13. Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Thirteen
Noah
I arrive at the bar early, the hotel still buzzing with the energy of the new day.
As usual, the staff is getting everything ready for the busy hours ahead. I take a moment to walk around, but my mind is preoccupied with thoughts of Blossom.
She’s still staying in my penthouse upstairs, and I’m not sure how long we can keep that quiet. For now, it’s just between us, but I know it won’t be like that for long.
As I head past the bar, I notice something that surprises me—Courtney is actually working. She’s behind the counter, sorting through bottles, her posture stiff as usual, but she’s doing the job for once. It’s a rare sight. I can’t help but raise an eyebrow. Maybe there’s hope for her yet.
I try to avoid making eye contact, but she’s already spotted me. She walks over quickly, eager to get my attention.
“Noah!” she calls, her voice dripping with forced sweetness.
I barely nod, keeping my expression neutral. I’m not in the mood for whatever game she’s playing today, but of course, she doesn’t seem to care about that.
“Good morning,” she says, lingering too close for comfort. “I heard about what happened yesterday. Quite the spectacle with Blossom’s ex.”
I feel the irritation creeping in, but I keep it cool.
Courtney doesn’t miss a beat, her smile too wide as she leans toward me. “You know, I don’t know if she’s worth all the trouble, Noah,” she says, her voice laced with condescension. “I mean, having her ex show up here and make a scene in a nice hotel like this? It’s not exactly the kind of thing that makes for a smooth operation, don’t you think?”
I feel the annoyance rising in my chest. She’s trying to get under my skin, trying to manipulate me into seeing Blossom the way she does. But I know what she’s doing, and I’m not falling for it.
I don’t respond right away, my gaze shifting to the bar as I gather my thoughts. I feel her eyes on me, but I can’t be bothered to look back at her. Courtney loves to stir the pot, and I’ve learned over time that the best way to deal with her is to ignore her.
Without saying a word, I turn on my heel and walk toward the kitchen, hoping she’ll take the hint.
I enter the kitchen and find Miguel working on prepping the food for the evening’s rush. He looks up as I walk in, and his face breaks into a smile.
“Well, well, look who’s in a good mood,” he says, his voice low but amused. “How’s the hotel business, Noah? I’m guessing things are pretty calm since yesterday?”
I chuckle, leaning against the counter. “Yeah, calm, for now. But Courtney is in rare form today.”
Miguel raises an eyebrow, wiping his hands on his apron. “Really? What’s she up to now?”
I can’t help but shake my head. “She’s been trying to stir the pot, as usual. Talking about Blossom’s ex, trying to make things sound worse than they were.”
Miguel snorts, clearly not surprised. “Yeah, she’s always had a way of making things more dramatic than they need to be. But you know what? That right hook of yours yesterday? That was impressive , my friend. You didn’t hold back.”
I laugh, the tension from earlier dissipating a little. “Yeah, well, I wasn’t in the mood for playing nice.”
Miguel’s grin fades as he looks at me more seriously. “You’ve been running this place so well, Noah. Don’t let someone like Courtney throw you off track. You’ve got this under control.”
His words hit me in a good way. I’ve been focused on the business, but it’s nice to hear it from someone else.
“Thanks, Miguel,” I say, giving him a genuine smile. “I’ll keep that in mind. You’ve got a good day ahead of you?”
He nods, his tone lightening again. “Of course. It’s a quiet day in the kitchen, thank God. You take care, man.”
I pat his shoulder before heading out, feeling a bit more grounded after talking with him.
I walk back into the bar, but before I can reach the counter, I feel it: Courtney’s presence again. I turn around just in time to see her walking toward me, her hips swaying a little too obviously as she gives me a seductive smile.
She pokes her ass out, trying to get my attention. I can’t help but roll my eyes.
“Really?” I mutter under my breath, trying not to look too annoyed.
“Come on, Noah,” she purrs, getting too close for comfort. “I think you know what I’m offering.”
I don’t even flinch. “Courtney, pull yourself together,” I say, my voice firm but calm. “You’re not the first person to try to get my attention, and you won’t be the last. I’m not interested.”
Her smile falters, but she quickly tries to cover it up. "Whatever," she says, spinning on her heel to walk away. She stops abruptly, and turns back. "Hey, I’ve got something to say about Blossom."
I freeze for a moment, curious but wary. “What now?” I ask, not giving her the satisfaction of showing interest.
She turns back to face me, her voice lowering. “Zack isn’t the only guy sniffing around Blossom, you know.”
