The next morning Javier came to my room early. He woke me up with loud thuds at the door. I sprang up and hurried to stop the horrid noise. My shorts and cami were casual, but not showing much ( as if I had nothing to flaunt). Everything in my mind was rambled together, bouncing off internal walls. I awkwardly pulled on the handle of the door and nearly fell. Javier stood clad in his normal uniform.
"Good morning." He smiled.
"Morning" I sighed and stepped aside letting him in. My patience was already missing. Why is he even bothering ?
"Brunch is down in my room when you are ready."
"I'll just dress." He nodded and took a seat in a gray plastic chair by the tv. I picked clothes out from the drawers where they lied folded like my grandmother had taught me. After rummaging through, I escaped to the bathroom.
'Did I really have to go ? Because I really didn't want to. Why does he even talk to me ? I hate him, okay not hate, but you get the gist. He's a ticking time bomb who needs a punch to the face with a refrigerator.' I thought subconsciously. Never did I think if see him again, but he tends to resurface every few years like leap year.
I changed into a floral dress that Dani, my roommate, helped me pick. The front was an explosion of purple lilies and the back the flowers were lavender petals. It was too much, but what the hell is brunch ? Breakfast and lunch. What is expected ?
After hesitating for a few long minutes, I left my haven of safety. Now I was vulnerable to Javier's temper and the world's judgement. Personally, I had always been a sheltered person, preferring books to people. Anything compared to people in reality.
"My rooms just down the hall." He stood from the chair smiling. I nodded unable to speak to the information I already knew. As fate missed me greatly, my phone rang.
"Hello ?" I asked over the line. It was Leo over the receiver. My throat swelled as Javier slowed his steps and dipped his head, listening.
"Hey babe. I'm sorry I just wanted to hear from you." My heart literally just leapt and shriveled. He's too sweet.
"Yeah, I just woke up. Actually heading out now. Aren't you at work ?" I asked with a low, hoarse voice.
"I had to take something to the mayor. Now I'm taking my time back." He laughed and I smiled at the floor. Standing outside the door, my pulse was surprisingly steady and I was not sweating in anxiety.
"I gotta go okay ?"
"Oh yeah, sorry. Love you."
"I love you, too." I quickly ended the call feeling like a complete idiot.
"Mom ?" Javier asked opening his door at the end of the floor.
"Boyfriend" He nodded and I felt relieved. Maybe he'd cancel this brunch now.
Nope.
"How long ?" I could feel my blood pressure rising.
"A year." I scanned the room in search of people. Not another person was present. There was a silver cart draped in a white cover in the center of the room. A soft smell of hot cakes and bacon taunted my nose. My stomach growled and I quickly shielded it.
"You can take a seat in the dining room. I'll wheel in the cart." Javier shouted in from a dense hall, I turned the corner from the living quarters to the formal room. There was a chandelier hanging above a dark, wooden table.
'This ain't in my room.' I mumbled to myself.
Quietly, I took a seat and he brought in the food a few minutes later. He told me to help myself and I did. This was probably the best meal I had since I left for college. Everything was heavenly and crisp. How had brunch escaped me all these years ?
"I made sure they didn't bring up a single dish of syrup. I remember how you hated it and have recently found myself against it." Javier laughed a little as he rested across from me at the small wooden table. How the hell was this a single room ? Its huge.
"Oh thanks." I muttered embarrassed. Not even a minute later he speaks cautiously with a formal approach.
"I wanted to ask you something. Something obviously regarding you."
***********
Javier's POV
She had just forked a small load of pancake into her mouth when I brought the topic up. It ate away at me for months, but now was the perfect time to ask. The question bugged at me hours and my business strategies opted against it. Fuck it.
Karenina froze mid pancake chew. Obviously she had been caught off guard. I wanted to joke about her horrified expression, but I had to remain professional during this. It was hard when she sat right there looking, ordinary ?
"I've planned my business and political career intensely since middle school. All of it went to shit when I lost mayor. I've always won and I lost." My voice trailed off distastefully. The words made my stomach churn, I don't lose, well once. It fucking sucks.
"Pardon me for asking, but why are you telling me ?" She asked as cold as a statue. Why am I actually ? What would she do for me ?
"Did you vote ?"
"No"
"Why ?"
"Because politicians are rich, corrupt pigs who crave power. Why would I vote for that ?" She was obviously bitter, but I smiled from ear to ear. Nina was honest. It never ceased to surprise me.
"I think I should go meet the other bridesmaids now." She stood up from her screeching chair, backing away. 'Already ?' I thought to myself.
"I'll see you tonight at the rehearsal dinner ?" Karenina nodded down to the floor awkwardly as she walked toward the door. I stared directly at her face, when I could get a view. God, she was beautiful.
"See you tonight Javier."
"Tonight" I watched her closely as she gathered herself out the hotel door. Breakfast was uneventful, but I didn't care. She said yes to alone time. Fuck her boyfriend. I had known her almost five years now, well not exactly whole years. I needed to get my shit together first.
When she turned down a hall I receded back into the full confides of my room. I sat quietly back in my chair across from where the shadow of her was. My cheeks curved once again.
"Love all, trust few, do wrong to none." I smiled aloud.
YOU ARE READING
Rolex Romance
Romance*EDITING* They met at night club where she spilled a drink on him. He gave her a watch as insurance. It takes him five years to get her to fall in love.
