Drama
Fell In Love With My Roomy Chapter 78
"What's going on?" I turn to Kent and ask, to which he responds with a smile.
"Then I'll instruct you to cross the street," he says, nodding towards the group of people gathered on the other side.
We reach the other side, and I look up at him. He can only laugh and shake his head.
"Tell me," I plead, and he smiles.
"Okay, okay," he concedes. "We're going to see the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular. The shows started last week, and I managed to secure tickets," he answers, revealing the tickets from his coat, leaving me in shock.
"What? Are you serious?"
"I'm not joking, honey," he assures me while showing me the tickets. I break into a delighted dance, unable to contain my excitement. He grins, pleased with my reaction, and I let out a squeal.
"Oh my God," I exclaim, grabbing his arm and shaking it. "This is so amazing, and I didn't even have to ask for it."
"I just thought you might enjoy it," he explains, and my heart swells.
This guy was a fool. How could he have looked at me a few weeks ago and claimed he could never make me happy? Right now, I couldn't be happier.
"You're so nice," I whisper, and he rolls his eyes. He leads me to the front of the line and hands our tickets to the doorman for scanning.
"Come on, let's go find our seats," he suggests as we enter. The interior is stunning, with a beautiful yellow and brown patterned carpet and high ceilings.
"This place is gorgeous," I whisper and latch onto his arm as we walk. "Buildings like this are no longer made, and I love them."
"You'd renovate an old dump just for the crown moldings, wouldn't you?" he teases, and I nod without hesitation.
"I appreciate old places because they're unique," I explain, continuing into the theater. "Are they good?"
"I've always lived in new places, with no faulty wiring or ghosts," he replies as we locate our seats, and I chuckle.
"I'd make friends with the ghosts and fix the faulty wires," I whisper, and he laughs. "You need to learn to see the good in things."
"I'm working on it," he shrugs, taking a seat, and I steal a glance at him from the corner of my eye.
Is there something more between us, or am I just imagining it? Every fiber of my being urges me to get closer to him because it feels like there might be. I'm not sure how to stop feeling that way.
The Rockettes' costumes and dance performances are everything I had hoped for. I'm tempted to watch the entire show again immediately after it ends, as they are so elegant, talented, and beautiful.
On the way back to the hotel, there's an air of excitement. I'm touched by how hard he worked today and how much he had to handle. It brings a smile to my face, knowing he's making my life easier after my breakup. Yes, I'm doing him a favor, but he's not just showing me around the city. It's lovely and sweet.
Upon returning to the hotel, I take a soothing hot shower to unwind and prepare for my interview the next day. I have my research notes ready, rehearsed extensively prior to my trip, and outlined the most captivating aspects of my work. Nevertheless, I'm feeling quite nervous.
Exiting the large glass shower, I dry off and slip into the bathrobe hanging behind the door. I head to the sink to commence my nightly routine, which includes brushing my teeth and tending to my skincare. When I'm stressed, I always stick to the best routine I can, as it helps me relax.
I head back to the bedroom and find Kent in the living room, engrossed in his phone. Sorting through my suitcase, I lay out the clothes I intend to wear the next day on a chair in the corner, along with some clean underwear.
Next, I pick up a tank top and a pair of sleep shorts, walk over to the door, and close it for some privacy. Once I'm dressed, I plug my phone in and set several alarms for the morning. Afterward, I repack my suitcase and slide it off the bed. I open my laptop for some last-minute studying.
I also have paper notes in my bag, which I cross-check. Donning my blue-light glasses to help me concentrate, I delve into my work.
After a while, there's a knock on the door. Kent opens it and sticks his head inside. "You alright?"
"Hmm? Oh, yeah, just going through everything again," I assure him. "If you need me to move, let me know."
"No, I'll just go to the bathroom to change. You stay," he replies, shrugs, gathers his things, and exits the room once more.
As I prepare for bed, I can hear him going through his own nighttime routine in the bathroom. I'll have to repeat this process all over again tomorrow.
I bring my laptop into the main room, place it on the desk, and plug it in. My notes and glasses remain on the desk for the morning.
Kent is in the room when I return, shirtless. My eyes get the best of me as I sneak a glance at him: his muscles, his abs, his shoulders, and those two lines on his hips that vanish beneath the edge of his gym shorts.
"Everything alright?" He chuckles, and I look away, feeling embarrassed. "See something you like?"
"It's nice to know that all your time in the gym is paying off," I say nonchalantly, trying to keep my composure. "I was half expecting you to be involved with an underground casino or even the mafia."
"I'm no criminal," he retorts as he pulls a sweater over his chest, ending my playful banter. "So, what do you want to do? Or do you just want to call it a night?"
"I'm not really tired, but if I weren't here now, I'd feel guilty. Considering how important tomorrow is, I wouldn't be able to enjoy going anywhere else afterwards."
"You're quite...disciplined," he remarks with a shrug, grabbing his bag from the bed. "Shall we discuss sleeping arrangements now?"
"I don't mind if you're in here or not, as long as you stay close," I mention while sitting on my bed, answering a phone call.
"Alright," he chuckles, giving an amused shrug. "What would you like to do?"
"Maybe watch a movie?" I suggest with a shrug, leaning against the headboard. He smiles.
"That sounds good. Someone still needs to introduce me to Die Hard," he says smugly, and I roll my eyes.
"Alright, put it on," I sigh, and he nods.
