Book 2: Beginning Again -Carlos Sainz

Chapter 16

"I need you," Marie said, almost cutting off the 'hello' on the line.

"I'm on my way," the voice said back to her, followed by a sigh of relief that Marie didn't know she was holding in.

It was a mere few hours later that Marie stood in the lobby of her hotel as the only face she wanted to see came into view. The smile that broke out on her face was one she hadn't felt in a long time as she watched her best friend break out into a dead sprint towards her. She barreled into her, almost knocking both of them over.

"Hi, I missed you," Erin muffled into Marie's hair.

"I missed you more," Marie said back.

They hugged for a while, almost bringing Marie to tears.

"So," Erin said as she released her embrace, "what was the emergency call for? You're lucky I was in the US shooting a campaign and not all the way in London. Mexico would be a tough ask from there, but I'd do it for you."

"I... just really missed you," Marie said with her pitch raising at the end of her sentence.

"Bullshit."

"Okay fine. No one is better at boy situations than you and I kinda needed your help. But also, I really did miss you."

"I will accept both of those reasons. Now spill,"

"Not until we get into my room, there's people always lurking around and I can't have any of them hearing what I have to say," Marie said as she scanned the room.

"When did you become so paranoid?" Erin replied with confusion.

"I work with some really famous people and it gets to you," Marie said as she ushered her friend towards the elevators. They made small talk about Erin's flight and her work until the slam of the door sounded out behind Marie's hands.

"Okay, finally," Erin said with exasperation. "Spill. All of it."

"Where did I leave off?"

"You were holding hands on your fucking instagram story? And you said it was all casual, to which I'm assuming you're about to tell me you were lying to me," Erin said as she crossed her arms. Silence lingered as the two just stared at each other.

"How do you know me so well?" Marie asked with confusion.

"I just do. Spill."

"Okay, uh..." Marie started as she paced around the hotel room. "I don't really know."

"You made me fly to Mexico for 'I don't know'?"

"I like him."

"I TOLD YOU!" Erin yelled as she cackled out with delight. "I FUCKING TOLD YOU!"

"Yes you did. You told me. Is that what you wanted to hear? That you were right?"

"Yes. I can go home happy now," Erin replied with a smile. "So what's wrong then?"

"I have feelings for the guy I'm supposed to be just fucking, thats a huge problem. But then he also said this thing to me..." Marie trailed off. "He was being really weird about his teammate inviting me to play golf with them and then he kept asking me if his teammate has ever hit on me. He got really... I don't know if agitated is the right word. He said that he knew better than to hit on me and that I was 'his'," Marie said with air quotes.

"Wait wait wait, what?" Erin cut her off, sitting up from her previously relaxed position. "What did he say, exactly?"

"He said 'he knows you're mine.' And then he walked away."