Chapter 4: Empty hold
"There you go," The receptionist lifted our key card with a funny enthusiasm. "One bedroom, enjoy your stay!"
"Thank you, miss." Ethan gave her a curt nod as he took the key. Turning, he pressed a palm on the small of my back and guided me towards the lift lobby.
"Emily totally was hitting on you." I sneered at him having picked up the receptionist's name. I could bet that the next time we came down, she would have popped the top two buttons on her blouse to reveal some cleavage.
Ethan ignored my comment. Of course, he was probably used to the women swooning around him. I had to deal with this when I was Christian, but I had never have to deal with it around Ethan. Maybe because I had never taken notice of Ethan properly.
Ethan being Ethan, he had to pull both our luggage trolleys to prove his manhood. Even though I had tried to point out that there was little effort needed to pull any kind of trolley, especially mine.
It was a chilly night. I rubbed my nose against the back of my index finger, Ethan's windbreaker sleeve making a noise against my skin as I did. "You cold, love?" Ethan asked gently, pulling me into the side as we rose in the elevator.
Reflexively, I wrapped my arms around his waist and drew in his warmth. Four days and three nights with Ethan had only benefitted our relationship. As usual, Ethan was a breath of fresh air. I love being with him. We had our moments…
"Can I have one?" I mustered my most convincing pout as I pointed at the little puppy in the basket. It was an adorable puppy, it's skin as white as snows and it's eyes the colour of the stormy clouds.
Ethan crossed his arms like an irritated parent, "You're not old enough to have a puppy, Ana." I intensified my pout,pointing at the puppy as it looked up expectantly at the both of us. "The answer's still no."
"Why not?" I whined like a little kid, tugging at his coat.
"Whatever would we do with a dog in the middle of our road trip?" Ethan pursed his lips at the thought. "Best Western does not allow pets, Ana."
It made me slip into my frown further, my eyebrows furrowing in sadness. Even though I knew he would never buy me a dog, it was still vaguely fun to behave in this way. Ethan himself was having a blast, which confused the pet shop owner greatly.
"Come on, baby." Ethan looped his arm around my shoulder snugly, tucking me under his chin. "Let's get back in the car." And so I did, leaving my grey-eyed puppy behind.
We opened the door to a beautiful room. At first, my treacherous mind would not cease in comparing Christian's luxury suites to these mere commoner rooms. But truth was, as appealing as living like a Queen was, being with Ethan compensated for that. Besides, Ethan had insisted in paying for all these lodgings himself, I would not be ungrateful.
"This room's prettier than the previous one." I told Ethan as he propped our luggages up on the stand.
With a sneaky smile, he winked at me and leaped onto the king-sized bed. "Since this is our last night on the road... I don't think you'll be getting much sleep tonight."
"It's actually shocked me that you've been behaving the past few nights," I teased and winked back at him, "I wasn't too sure about sharing a bed with you."
Throwing on a mock cowboy accent, Ethan rolled over and tipped back his imaginary hat. "Well ma'am, it's tiring steering mah ole steed."
I laughed and nodded, "That's what you get for being so stubborn." I would have driven if he let me. Ethan had insisted once again. "Now, I'd like to change into something more comfortable." Turning, I began opening my luggage.
Ethan lay on the bed, quite and deliberating, as I flipped through all my clothes and sorted. Kate had packed all the prettiest dresses and paired sets of clothing's for me. It was easy to decide what to wear.
"You should wear one of…" Ethan's voice was suddenly behind me. "THESE!" He squealed like a little girl, snatching out the red lingerie that Kate had hidden in my clothes.
Embarrassed, I tried to take them back. "ETHAN!" I hollered, jumping for the see-through fabric as he lifted it into the air far above my reach. He was chortling uncontrollably. I was going to kill Kate.
"Come on, Steele!" He begged, "Put it on!"
"Ethan Kavanagh," I crossed my arms sternly like he had done yesterday, "If you like it so much, why don't you put it on!"
A playful smirk danced across his lips, "Challenge accepted."