"I'll raid the minibar and get some snacks."
"Don't do that, it's way too pricey and..." I trail off, and he looks at me as if to say, "Really? This is where you draw the line when it comes to money?!"
"You don't mind, do you?"
"Not in the slightest," he smirks and heads into the main room. I sigh, thinking about spending the night in bed with Kent and hoping nothing goes wrong.
When he returns, he tosses a bunch of snacks onto the bed, turns off the lights in the main room, and closes the doors to our room.
"So, help yourself. I'll look for the movie," he instructs, and I eagerly survey the snack spread, feeling as excited as I did when I was a child. So far, I don't think the movie is all that great, but Kent is captivated by every moment. He's clutching a tube of Pringles to his chest and seems deeply engrossed in the film.
I reached for a wrapped cupcake, craving something sweet. Taking a bite, I pondered a subtler way to get closer to him.
"Is that so?" He inquired, eyeing the dessert I was holding.
"Not bad," I nonchalantly replied, using my finger to scoop some icing. "You should give it a try," I teased, smearing frosting on his cheek. He seemed taken aback by my playfulness, and I just offered a smile before licking the last bit of frosting off my finger.
"Really?" He asked, unimpressed, and I chuckled. I leaned down to take another bite, but he pushed the cupcake into my face with his hand, and I gasped as it smeared all over my nose and mouth. "I figured you should try it again."
"You jerk!" I laughed, shaking my head, and placed the cupcake on the nightstand. "I can smell it!"
"If you sniff it hard enough, it might make its way into your mouth," he quipped, so I leaned over, attempting to push him in jest. However, he seized my wrists and tugged me closer. I struggled to break free, but I was still covered in frosting and cake, and we had to sleep in the same room that night. "I'm surprised you'd do that!"
"Anything goes," he laughed, nonchalantly shrugging. "The look on your face was priceless."
"You monster, I just showered," I grumbled, trying to extricate myself from his grasp. However, we ended up getting closer. He pulled me a little harder, and I ended up on my knees beside him, attempting to break free.
"Go grab a new one," he suggested, letting go suddenly, and I tumbled towards him. My hand landed on his chest, feeling strong muscles beneath my palm.
"S-sorry," I murmured, concerned about how foolish I must look with frosting all over me. My stomach churned as his eyes darkened.
"Don't be," he whispered, placing his hand on my hip, drawing me nearer. His forwardness surprised me, as it wasn't his usual demeanor. Still, considering my apprehension, I welcomed it. "Can I taste that frosting now?" he asked with a confident grin, rendering me breathless.
"I let you have a taste," I replied, my cheeks reddening.
"I can't reach," he quipped, his hands moving up my ribcage. As he leaned in close and our lips met, I gasped, and my surprise went straight up. We'd only kissed once, and I didn't think he'd allow it to happen again. Yet now, he appeared enthusiastic and far too agreeable.
He placed his hand on my thigh, pulling me onto his lap. As his lips danced over mine, I got lost in the moment. He set the pace for this kiss, and I hoped it wouldn't become overwhelming. His hands continued their journey up my back, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, cherishing our closeness.
Nothing felt amiss, and I had no concerns. It all felt right and wonderful. I couldn't believe how strong our attraction was.
My fingers trailed through his hair, something he'd never allowed before and something I'd always desired. It was soft, not too short, and smooth, as my nails gently grazed his scalp.
He groaned, clutching my hips and pulling me closer. Everything was going so well, I was losing my grasp on right and wrong, and my longing for him intensified. My mind was pleading for him.
I shifted my hips, swaying back and forth, wanting to draw nearer and leave my past with a loser behind. I was eager to find our rhythm together.
"Oh man," he mumbles, moving his hands lower, resting them on my backside and making it easier for me to distance myself from him. As soon as I sense his closeness between my legs, I pause, filled with apprehension. It snaps me back to reality, reminding me of our actions.
"What's wrong?" he inquires, his breathing heavy, and I bite my lip, still somewhat smeared with frosting.
"I, uh..." I take my time, glancing around until I spot a box of hotel tissues on the nightstand. I grab them, tear one out, and use it to wipe my face.
"Juls, what's happening?" He questions, redirecting my focus from the task of cleaning.
"Nothing happened; I just... it's been a while since we've been this close," I whisper, shaking my head, and inadvertently transferring frosting to his face.
"How was it?"
"No, no, it was good," I reply, discarding the used tissue on the nightstand. Now that our kiss has ended and I'm still seated on his lap, I feel conflicted. "It was wonderful," I affirm, and he gazes back at me with his green eyes. "It's just that you said we wouldn't do that again and that you couldn't."
"I was going to," he swiftly responds. "Every day, I wanted to see you, and I despised seeing you with him. I... Juls, I missed you so much. I was so angry at myself for telling you to go back to him because when we're together, I feel like a better version of myself."
"You missed me?" I inquire, a smile starting to appear on my face.
"I longed for you," he repeats, his words filled with longing. "Are you sure?"
"I am," I assert, and he inhales deeply, visibly delighted that I'm by his side. "This trip was the last one."
"This was a fortunate mistake," he says with a shrug, raising his hand to cup my face. "Please, come here." He pleads for a kiss, so I wrap my arms around his shoulders and press our chests together, but I don't kiss him; I just hug him. Being missed in this way feels wonderful.
"You'll need to elaborate on this more," I say softly, and he nods. "But not tonight."