Chapter Five
Allie
“Here is your room key, ma’am. I’ve written your room number at the top, inside the card. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
The check-in clerk eyes me up and down and I want to run and hide.
Why are men so fucking gross?
I was incredibly nervous when Landon first told me I couldn’t sleep in the car. I wanted nothing to do with being in a hotel with a man I barely know. But he kept his promise of not knowing my room number and even went as far as making sure they were on completely opposite floors.
When we got there and the clerk was making a very obvious pass at me, Landon asked me to go ahead of him and get settled. As I walked away, I heard him whisper something to the creep and the next morning when I met him in the lobby, the clerk was nowhere to be found and his replacement was a nice woman.
Here I was, hoping the past few days were indicative of what the rest of the trip was going to be. Other than the awkward encounter at the front desk of the first hotel, it has been uneventful. I barely slept the first night, but that’s not out of the usual.
Sleep and I have a very difficult relationship. Some nights I am so exhausted my body just shuts down and forces me to sleep almost like the dead. Some nights I can barely have my eyes shut for a minute and the nightmares immediately start, causing me to wake up, because the awake nightmare is much less scary than the one behind my closed eyelids.
I appreciate Landon giving me my space as much as he can. He doesn’t force me to talk in the car and I don’t speak to him unless I need to. Somehow, we have fallen into this silence that isn’t awkward or uncomfortable. Which is strange since I can imagine how awkward this must be for him.
The clerk leans forward, breaking me out of my thoughts, and says, “You have gorgeous eyes, madam. Like pools of sexy, elegant crystals.”
Before I can stop myself, I blurt out, “Sexy rocks. That’s a new one.” It’s laced with sarcasm and judging by the look on the clerk’s face as he leans away from me, I can already tell he isn’t used to being turned down.
He glares at me, then I follow his shifting eyes over my shoulder to Landon. He is standing a few feet away from me, having a very hushed, yet animated conversation. His phone started ringing obsessively as we pulled into the parking lot with calls from one of his brothers. And right now, he looks more than pissed off. I have no idea what kind of business they do, but with the amount of times we have to stop for the private phone calls he has to take, it makes me think it’s something I’d rather not know.
Landon turns, his eyes locking with mine. He glances between me and the clerk, then back at me. He raises his eyebrow and subtly nods towards the clerk.
Shifting my body so I can look at the clerk and not be obvious, I see he is typing on his computer.
Good. He got over his temper tantrum after my obvious disgust with his pickup attempt. I return my gaze back to Landon, who is waiting for me, and give him a reassuring nod. He returns the gesture and points to the chairs in the lobby.
Grabbing both our keys off the counter, I don’t bother looking at the clerk and head to the chairs to wait for Landon.
A few moments later, Landon finishes up and walks over while popping a piece of gum into his mouth. “Sorry. There was a problem back home. Any problems checking in?”
“Not anything I couldn’t handle.”
Landon nods. “Alright. I’ll let you head to your room and get some sleep. Meet you back down here at nine am so we can get back on the road. Remember, you have my number if you need anything.”
Standing, I hand him his key and make my way towards my room. He takes a seat in the lobby just like he did the previous day and lets me disappear into the elevator.
I make it safely into my room and check the entire place before taking a seat on the bed and falling back onto it. I let out a breath and sink further into the plush bedding.
For the first time in a while, I let myself give into the exhaustion. Not only have the past few weeks been beyond exhausting. But the last few days with Landon have been a different level of mental exhaustion.
He hasn’t done anything wrong, but the uneasiness I feel radiating off his body, despite him being shockingly helpful, is messing with my mind. I feel safe and a sense of protectiveness, but I can tell he is constantly on edge. And despite Logan telling me time and time again before Landon got there that he is a good man, you never know every side of a person until they choose to show it to you.
Whatever is eating at him must be awful because at points during the drive I notice after a few hours his grip tightens on the wheel and his hands start to shake. I’m not sure if he even notices the shakiness which makes me believe whatever darkness is floating inside him must have been going on for a while.
Sitting up in the bed, I kick my shoes off and grab the bag of clothing Logan sent with Landon and head to the bathroom. I don’t look in the mirror as I turn the shower on and get undressed.
As soon as I step underneath the hot spray, my muscles stiffen, then relax after a few minutes. My mind starts to drift, and I instantly shut it away. I rid my mind of everything as best I can and stand there until the water runs cold.
When I step out of the shower, I quickly get dressed, avoiding the mirror once again. Before getting in bed, I check the door one more time and plug my phone in next to the bed. I make sure it is within reach and get settled into bed. I keep one light on. My extreme exhaustion hits and I start drifting off to sleep. But it doesn’t last long when I hear the door handle wiggle.
I jolt up, and my chest constricts. What the hell is going on?