Just as he was distracted, I grabbed the fabric from his hands and tossed it towards the toilet. "I want to change!"
"Then change!" He blustered, sitting back onto the bed as if waiting for a show.
"Hi-lar-ious." I narrowed my eyes at him. Just as I had taught myself when I was little, I shimmered into the dress with my shirt and shorts still on. With much grace, I slid my shirt down my body along with my shorts.
"Hey! That's cheating." Ethan scolded, "I want my money back!' He laughed carelessly, his eyes caressing every inch of my body as he spoke.
"If you behave, I'll let you try on that skanky piece of fabric."
He gave me a full-blown pout, reaching out from the bed for my hand. I laced my fingers with his and he brought the back of my palm to his lips. "I've got an idea," his eyes glimmered, "put on your coat, let's go out for dinner."
"What? No room service?" I said sarcastically, directing my accusation at Ethan's obsession with room service.
"Oh quit teasing." Ethan groaned playfully, leaping off the bed and hauling me out of the room in one quick stroke.
CPOV:
The anger rose through my blood system, tainting every inch of me to the point that it bubbled into my vision. I hated myself to the core of the earth and back. While I was brooding in my own little bubble, I had allowed and practically encouraged the bastard.
My jaws clenched as I watched the footage that Welch had managed to secure for me. Surely, the bastard could afford a plane ticket for two. Why the fu** would the son of a bi*ch choose to take my girl across the United States of America in a death trap of a vehicle?
I could not bring myself to watch anymore, slamming the macbook air shut and tossing it to the other side of the car.
"Sir?" Taylor raised an eyebrow and I caught it through the mirror.
The only words I could manage through gritted teeth were, "Just drive."
Instantly, my hands flew to cover my face. I pressed my palms against my cheeks and closed my eyes, trying to relax and draw any bit of relaxation I could. The fact was I had let Ethan slip away with Ana. I had watched her laugh when he spoke, chiming her little giggle that once was mine.
I was in every way superior to Ethan Kavanagh. All except the one that truly mattered. I was inferior when it came to Ana. Every inch of me envied him. Most recently, Ana had said she could not even stand the sight of me. But here she was prancing about happily with Ethan, she surely had no problem looking him in the face and smiling.
Ugh. I hate this jealousy. I have never felt this way. It feels as if little hot red ants are filling me up to the brim, gnawing me from the inside out. I swear I was hollow, a large part of me desiring to never feel again.
"Sir, we're here."
Perfect. Opening the door before Sawyer could, I jumped out and stalked towards the motel. My Ana was a princess and should be treated like one. I judged the place with utmost disgust. Ana deserved the absolute best and this certainly was not it. Unfortunately, Ana was not in it for the money, if not, she would have been mine by now.
The blonde receptionist perked up on my arrival. I watched as her jaw dropped dramatically and she straightened up, tugging at her blouse that was already too low for my liking.
"G-g-g-ood d-d-d-d-ay, sir." She stammered, nervous.
I rolled my eyes. It's just a face. "I'm looking for a Kavanagh."
"Kavanagh?" She sounded breathless, with no doubt, her imaginations running through her head already.
The only person I wanted breathless and on the floor right now was Ana. But if Ethan wanted a good beating, he would do too. "Yes, a Mr. Kavanagh that checked in an hour ago."
She gulped, clearly remembering him. "You're a friend?"
Friend? No, we were bloody love rivals and at the moment he had the upper hand. "Of course, he asked me to pick up something from his room. What's the number again?"
Her nametag flashed Emily. The poor girl looked petrified, knowing full well that disclosing customer information was against all ethics. I believe she needed a little push. Tilting my head lower ever so slightly, I looked up at her through my lusciously long eyelashes. I watched as her eyes widened, clearly affected. "Emily," I let my eyes smolder, "I'm in a rush."
"307." She whispered.
"Thank you, pumpkin." Sweetheart was solely reserved for Ana.
Striding towards the lift lobby, Taylor and Sawyer stepped to flank me. I narrowed my eyes at the men who had their chests squared, clearly preparing themselves to break up a fight. They were right, I was going to wrap my hands around his little neck and squeeze.
