Courage

Chapter 36. "He's going to hurt you"

"I'm not sure he leaves his family to be with you," he said. "Sooner or later he's going to hurt you, and when that happens, I'll be by your side."  

Jen's POV

"You must be kidding." I muffled. 

My whole body was stressed, I felt helplessness, anger, pain and sadness.
Yes, all those emotions were present in my body.

What was he trying to say with that?

He doesn't know Colin, he doesn't know ANYTHING about him.

What kind of conversation is this? 

"I'm not kidding, Jen. I know guys like him, I know what they do and I also know that he's going to hurt you."

I'm angry now.

"And how do you know so much about guys?" This time my voice was an octave higher than normal.

"I know the people. That's all."

"That's your answer?" I yell.

"Yes."

To hell with this.

Ok, that's not going to end well.

I need to be alone.

I need to think.

I need to rest.
My head is about to explode.

"Go away. I need to be alone."

Eric protested, he said something under his breath that I didn't understand. 
He took a step toward me but I walked away immediately.

"Listen to me, please."

"I don't want to hear you, I've heard enough."

I'm a person with a lot of patience, I really am; but I have limits. This is one of them.

I understand that Eric is hurt, I can even accept that his resentment invades him with anger, but I can't tolerate this.

I suppose we both must let a few days pass before we talk again. I don't want our "relationship" to end this way. None of us deserves it.

I'm too nervous to say anything coherent at this time.

I walked to the door and opened it. I looked Eric in the eyes and before saying a word, he approached me.

"Let me tell you something," he said. "Actually, I would like to ask you a question."

I breathed deeply before answering, my patience was running out. "Go ahead, shoot."

"Do you really trust him? I mean, do you really think he's going to give up everything for you?"

My jaw dropped.

Really!?

"Eric—

—He made you too many promises, you do not know if he will be able to fulfill them. Besides, you told me that he asked you for time. Are you willing to wait?

Because this is not about days ... Are you really willing to give up your life just because a man told you to wait?"

"Get out of here," I said.

"You'll see I'm right."

Eric walked out of the room with a firm step, not even turning to look at me. I saw him walk down the hall.

Suddenly I felt a chill all over my body.

Eric...

I know he does not deserve any of this, but I still can not help being angry with him. Maybe it's just the anger I have with myself for hurting someone who really loved me. I hurt a good and honest person, I hurt a person that really mattered to me.

But I'm in love with Colin. I love him. It will always be him.

3rd person's POV

Eric was out of the elevator ready to return to Manhattan as soon as possible, he wanted to take the next flight and get drunk in his apartment.

He still couldn't believe what had just happened.

Eric arrived at the hotel ready to show his feelings to Jen and found something completely different.

He stopped in the middle of the lobby, his head was spinning, his legs and hands were shaking.

He wanted to cry right there. He wanted to go back to the room, tell Jen that he was willing to fight for her, that he wanted to win her heart, but it was too late.

She loved another man.

And as if that were not enough, he had hinted that Colin was going to hurt him. Of course he had ruined everything.

"I'm looking for...um... Miss Morrison." The voice of a man pulled him out of his thoughts.

Eric turned to the man standing behind the counter.

The boy at the desk was explaining something, but Eric couldn't hear what he was saying.

The man seemed to be upset.

Eric decided to approach. "Excuse me, can I help you?"

"Oh, no, thank you," the man said.

"I thought I heard you say the name 'Morrison'," Eric said.

"Do you usually listen to other people's conversations?"

Eric smiled falsely. "No, but if you were referring Miss Jennifer Morrison, she's my girlfriend, maybe I can help you."

"Oh," he changed his face when he heard Eric. "I think you can help me." 
The man handed Eric a small white envelope. "I'm supposed to give this to Miss Morrison, but the boy at the reception told me that the lady is not available at this moment, and the truth is that I have to give this to her peronally."

"I'm on my way to the room, I can give it to you if you wish."

"Thank you."

Eric took the envelope and put it in the pocket of his jacket.

"Um...Who sends it?" Eric asked.

"I don't know sir, I was just following orders," said the man, pointing with his index finger at his postal mail suit.

Eric nodded and turned around, walking to the bar at the end of the hall.

He took the envelope out of his pocket and opened it.