Chapter Nine
Sierra
“You made it!” I say as Ellie walks into my suite a little before nine a.m. I’m in the bathrobe I put on after sneaking out of the Midnight God’s suite on the floor above. My hair’s still damp from a quick shower, but I’m feeling too lazy to blow dry it. Given the humidity in New Orleans, my curls won’t stay tamed anyway.
“I know! Finally!” Ellie huffs dramatically, bending over like she’s just hiked a tall hill. Then she straightens up and adjusts her glasses. Today, she’s wearing black plastic ones. They don’t have a prescription—her vision is perfect. But she claims they make her face look slimmer and sexier.
I personally think men who don’t approach her because of the glasses—or lack thereof—don’t deserve her. Ellie is gorgeous, with her dark brown hair curling effortlessly around her shoulders. Her eyes match the color of her hair perfectly, and the bright fire-engine-red lipstick she loves to wear does magical things to her mouth, drawing your attention to it like nothing else.
Since she values comfort above all else, she’s in a stretchy blue shirt, purple yoga pants and sneakers. She leans in and hugs me tightly.
“Sorry I missed your big celebration night,” she says.
“Hey, it wasn’t your fault.” I hug her back.
“I’m so mad I missed the party.” She pulls back. “It must’ve been wild. How late did you stay? You still have a mask outline on your face.”
I touch my face and feel the indentation from the edge of the mask I fell asleep in. “I actually didn’t stay that late. It’s just that I kept the mask on all night.”
“How come?”
My cheeks heat. “It’s…a long and exciting story.”
“Argh! I missed all the fun. I want to sue that damn airline!”
“If you do, let me know and I’ll join the suit.”
“I’m adding it to my to-do list.” She makes an exaggerated show of tapping her phone. “Now, you need to tell me everything.”
Laughing, I pick up the hotel phone. “I will. But let’s order breakfast first. I’m starving.”
We order scrambled eggs, bagels and coffee and sit down on the couch. The ottoman in front of me reminds me of how the Midnight God took care of me last night. And protected me from Todd.
I already miss my oh-so-hot savior. Would it be weird if I went upstairs and knocked on his door? Asked him for his name and number? Or would it look clingy and desperate?
“So,” Ellie says, pulling me out of my impulsive thoughts, “what happened?”
“Well, first of all, Todd happened.”
She gasps. “What?”
I give her a blow-by-blow of the confrontation, with all the details I can recall.
“Oh my God…” Ellie’s eyes are huge as her fingers cover her mouth. “I didn’t know he could get physical like that.”
“Me either. I was totally shocked that he grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. He’s never done that before.”
“Guess he’s super desperate to have you undo the divorce.” She does an as-if eye roll. “Why didn’t he put in the effort to make you feel special before? It would’ve been easier.”
“Ha. Who knows?”
“So how did you get him to respect your boundaries?” Ellie looks at me. “I’m not saying you aren’t a strong woman, but Todd’s not a small guy.”
“Well—”
The doorbell cuts me off. I stand up and have the bellboy set up breakfast for us on the coffee table. I sign the slip and shut the door firmly behind him.
Ellie is pouring two cups of coffee. “Caffeine will help you tell it better.” She winks.