20 Days In His Bedroom

Chapter Twenty four

The cab stops in front of the hotel, and I climb out quickly while Kyle pays.

"Hey, wait," he calls behind me as I rush toward the entrance.

"I'm not staying in that room with you again. Forget it," I say, making myself clear.

He chuckles. "You're talking like I'm begging you to stay. It's up to you. The room will always be available for you... well, I mean the bathroom, of course," he teases.

"No, thank you." His words sting more than they should. He doesn't care. Why should he? What's wrong with me?

"Leave me alone. I need to figure out where I'm sleeping tonight." I stare at the ground.

"So you don't know," he scoffs.

"I never said I did. You threw me into that cab, remember?"

"Jace, then?" he raises an eyebrow.

"No, not Jace," I reply mockingly. "Well... maybe." I say it just to annoy him—maybe he gets jealous.

"Okay. Take your time. The room is open if you need it. And if you need anything, you know where I am." He shrugs and rubs his head. His body language—ugh—it gets to me. He's so calm, so composed. Even the sound of his voice messes with me.

"Thanks." I nod.

"See you, Twi. Bye." He waves and walks off, leaving me there like a clueless idiot with nowhere to go and no idea why I'm even here.

I have to find Nena. I am definitely not sleeping in Jace's room.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for someone named Nena. Just her first name. Can you check the rooms?" I ask the receptionist.

"Nena?" she frowns.

"Yes," I nod, hopeful.

"Do you know her last name?"

"No," I mutter, lips pressed tight.

"I'm sorry, there's no one checked in under that name. Maybe she already checked out."

"Are you sure? I really need to see her."

"I'm sure. I'm sorry."

"Thank you." I walk away.

So now I'm officially homeless. Again. I need to breathe, to think, to process. I can't believe I didn't find my parents. And Kyle kissed me. Kyle. The first person ever to kiss me.

How did it even happen? I always believed I'd save my first kiss for marriage. That's how I was raised. I respect that. I'm not like other girls who throw kisses around like candy. And now? I let someone touch me like that. Someone who doesn't even seem to regret it.

I end up wandering toward the pool—the same one I saw Kyle in with those girls.

"Hello." A hand taps my shoulder.

"Hey," I turn around and find Jace standing there, hands in his pockets.

"What are you doing here?" I ask.

"Just... wandering," he shrugs.

"Can I join you?" he asks.

"Sure." I smile.

"You swim?" he nods toward the pool.

"No. Not at all," I shake my head quickly. I do know how to swim... but I can't. I panic. That moment with Kyle in the ocean flashes back again.

He chuckles. "Okay, okay."

"I tried once. I ended up in the middle of the pool, screaming. The lifeguard had to carry me back to my mom's lap," I laugh at the memory.