Chapter 11
Nikita
We make it back downstairs to reception and I can feel the last of my patience leaving my body. I am well aware that I am not the most pleasant person right now, but Calvin had one job - get a room with two single beds. How difficult can that be?
Was I being unreasonable right now? Probably, but at least I am self-aware.
“My apologies, Mr. Rhodes,” The dark-haired receptionist apologizes, jumping to her feet. “Please give me a moment to check for an alternative room for you.”
I glance towards the restaurant and contemplate getting myself a coffee, but quickly realize that I left all my belongings upstairs in the room, including my money. Calvin turns to me as the receptionist types away on her computer but before he can say anything, she jumps in.
“Unfortunately, all our twin-share rooms are fully-booked.”
I take a deep breath in before leaning against the counter, clasping my hands together. “Desculpe, senhora, but there has to be something available.”
“I had spoken to someone that works here last week to change my booking,” Calvin explains to her, hoping it will help our case.
She nods, “I understand, and regrettably, it seems as if that booking was not entered into the system.”
I turn to glare at Calvin who leans closer to me, fresh irritation on his face. “Don’t give me that look, this isn’t my fault.”
I try to keep my voice low, not wanting to argue in front of the receptionist, but also not being able to hold my tongue. “You were the one in charge of getting a room wit-.”
He interrupts, rolling his eyes. “If you say that phrase one more time, I’m going to lose my mind.”
“All those in the McCormick-Taylor wedding party had rooms allocated all across the eighth and ninth floor,” the receptionist explains, offering us a polite smile, but not a solution to our current situation.
“There has to be something,” I say, tapping my nails against the counter. “Are there any rooms available on any other floors?”
“I can try to speak to my manager and see if there is anything, but I can’t guarantee there will be any available.” She offers an apologetic smile, “This is a very busy time for the hotel and bookings are made well in advance, but let me see what I can do.”
“Thank you, we wo-.”
Our current interaction with the receptionist is interrupted by the booming of a male voice from behind us. “Rhode-kill!”
Rhode-kill?
I turn to see a large man throwing his arms around Calvin. “What’s up, buddy? When did you get here?”
“Kenneth, hey, good to see you.” Calvin pulls away, glancing towards me. “We just got here.”
Kenneth’s eyes fall on me, dropping from my head to my toes and back up again. It isn’t pleasant, but I offer a smile since I already know who this is. Showtime.
“And who is the beautiful woman you have here?” He asks Calvin but doesn’t wait for a response. “You’re not here with this one, are you?” He slaps a hand over Calvin’s shoulder and laughs at his joke.
“Oh, but I am.” I extend my hand. “Nikita.”
“Nikita?” He takes my hand in his, leaning down and placing a kiss on it. Ew. What the fuck? I can feel my face begging to turn my expression from polite to disgust, but I remain in character.
“Rhode-kill brought a date.” Kenneth’s laughter booms through reception, a few people glancing in our direction as he drops my hand and straightens up. “Ballsy move, my man.”
I wipe the back of my hand on my pants, turning to Calvin as Kenneth’s words dawn on me. “You didn’t tell him you were bringing me?” I ask, trying to remain calm but also wishing I could wring Calvin’s neck.
Calvin turns to me, looking guilty as hell. “I-”
Kenneth rests his arm around my shoulders, completely invading my personal space in a way that makes me want to punch him in the nuts. “Don’t worry, love, what’s a wedding without a little drama?”
Moving away from Kenneth, I toss the most vile look Calvin’s way, hoping that by some miracle, I have gotten the ability to inflict pain with my mind. “Cal-.”
Calvin shakes his head. “There won’t be any drama, Ken, scouts honor.” He places his hand over his heart as he moves closer to me. “I didn’t just bring a date, I brought my girlfriend.”
Without warning, his hand rests on the small of my back, taking me by surprise, but I remain composed, even though I am becoming increasingly more aware of the heat from Calvin’s hand seeping through my shirt. Kenneth’s eyes widen but there is far more amusement than shock in them. “Girlfriend? Oh man, what about Violet?”
It hasn’t even been two minutes of interacting with Kenneth and I already know what I need to know about this man. Obnoxious, boastful - drunk? He reeks of something strong and I know it isn’t a new type of coffee.
“What about Violet?” Calvin repeats, “We broke up.”
Kenneth shook his head. “Actually, she dumped you.”
Oof.Glancing between the two of them, I am struggling to see how they are good friends. Calvin straightens up, exuding a far more stuck-up aura than he usually does, but he also seems unsettled. At least to me, he did. I am not sure Kenneth will be able to notice anything - he doesn’t strike me as the kind of person who can read a room.
“Yes, thanks for clarifying,” he responds deadpan.
Oh, I am uncomfortable.
The receptionist who is helping us returns, catching us off-guard. “My apologies, Mr. Rhodes, but we don’t have a roo-.”
Shit.
Both Calvin and I turn to her, Calvin’s eyes widening as he realizes the predicament we are in with Kenneth’s presence. “Oh, don’t worry about it!”