The handle wiggles again and I check my phone to see if Landon has an emergency and is trying to get to me.
But he doesn’t know your room number, you idiot.
I try to calm myself as the handle continues to move, but it’s useless. With shaky fingers, I unlock my phone and bring up Landon’s contact.
I’m debating on whether to call or text when a familiar voice filters through the room. “Come on, you piece of shit door. Fucking open.”
It’s the clerk from downstairs. I kick myself that I gave him the benefit of the doubt.
Allie: Room 203. Someone is trying to get in.
The text is simple, but I know he will understand. And I am proven right when less than a minute later, a text appears on the screen.
Landon : On my way.
Quietly, I search the room for something to fight this asshole off if he gets in here before Landon can stop him. Luck is on my side when I find a butter knife in the small kitchenette.
Being as quiet as I can, I tiptoe over to the large bay window and hide behind the heavy curtains that are so long the bottoms rest on the floor. The hiding spot gives me the opportunity to run off in one direction if he discovers my spot and I am unable to stun him with this dull as fuck butter knife.
Second after second ticks by and the door continues to wiggle. My mind races along and I can no longer ignore the voices in my head trying to play out every outcome of how this will go.
“I can do this. The clerk was half the size of the man you once brought to the ground,” I whisper to myself.
Or is this all part of Landon’s grand scheme and he is just using this as a tactic to get into my room?
I shake my head and will myself to not go there. He hasn’t shown me an ounce of malicious or manipulative behavior. He has had plenty of opportunities to do something and hasn’t.
But maybe he is just trying to let you think that so you let your guard down.
The voices and theories grow stronger and louder in my head as the seconds tick by.
A loud thump sounds through the room, and I expect the clerk to come stumbling through the door.
I let out a sigh and accept that I will have to fight with the little strength I have left.
A knock pounds on the door and my entire body jumps.
“Allie! It’s Landon.”
My body relaxes slightly but is still on edge from the voices still plaguing my thoughts.
“Allie. Please come to the door. It’s safe. You don’t even have to open it. I just want to hear that you are okay.”
I search for any hint of distress or waver in his voice that gives any hint that he could be lying.
“Allie. I know you have no reason to trust me, but I promise you I will never hurt you. Please come to the door. I need to hear you are okay. If you don't, I hate to do this, but I’ll open it to make sure you’re not hurt.”
The idea of him being in my space when I so desperately want to be alone has me moving towards the door. I slowly make my way out of the curtains and over to the door. I stay a few feet back to give myself a respectful distance if this really is a trap.
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I silently beg for my voice to come out clear and strong so he doesn’t get the idea he needs to come in. “I’m fine.”
When it comes out as evenly as it can, I let out a sigh of relief and wait for him to respond.
“Okay. The threat is gone. You have nothing to worry about. Try to get some sleep. If you need me, don’t hesitate to call or text me again. I’m uh—” his voice wavers and pauses for a brief moment, then continues, “I’m sorry. I’ll see you in the morning.”
I listen to his footsteps retreating down the hallway. When they are far enough away, I check the door handle and lock again, then slowly sink down to the floor, my back gliding against the door.
My hands shake, and the first tear falls from my eyes. I quickly wipe it away, but it’s useless when they start streaming down my face. The knife falls to the ground as I glance down at my hands that are shaking so badly. I watch it as it falls in slow motion. It clatters to the ground with a thud and my eyes blur as the tears grow heavier.
Leaning my head back against the door, I let my emotions consume me.
It happened again. It almost happened again. Why? Why me? Why is this my fucking life? Why do we live in a society where men think just because they have a penis, that gives them the authority to rule?
When did no morph into yes? When did please don’t touch me, suddenly become a silent question?
Why did the sun have to stop shining? And when did the storm clouds decide to make a permanent residence over my life?
I have no idea how long I sit there lost in thought, but eventually my body gives into the exhaustion and I fall asleep.
I wake with a jolt and sit up.
How did I get here? I rub my eyes and twist my body to rid the ache from sleeping on the floor.
The sun reflects off my phone beside me and I tap the screen to see it’s five minutes to nine.
Fuck. How the hell did I sleep that long?
Quickly, I race to gather my few belongings. I pause before opening the door.
“Please. Please, just give me a small break. Please let no one be on the other side of this door. Please, just let me get to see something of my parent’s one last time. After that…I don’t care. Just let me have this one thing.” I beg to anyone and everyone in the universe that may be listening.
Taking one last deep breath, I slide the lock and open the door. I freeze in the doorway when Landon practically falls on my feet.
He jolts up to his feet like someone shocked him. Scrubbing his hand down his face, he blinks a few times and straightens his shirt.
I have no words. He was clearly asleep. And that can only mean one thing.
Landon slept on the other side of my door. And for some odd reason, I feel a sense of relief wash through me.