The words hit me harder than I expect.
My heart skips a beat.
What does she mean by that?
I feel my irritation rising again, but I stay silent, not giving Courtney the reaction she’s hoping for.
I don’t trust anything she says about Blossom.
But the words still linger in my mind.
Courtney’s words still linger in the air, too, and I can feel the tension building between us. She’s standing in front of me, her lips curving into that all-too-familiar, fake smile, clearly expecting something from me.
I don’t hesitate. My focus is solely on Blossom, and I’m not going to let Courtney distract me anymore. “Look, Courtney,” I say, my tone firm and clear, “I’m never going to date you. I figured you knew that already. To me, we are just two people who went through a traumatic experience together, and that’s it. Nothing more.”
I watch her face fall, the facade cracking for a moment. It feels like she wasn’t expecting me to be so blunt, but I can’t waste any more time with her. The longer I let her believe she has a chance, the more this will drag on.
Her eyes narrow slightly, but she doesn’t argue. Instead, she just looks at me, the disappointment in her gaze clear.
“Glad we could come to that understanding, Courtney,” I say, turning away from her without another word.
To my surprise, Courtney doesn’t fight me. Instead, her expression softens, and something shifts in her eyes.
“Okay,” she says quietly, her voice almost cracking. “I understand completely.”
Her words hang in the air, and for a moment, I think I see a tear well up in her eye, but she blinks it away quickly, forcing a smile back onto her face.
I don’t know what to make of it. I feel a small pang of something, maybe guilt, maybe just the tension of the whole situation, but I can’t help but ruminate on it.
Her hazel eyes stay fixed on me as I turn to leave. The quiet sincerity in her voice catches me off guard. Maybe she really did understand, or maybe she’s just saving face. Either way, I’m done with this conversation.
I walk away, heading back toward the lobby, my thoughts still on Blossom. Courtney’s not my concern anymore. I need to focus on Blossom, on what she needs.
I head toward Nicole’s office, and when I knock and step inside, I find her sitting behind her desk, flipping through some paperwork. She looks up as I enter, her eyes lighting up with recognition.
“Hey, Noah,” she greets me, setting the papers aside. “What’s up?”
I take a seat, a little surprised by the way she’s acting. She seems a little more open than usual, like she’s been thinking something through.
“You’ve been quiet lately,” I say, trying to read her expression. “Is everything okay?”
Nicole’s eyes soften, and she exhales slowly. “I...I’ve been thinking about something. It’s about Amy.”
My heart skips a beat, knowing exactly where this is going. “What about her?”
She looks a little nervous, her fingers drumming against the desk. “I think I’m starting to feel something for her. But I’m not sure if I should act on it. What if she’s not ready to date someone like me? You know...a person with physical challenges.”
I’m taken aback for a second.
I can understand her hesitation, but at the same time, I know that sometimes we just need to take a leap. “Nicole, you can’t know if you don’t try,” I tell her, my voice soft but firm. “If you like her, you have to pursue it. I see the way you talk to each other—you have chemistry. I think she likes you too.”
Her eyes widen slightly, a surprised smile creeping onto her face. “Really?” she asks, almost shyly. “You think so?”
I nod, grinning. “Absolutely. You two have this...energy. It’s clear there’s something there.”
Nicole blushes, a sheepish grin spreading across her face. “I guess I’ll have to find out, huh?”
I nod again, feeling a small sense of satisfaction. “You won’t know until you try.”
I return to my penthouse later that night, my mind still buzzing from the chaos of the day.
When I open the door, I find Blossom lying on the bed, sound asleep. The sight of her, peaceful and calm, hits me harder than I expected.
She’s lying on her side, her hair spread out around her, her face relaxed in sleep. I pause in the doorway, just watching her for a moment. There’s something about the way she looks so vulnerable and so beautiful, that takes my breath away.
I walk closer, careful not to wake her, and sit down at the edge of the bed. I look at her, my heart heavy with emotions I can’t quite sort through. She’s made me feel things I haven’t felt in years, and I wonder if I’m really ready for this.
I know what I feel for her, but I’m scared. Scared that I’m moving on too soon. Scared that I’ll lose her the way I lost Whittney.
I look at Blossom’s sleeping face, and I ask myself, am I ready to move on?
But as I sit there, the overwhelming desire to be close to her overpowers everything else. I gently brush a lock of hair from her face, my fingers lingering on her skin.
She stirs slightly but doesn’t wake, and I feel a surge of something warm in my chest.
For the first time in a long while, I feel like I’m not alone.