12. Tessa
12
TESSA
This morning, I looked out over snow-covered Boston. Tonight, I’m looking at the Las Vegas Strip. The whole place is lit up—some elegant and pretty, some made me grimace.
The trip had been a surprise to me. Madden had known about it but had forgotten. So, he'd put me on the flight right away. After my run in with Davina at last night's game, my head was spinning.
The team had had a short scrimmage with another minor league team during the afternoon. Madden had fun, so he tells me.
I'm in love with the man and I want to stay with him in Boston. Is that what he wants? With all these thoughts running through my head, I pull away from the window. It's almost time to meet Madden in one of the bars off the hotel lobby.
I stand in front of the full-length mirror and admire the pretty dress I purchased earlier. It's a cocktail dress in a shimmering emerald green. Silky. Thin straps. It makes me feel sexy. I hope Madden thinks so, because I'm so out of my comfort zone in this pretty thing.
Holding my purse with one hand, I grab the room card on the way out and slip it into the middle pocket of my purse.
The door clicks shut as I walk down the fancy hallway. In the elevator, I admire myself once more, nerves fluttering in my stomach.
I step out into the lobby, and everything comes to a screeching halt.
I inhale sharply and turn my angry gaze to the man standing a few feet in front of me. "What are you doing here?"
Ralph doesn't even have the decency to look me in the eye as he says, "You left without a word.” He steps closer. "I find that rude and unbecoming of you.”
"What is wrong with you? There was never anything between us. You couldn't stand the sight of me most of the time!" I hiss.
"Tessa, be reasonable. You just ate too much, that's all." He waves his hand in a dismissive tone.
I gasp in shock and poke him in the chest. He's forced to take a step back, surprise registering on his face before his eyes narrow.
"What the hell are you doing here? How did you know where to find me? You were waiting for me to come down, which tells me you knew exactly where I was." As I spoke, I backed him into a pillar. "Start talking before I start screaming!"
He swipes at my hand. "Your mother told me to come get you." He straightens his blazer. "She thinks you should be with me and not some hockey player."
Wanting to yell anyway, I shut my mouth before I make a scene. Instead, I say, "Stay away from me before I report you for stalking."
My eyes search for Madden, but not seeing him, and needing somewhere to escape, I hurry back into the elevator. I frantically push the buttons when I realize he's coming for me. One hand clamps over my mouth and another around my waist. I open my mouth to scream for help and feel my limbs turn to noodles.
My world goes dark.
My head hurts badly—the first thing I notice when I wake up. My throat is dry as sand and my body aches. I lick my dry lips, but it doesn't help. I force my eyes open slowly, afraid of what I'll see, for my memory is there, only fragile.
Wincing, my eyes focus on the clothes hanging in the open closet. They are mine. Panic builds as I quickly run my hands down my body. To my great relief, I'm fully clothed, except for my shoes. Where is Madden? I wonder as my eyes scan the room.
Daylight is streaming into the room, causing me even more stress. It had been evening when things had gone to hell.
I roll out of bed, grimacing as my head pounds with each step I take. My stomach feels uncomfortable but settles as I slowly sip cold water from a fresh bottle from the mini fridge.
The purse I'd used the night before sits on the nightstand. Wincing with every step, I pick it up. The weight is different. My phone is gone.
I rifle through my travel bag and find a box of Advil. I empty two pills into my hand, swallow them with a little water, and sit back on the bed, waiting for them to work. I don't get the chance because there's a loud banging on the door. A voice shouts through the door and makes me move. I open the door for Bradford. His eyebrows knit together as he looks me over. "What's going on? You look bad." He winces. "I don't mean?—"
I hold up a hand. "I know what you mean. Somebody knocked me out." I burst into tears and end up crying on the man. My tears soak into his shirt.
He lets me cry it out and then I tell him about Ralph and that I didn't meet Madden.
Turns out Madden didn't show up for practice, so Bradford came looking for him.