I look at Calvin, careful not to turn my look into a full-on glare, but also knowing our options right now are limited. He drops his hand from my back, the feeling of his touch still lingers.
“Is there a problem here?” Kenneth wonders, stepping between Calvin and I to lean over the counter, completely invading the receptionist’s personal space. He is very robust with his movements and I have to step further to the side, making space for his wide frame.
The poor receptionist is caught in the middle, glancing between Calvin and me, unsure how to respond, so I jump in attempting to save the situation.
“Not at all,” I answer, “There is just a problem with our… shower. Low water pressure, bu-.”
“But it’s all sorted now, correct?” Calvin asks the receptionist, both of us beg with our eyes for her to cover for us.
“Uh, yes, the… water pressure is all sorted now.”
Extending my hand she returns our room key back to me. I know that is the end of our attempt to get a room with two beds, but ironically, that isn’t our biggest predicament right now.
Kenneth turns, dismissing the receptionist as he grabs Calvin’s shoulder with one hand and uses the other to rest on mine. “Let’s get a drink and you can tell me all about how you met this one.” He nudges Calvin and I attempt a smile as I shrug off his hand, moving past Kenneth. I stand next to Calvin and slip my hand in his, catching both of us by surprise, but I am needing to desperately put some distance between Kenneth and I. I remember Calvin mentioning that Kenneth’s brother is a notorious flirt, but it seems like it ran in the family.
Calvin’s glances between our intertwined hands in a fleeting moment, but I notice it before he turns back to his friend. “Sorry, Ken, we’ve got to get settled in first.”
“I’ll get us started then.” He turns and begins to walk backward in the direction of the restaurant. “Hurry up, alright? We’re here to party.” He doesn’t wait for our response before he walks past us, heading towards what looks like an outside bar. “Whoo! Let’s go!” As soon as Kenneth is out of sight, I pull my hand from Calvin’s, crossing my arms as I lean closer to him.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I hissed.
“What?”
“You didn’t tell them you were bringing a date?!”
He shrugs. “Because I knew it wouldn’t have been a problem.”
“Oh, really?” I narrow my eyes, “And how exactly do you think the bride is going to react? Didn’t you say she was best friends with your ex?”
I can’t believe the sheer stupidity of his choice to bring me without permission. What is wrong with men? Did they not think, ever?
“Yes, but need I remind you that Violet is the one who broke up with me? Months ago. Britney knows all about that, so if anyone - Violet’s friends included - shouldn’t have a problem with your presence, it’s the woman who decided to end our relationship.”
I open my mouth to argue but quickly close it, realizing that he has a point.
He notices the shift in my thinking, “That’s what I thought.”
“You still should have told them.”
He shrugs. “Better to ask for forgiveness than permission.”
“How off-brand for you,” I say dryly, knowing exactly the kind of person Calvin is. His archetype is as clear as day and a phrase like that has no business coming out of his mouth. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a shower waiting for me.”
I move to walk past him but he steps in front of me, stopping me in my tracks, sending another wave of frustration over me. “What?”
“What are we going to do about this bed situation?” He keeps his voice low, eyeing around us.
“Easy solution. You-.” I poke his chest, “are going to sleep on the couch since you-” Another poke, “were the one who messed this up.”
He wraps his fingers around mine, stopping me from poking him again. My eyes jump up to his as the warmth of touch seeps into my skin. “They are the ones who messed up the booking.
“That seems like a you problem.” I pull my hand from his, getting ready to toss another sarcastic comment his way, but a high-pitched voice stops me.
“Calvin Rhodes! How the heck are ya?” A short, petite woman asks, tossing her thick dirty-blonde hair over her shoulder, allowing her massive boobs to take center stage. I am not normally one to pay that any mind, but there is no way to miss them. There is also no way that they are natural.
“Hi, Kendra.” Calvin turns to me. “Nikita, this is Kendra. Britney’s sister.”
It is impossible to miss the impressive display of diamond rings on all her fingers except for her thumb and middle finger. Wealth oozes off of her. Her almost-perfect appearance making me question how much was done with some… assistance.
“Nice to meet you.” I greet her with a smile as I extend my hand. She eyes my outstretched hand, but makes no movement to shake it. Instead, she whips her head to Calvin. “Who is this?”
This bitch.
Kendra speaks as if I’m not standing right here. I can feel the frustration pulsing through my veins. That silly question is the straw that broke the camel’s back of what is left of my patience.
“While you answer that, I have somewhere to be,” I state, turning back to Calvin resting my hand on his chest, “Great to meet you, Kendall.”
“It’s Kendra.”
“Oh, well.” I offer her a fake smile as her eyebrows furrow, clearly taken back by my brazen ways. With looks being shot my way from Calvin, I know I have already broken character. At this point though, I don’t care.
“I’ll see you upstairs, babe,” I speak close to Calvin’s ear before brushing past him, charging through reception towards the elevator.
What’s a girl gotta do to take a shower around here?