“So now I can’t call you by your first or last name? We’re running out of names here.”
“I don’t like Avery.”
“And you don’t like Scarlett?”
“I don’t like when you call me Scarlett.”
“Well, then what the hell do you want me to call you?”
“‘Hey you’ is just fine.”
That impudent swell of anger started in my gut, and I grit my teeth together to hold it in. “Hey you, I’m not spending eighty bucks on a scrap of clothing. Find some shirts and pants, and let's go.”
“What about a dress?” She cocked her hip to the side.
My eyes ripped up from that audacious hip of hers, landing right on the challenge sitting in the green of her gaze. “Pick something now or I'll pick it for you.”
She held my stare for all of three seconds before turning and sauntering away from me, off towards the more sensible clothing like I told her.
“Spoiled, stubborn brat,” I cursed beneath my breath, following in her trail of lavender.
Twenty minutes and $230 dollars later, we both had enough clothes to make it through the rest of the trip and were standing on the other side of our hotel room for the night.
Leaning against the doorframe, Scarlett rested her head against it as she watched me fiddle with the keycard. “How’s my dad feel about you bunking with me for the night? I bet he’s super thrilled about it.”
“Actually,” sliding the keycard into the lock, the door opened as I turned my head to her, “it was his idea.”
Just then, before her signature cruel smile took hold and owned her expression completely, something else flipped through too quickly for her to catch and hide it.
Sadness.
“Good to know my dad doesn’t give a flying fuck about me staying in a hotel room with a total stranger,” she said, sarcasm biting her every word.
“Or he just knows I’m trustworthy.” I pushed the hotel door open, holding it for her to pass through. “Get inside and I’ll uncuff you.”
She popped an eyebrow up at me. “You first.”
Right. Because she can’t stand the idea of a gentleman.
I almost fucking forgot.
“We’re not doing this again.” I wasn’t about to show her my back and let her take off again. Standing below me, fight sparked to life in Scarlett's eyes, and I failed to hold back a sigh. I was too exhausted for this shit.
“I told you back at the—hey!”
Her rant was cut short as I not-so-gently nudged her inside the room. She righted herself as she planted her feet on the carpet inside, offense burning hot across her cheeks as her mouth popped open.
“Did you just push me?”
“Don’t be so dramatic. I guided you by the small of your back.” Shutting the door behind me, I heard the click of the lock, and the tension today had put in my muscles finally eased.
“Felt a hell of a lot like a shove,” she argued.
“You’ll get over it.”
The ache in my back from driving all day cramped up as a reminder when I laid eyes on the sweet relief for it across the room. The room wasn’t much, but it would do for the night. Two queen size beds, a bathroom, a T.V,and a small balcony overlooking a row of dumpsters.
Charming.