Chapter 41

41 TRUE COLORS

ABBY

“We’re almost there. I don’t have a jacket to offer.”

“I’m okay, how’s what’s her name again? Are you still dating her?”

He stiffens then instantly relax. “Nah. It didn’t work.” He glances at me and smiles. He doesn’t mention her name.

“Really? I thought you like her because she’s different. Why? What happened? What’s her name, Drew?” I demand.

“Yeah. I like her, but she didn’t like me the way I did. She doesn’t want a relationship. Just a one-night stand thing. Her name is Lucy. Lucinda.”

I freeze and swallow hard. This can’t be, right?

I clear my throat. “I’m sorry, Drew. You’ll find someone who will like you back. You’re a good man. You deserve better.” I squeeze his arm, and he just gives me a nod.

We park in front of the hotel. I hold his arm as we walk to the elevator. He presses 11, and the elevator soars.

“It’s a small room, Abby. You want me to get you another room?”

“No need. I won’t stay long. I’m sure Sebastian is worried sick right now. With what’s going on, he is keeping his security tight and alert all the time.”

He looks tense, his jaw clenching. “What do you mean? Why? what happened?” He suddenly becomes curious. I regret telling him. I’m here with him to find out if what they’re accusing him is true. Yet, he’s the one fishing out for some info.

“Nothing really important. He said since he’s not alone anymore, he just wants to keep me safe, and he knew what happened to me three years ago.” I make my story believable, isn’t it?

He uses his key card to open the door of Room 119. I keep that in mind, just in case. I remove my shoes and wiggle my toes while sitting at the edge of his bed. I notice he has one small traveling bag.

He goes to the bathroom, and my hands itch to check what’s inside the bag. My mind works when I see the phone. I grab and dial the reception. After the receptionist said the how may I help you blah blah blah. “Um yeah. I would like room service but my friend still in the bathroom. I would like to know first if whose name is checked in this room 119.” She let me wait.

C’mon.

C’mon.

C’mon.

“It’s in Mr. Meyers ma’am.” My heart drops.

“Who are you calling, Abby?”

I jump and the phone calls from my hand. I hold my chest and my mouth dries. I swallow hard and take a deep breath when I see him picking up the phone from the floor. I blink and try to calm myself down.

“I call to ask for room service. You scare the hell out of me, Drew. Don’t do that again.” I glare at him. My heart is still racing as I squeeze my eyes shut and try to relax.

He keeps staring at me, and it scares me. I know he’s searching for something—searching for a lie?

“What?” I snap.

“Can’t you wait for me, and let me be the one to ask for room service?”

I roll my eyes. “Fine. Can I borrow a shirt?” I want to change from this dress.” I gesture my hand to my body.

He walks away from me, and he may have figured I am after something from him. I close my eyes and draw a deep breath. That was close.

When I open my eyes, he’s still staring at me, so intense that I might pee. Shit. He’s so tense and different than before. What is wrong with him. He’s not the best friend, the sweet and thoughtful Drew I met three years ago.

I’m starting to believe what they said is true, or maybe he’s just stress lately after breaking up with that Lucy girl. I grab the shirt he offered and go to the bathroom without looking back at scary Drew.

If I only listen to Sebastian I won’t be here with the possible psychopath, but I also need proof. What if I’m wrong or they’re wrong? I also don’t know if I can get out from here alive. I don’t know if he’s going to kill me here or drag me out of here and kill me in the middle of nowhere.

I startle when he knocks the door. “What do you what me to order, Abby?” He seems calm now. I shout to wait. I try to unzip my dress but it stuck in, and I can’t zip it down. Crap.

I open the door and peek. “Drew can you help me with zipper. It stuck in the middle and, I can’t unzip it down. I give him my back, then he comes closer to me, and every hair in my body stands, and I feel a shiver down my spine when his finger touches my skin.

He finally does it. “What is going on in the head of yours, Abby? Why are you so distant? You’re tense and jumpy.” He frowns and crosses his arms.

“Nothing. It’s just I’m stress lately.” Carp. Crap. My mind doesn’t seem to work properly when I’m scared. I’m not good at lying.

“Stress about what, Abby?” He looks curious and sad.

“Just drop it. Can I change now?” I snap, and he gets out of the bathroom, closing the door behind him.

“You don’t have to lock. I won’t hurt you.”

Crap. I change as fast as I can. I fold my dress and open the door. I walk to the bed and cover myself with comforter the hotel provided.

“Can I at least text my husband and tell him that I’m safe?”

He’s sitting on the opposite side of the bed and shows me his phone. “I forget my charger. My phone dies after your call. I jump up to the plane to surprise you without noticing I didn’t have a charger with me. I’ll buy when I get down.” How convenient?

I remove the comforter away and stand up to use the hotel phone.

“What are doing, Mackenzie?”

I freeze. He never calls me by that name before. In three years, I never mentioned it to him, and how did he even know?

I turn to face him. “What did you just call me?” I ask but came out more like a whisper. “How did you know my name, Drew?”

His hands are on his hips while looking up the ceiling as if he just bemoans doing something. He’s breathing hard, then he looks at me with intensity like a predator, gritting its teeth. He walks and stops in front of me, nose flaring. He bumps his shoulder into me and grabs the phone—no, maybe not the phone. I’m not so sure anymore.

My body freezes, and goosebumps erupt all over my skin. I shiver, and I clench my jaw to avoid stuttering.

“Go back to bed, Abbygail. You can talk to your husband when you wake up.”

I want to bolt away from him, but my feet feel like they’re glued to the floor. “I want to t-talk to him, p-please? I want t-to go home now. He must have been worried to death, p-please, Drew? I want to be with him.” I stutter and hug myself.

“Why are you so afraid of me, Abby? Since you came with me in the car you’re so tense. What did your husband tell you about me? I know it’s not because you’re cold like how you lied to my face. I know you well, Abby. You excel in many things, but not with lying.”

He pauses, then faces me. “Did he really fuck your brains out? That you can’t even stay away from him to come to see me? Did he warn you to stay away from me? Did he say that I’m a psychopath?” He yells, and I jump.

I’m like a deer caught in the headlights. I can’t talk. Every cell in my body freeze. Now I’ve seen a real horror, not in the movie—a real bad guy. He a devilish smile spread across his face.

I’ve never seen him like this before. I should have listened to my husband. The angel I called once my friend just turns into a devil himself.

Before I can breathe, he has me on my left arm with his right hand and yanks my hair with his left. I yelp with surprise, and before I can struggle, his mouth is already on mine.