

There was another couple at the bar, but Joost walked to the terrace to probably sit there.
I walked behind him and he walked towards the view, what could be seen.

"Nice huh? That's why I come here so often, when I want to clear my head I always succeed here." He rested his arms on the ledge of the iron fence that separated us from falling 50 stories.

"Wow, it's very beautiful.." I looked down at my feet and when I looked back up, Joost looked at me in my eyes.

The lights on the roof terrace sparkled in his eyes.
They were like fireflies dancing in his eyes, looking for light and love.
He had a smile on his face, that damn smile that makes me weak in the knees.

"Do you smoke Mara?" I was dragged back from my thoughts by his voice.

"Yes, what are you smoking?"
"Marlboro Red"

"Hmmm, I like that!"
"What do you not like? He took his cigarette pack out of his jacket pocket and took out a cigarette for him and me.

"L&M, Camel, Marlboro Gold and so much more to mention" I chuckled.

He handed me the cigarette, I put the cigarette to my lips and he lit it for me.

"After we're smoked out, should we have a few drinks inside?" He looked at me intently and let the smoke slide through his lips.

"A few drinks or one drink?"

"No no Mara, a few drinks."

We laughed out loud as we both finished our cigarettes.