Chapter 9
CHAPTER
NINE
The faint sound of footsteps echoes from out in the hall outside Gisele and Bea's room.
I've given up feeling hopeful that someone is coming to save me. After thirty minutes, every set of footsteps I’ve heard has passed this room right up.
Leaping to my feet with false hope over and over has left me with sore glutes.
I guess the silver lining of being locked in a hotel bathroom is that I managed to squeeze a decent workout in.
But this time, the footsteps stall nearby. A door handle rattles, and for the first time, the steps get closer instead of far away. I grab onto the edge of the sink to pull myself up, wincing at the sore muscles of my ass as I stretch.
Muffled voices sound from behind the door. A couple that I don't recognize as they speak calmly in even, measured tones. Another voice barks out an impatient command, " Hurry up!" in a rough voice that I recognize.
My breath hitches.
Rob.
He came for me. I had hoped, but... I can't believe he really came for me.
The handle to the bathroom door jerks, and the door seems nearly ripped off the hinges as Rob flings it open so hard it bangs against the wall. One of the hotel employees behind him winces and mutters a quiet protest that I barely pay attention to, and that Rob doesn't seem to notice at all.
He beelines toward me, wrinkles around his eyes smoothing as his worried eyes scan over me, reassuring him that I'm not hurt in any way. Well, except maybe emotionally. Those marks are harder to assess.
"Daisy," Rob sighs as he gathers me into his arms and squeezes me tightly enough to cut off my supply of oxygen.
If this is how I die, let my gravestone rejoice in this precious last moment of my life as I felt a male model's body pressed tight against mine. This is exactly how I imagined the perfect demise: death by hot man. A dream come true.
"They used a chair to block the door so the handle couldn't turn," Rob says, growling out the explanation as he runs a soothing hand over my hair.
He's probably messing up my curls, but who cares?
I manage a shaky laugh. "So, you saw my video, huh?"
"Damn right I did." He squeezes me even tighter, then releases me when I wheeze softly. "I would find you anywhere when you vanish on me. Even..." he shudders and whispers, "the internet," like we share a common mortal enemy.
In some ways, I think we do. My video has gotten a lot of support over the past thirty minutes, unfortunately almost entirely from people not attending this weekend's event. I've also gotten a handful of troll comments insulting my looks and voice.
Looks like I get to win over the guy for tonight, but not the entirety of the internet. Can't win 'em all, I guess. (I never actually expected everyone to like me. The insults mostly just made me laugh while I had nothing better to do than read comments.)
"I probably sounded pretty pathetic in that video, huh?" I ask, my tone joking even though the question really isn't. He's here to rescue me, but that doesn't mean he's necessarily here out of anything but pity.
I don't think that's why he's here. But it would be nice to hear him confirm for himself, anyway.
Rob scoffs. "Pathetic? You were trapped alone in a bathroom with no help, using what you had at your disposal to stand up for yourself. You fought back the way you knew how. That's not pathetic at all. You've got guts, Daisy."
"Not always," I admit with a sheepish shrug. "I've been letting my stepsisters walk all over me for a while. I kept thinking there was nice deep down in them somewhere. I guess that makes me sound pretty weak."
"You stood up for yourself tonight, and that's what matters most." Rob draws me into his arms again as if he can't help but to reach for me, but he holds himself far enough apart to look me in the eyes.
"And being kind doesn't make a person weak.
Expecting people to give you their best, and giving your best in return, that makes you strong and kind.
Don't stop expecting people to give you their best just because your stepsisters have been cruel.
No matter what kind of people your stepsisters are, they don't deserve to make you jaded.
Because being nice and positive? That's not losing, Daisy. That's just who you are."
His words hit me like a punch straight to the gut. Mildly devastating, but surprisingly gentle at the same time. I press a hand to mouth as a combination laugh/sob breaks loose. "You sound like a romance hero."
"I'm no romance hero." His lips curve into a wry smile. "I'm just a guy who wants to know you better."
My insides crack open, my earlier tears finally breaking free like a dam has burst open. My laughter is wet and trembling. "Honestly? That's way hotter, anyway."
For a long moment, we stare at each other.
My heart is hammering so loudly in my chest that I'm certain he can hear.
After that moment, I become acutely aware that we have an audience.
I glance past Rob to see two hotel employees and Sara Fox hovering in the doorway, the latter gawking at us with wide eyes.
"Sorry," she stage-whispers. "Don't let me interrupt. Just taking notes!" She feigns writing notes into thin air, and I hiccup a giggle.
Rob shakes his head with a dramatic sigh that I don't quite believe. I think his sister's antics amuse him. The two of them are obviously very close, which I can't help but to feel jealous of. Partly because of my own lack of sisterly bond. And partly because uh, hello, she's Sara-freaking-Fox !
Rob brushes a curl away from my damp cheek. "What do you say we get out of this hotel room?"
"I don't think I'm in much of a party mood any more," I admit. The idea of facing my stepsisters or anyone who has seen my video online by this point is shudder-inducing.
"The party is over as far as I'm concerned," Rob agrees easily. "Are you staying here with your stepsisters?"
I shake my head. "The room next door. They have to keep me close to be at their beck and call." I roll my eyes openly, relieved to be able to be open with him about my feelings now that the seal has been broken on any sense of loyalty I felt toward them before.
"Let's pack you up, then, and you can come stay in my room tonight."
Sara gasps loudly. When I glance at her, her cheeks turn pink. "Sorry, ignore me. Pretend we're not even here." She waves her arms in front of herself and the employees, who are also still hovering to watch us like an interactive soap opera.
My lips twist as I try to fight a smile while giving my attention back to Rob. There's a crease between his brows as he waits for my answer, so unsure about what I'll say. I can't believe he thinks there's any chance I would turn down an offer to go to his room.
"Lead the way, Prince Charming." I'm not going to pass up this opportunity when there are so many spicy book scenes I've been waiting a long time to try.
And Rob strikes me as a five chili peppers kind of guy.