Chances are....

16. Bittersweet Farewell

*********BRADLEY**********

It's been exactly 9 days since I kissed Justine. Do I feel bad about it? Yes. Would I do it again, given the chance to? Hell yes. We eventually talked about it after she completely ignored me for 3 days.... yes. 3 days. THREE! She told me....well it went kinda like....

*Flashback*

I had been standing outside of her door for about and hour. For half of that hour she was giving me infamous one word, yes or no answers. I could have asked what today was and she would have said no.

"Justine please just talk to me."

"No."

"I'm sorry, I really am. I didn't know!"

"And that makes it better?"

"Well no, but...."

"And how, per se, does that make it any more ok?"

After a dead end back and forth, through the door mini argument, Kara, bless her heart, opened the door. Basically it took me explaining to her that I didn't mean to scare her, I just thought she needed to know where I stood in this situation. She's a beautiful woman and I'd be damned if I missed a good thing when it was right in front of my face.

*End of flashback*

Kara had already left to catch her flight yesterday and Rick and Ryan went home because Kara left. Dicks.

"Don't forget to...." we'd just gotten back from lunch and Justine decided she wanted to head home early and beat the traffic. I did everything in my power to get her to stay another hour but, the woman wants what the woman wants. Ther's no changing her mind.

"I won't forget, my dad says my replacement phone is waiting safely on my bed for me." she cut me off. "I'll text you as soon as I get to it."

I kissed her cheek just as the valet pulled her car around. "Don't go over the speed limit and watch the signs." She made a face at me when she noticed I still had her hand in mine as she walked towards her car. "I'm being serious."

"I know I know, you act like I didn't drive here alone. I'll be fine." she swiped a curl out of her face. "I'll be home by 4 if not earlier" I looked at my watch, it's 1:30 pm.

"Don't stop for hobos, hitchhikers, or that crazy bitch from Texas Chainsaw Massacre." I slowly let go of her hand and she slid into the driver's seat. " Be safe."

"I will be." she closed the door and I tapped on the window. She gave me a puzzled look and rolled it down. I turned my face and she kissed my cheek, I backed up allowing her to drive out of my sight. I waved to her retreating car and turned to go back into the hotel.

"Will you be needing anything else Mr. Jameston?" I'm really getting sick of this girl, without saying a word I walked past her towards the elevators.

I was stuck at this hotel for a few more hours, I hate waiting on dry cleaning. I stepped into the elevator which was already occupied by Lauren.

"Well hey there old friend." She said smiling at me.

"Hey."

"How've you been? We all missed you at graduation."

"Is that so? Well believe it or not, I wish I was there" I chuckled thinking of what crazy stunt I would've pulled.

"It's a shame, I was hoping we could'v spent some time together before you left." she glanced at me from the side of her eye and winked.

"We've spent more than enough time together Lauren" I said walking out of the elevator and into my room. I threw my keys onto the counter and noticed Justine's bracelet sitting on my dresser.