By now he would have tried to kiss my Ana again. My inner demons were already torturing me with the fact that he had tasted her sweet lips once, twice, I had no idea how many times before. Those lips were mine. Christian Grey did not share. My blood boiled. I will win Ana back. I had to.
Standing outside from 307, I mentally armed myself for the battle I was about to fight. My body tensed, all muscles flexing to size myself up compared to the little punk. Unfortunately, if he was anything like his sister, I was really in for hell.
"Sir."
"WHAT." I hissed, annoyed that Sawyer would interrupt my thought process.
"The key." He lifted the card and placed it in my waiting palm.
"Right, thank you." I mouthed a sorry to the floor where he could not see.
Gripping the card tightly in my hand, I pumped myself up to win this battle. Anastasia Rose Steele was the only one for me and despite all the wrong I had committed against my little white lamb, it only made me want to set things right even more. I had to win her heart and treasure it.
Reflexively, I swiped the card and watched the strip of the handle turn green. I was clear to go. With the same hand, I jammed the door handle down and stepped into the room. It was… empty.
"WHERE ARE THEY?" I snapped, baring my teeth at my men. Had that Emily given me the wrong room? They had just checked in about an hour ago. Surely, they would just be settling in by now.
Scanning the room, my eyes fell onto the luggage. I grimaced at the telltale teddy bear key chain on Ana's luggage. This was her room. I stepped in further and my jaw fell, jealously replacing the anger within my veins. Even though the master bed was enough to induce my anger, it was the slim red fabric across it that threw me over the edge.
"WHERE THE F*** ARE THEY?!" I hollered, throwing the card against the floor.
APOV:
I could get used to this. The warmth Ethan and I shared as we held hands and strolled across the roadside. It was a familiar comfort, one that had been there for me for the longest of times. It was easy to fall into the ease of something like this, something so safe, trusting and secure. Even in the silence, there was something unspoken that was felt.
I tilted my head to the side, observing as Ethan's eyes were transfixed on the bright and round move above. His beautiful eyes reflected the white directly, glistening with the mysterious factor the moon possessed. Just like Kate, Ethan had been there to pick me up whenever I fell.
Ethan's face broke into a gently cherubic smile as I watched him think of something. "Ana." He said, my name sliding off his lips. His eyes remained on the white globe above.
"Ethan," I said back, resisting the gurgle of laughter that was going to escape my lips.
"Do you remember the first time I met you?"
"Of course I do." I chimed, "I thought you were Kate's boyfriend."
He chuckled, his chest rising and falling. "Yeah and I thought you were Kate's girlfriend."
I shook my head at him, still in disbelief. "The heart believes what it wants to believe and you boys…" I shook my head harder, "Have a thing for girl on girl action."
Ethan's eyes fell upon me, an electric shock striking me as he caught me staring. Quickly, I looked away, the colour rising in my cheeks. "Quite the contrary, I was pretty upset when I thought you were curvy."
"Curvy?"
"Not straight." He shrugged, explaining his own terminology. "I remembered thinking 'what a beautiful girl'." Before the world could swallow me up to hide my blush, he had to continue. "'How I wish she were mine.'"
"Your girlfriend must have thought that pretty funny." I tried to divert the attention.
"Please. We both know I was focused on my academics then, there was no time for chicks." Ethan squeezed my hand.
"Yes, you were a nerd." I laughed.
In that moment, I realized how similar Ethan and I were on so many different levels. For one, we had both evaded love for the past few years of our lives under the focus of academics. Being with Christian had been an adrenaline rush, but maybe what I really need was someone that reassured me.
A breeze blew past us, brushing my cheeks and chilling them, sending an involuntary shiver up my spine. I flinched. Ethan let go of my hand and I looked up at him. Instantly, he wrapped his arm around me like a shield against the wind, drawing me close under his wing. He had let me wear his jacket, yet, he was bearing the cold for me.
Someone like Ethan.
The blower's daughter; Damien Rice
Empty; Click 5
You were meant for me; Jewel
Good Day; Click 5