Together

Chapter 18

I curl my fingers as I slowly wake up, taking a deep breath. A sudden warmth spreads through my body and I blink my eyes open, and once they're open they focus on nothing except pitch black. My eyes widen and I sit bolt upright. Unexpected blankets fall off my torso, allowing light to flood into my eyes. I rub my eyes, yawning loudly as I turn to grin at Camila laying beside me.

But when I turn my head, no one lays next to me.

The smile melts off my face, and my eyebrows furrow as my eyes scan the scattered blankets beside me. I rip my eyes from Camila's spot, looking around the rest of the hotel for my love. My eyes end up dropping to the gathering pile of blankets at the end of the bed.

"Camila?" I ask, my voice shaky and small in the silent hotel room. I crawl down the bed, slipping off and onto my feet at the end of it. I slowly pad over to the bathroom, pushing open the door gently. "Camz?" The restroom is empty and the light is off; nothing has been touched.

I feel my heart beat quicker, causing my palms to grow sweaty. Running my fingers through my hair, I turn toward the back wall, expecting a window to be propped open, except there is no window in this hotel room. My heart sinks, and I desperately try to grasp at anything that could help me find her.

I spot Camila's jacket hanging over the chair side, but mine isn't there. Maybe she went for a walk. I grab the jacket, pulling it on and opening the hotel door. I walk down the hallway, entering the elevator and riding it down to the main lobby. I exit the elevator, taking quick steps into the lobby.

My eyes land on a blonde lady sitting at the main desk; she fixes the hat on her head, taking a deep breath. I walk over to her, gently rapping my fingernails against the wood of the desk. She looks up, her dark eyes surprising me.

"I hate to bother you," I nervously knit my fingers together, trying to quit my absentminded tapping of my fingernails, as it is probably an annoying sound. "But have you seen a brunette, wearing a leather jacket, leave her anytime soon?"

"I'm sorry, miss, but I just got on this shift." The blonde shrugs, sighing, blowing a strand of her hair out of her face.

"Okay, then, where is the person that was just on shift?" I ask desperately, rubbing my neck.

The lady casts me an odd look, her dark eyes roaming around my face. "He just left," she glances out the wide window in the middle of the wall. "He's still out there, if you want to talk to him."

"Thank you," I thank her, bolting out of the room and into the parking lot.

"Excuse me!" I shout toward the man, waving my arms frantically above my head. "Excuse me, sir!"

The man stops getting into his truck, casting me a deathly glare but quickly fixes it, as he plastered a sad smile on. "Yes?" He exhales, making his smile seem even more fake. He rubs his bald head, fixing his blue eyes on me.

"I just wanted to ask," I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself. "Have you seen a brunette in a leather jacket leaving?"

The man, no matter how distraught he looks, takes a moment to genuinely think, tapping his chin thoughtfully. He then sighs, shaking his head and lowering his dazzling blue eyes. "No, I haven't, I'm sorry." He starts to get back into his truck.

"But—" I start, grabbing the sleeve of the guy's loose jacket.

"Look, I'm sorry, kid, but I got to get home," the man sighs, his eyes suddenly sad. "My wife... She..." He shakes his head, lifting his eyes to meet mine. "Isn't feeling too well."

Guilt stabs my heart like a blade. I stuff my hands into my pockets, taking a step back. "I'm sorry to hear that, but my girlfriend, she..." I have to bite my lip to stop myself from spilling my guts to this man. His sad puppy dog eyes show that he understands, as he places a hand on my shoulder.