The Boy I Hate(51)

Tristan looked over his shoulder to Samantha, where she violently shook her head. She couldn’t stay the night with him. Not after their too close moment the night before. Not alone.

He turned back to the woman and put his wallet back in his pocket “That’s okay, we’ll go somewhere else.”

He pushed off the counter to leave, but before they could exit the building, a high-pitched squeak caused him to turn around.

“Sir!” the young woman yelped. “We’re the only hotel in town. Anything else is over a hundred miles away. ”

Tristan closed his eyes, ran his hands through his hair and dropped to a squat. Like the whole world had become too heavy for him to bear.

Samantha’s heart lurched in her throat and she stepped forward. “You know, one room will be fine.” She turned toward Tristan, nodding. “It will be fine.” She walked closer, wanting nothing more than to pull him to his feet. “I was being silly. It will be fine.”

He rose to his feet, the crease in his forehead softening a bit, but he pulled out his wallet again and placed his card on the counter. Samantha shook her head, opening her purse to pay. “I’ll get it,” she muttered. But he ignored her and shoved the card farther on the counter toward the receptionist. “It’s one room, Samantha.”

She swallowed hard, because as silly as this was, she could see he needed this. To feel like he was in control. Like he was taking care of the situation. Like he was somehow fixing things. She nodded once, then turned around and allowed him to pay. When her cell began vibrating in her pocket, she walked toward the door to the courtyard. “Excuse me, I’ll be right back.”

She pushed through the glass doors and walked a good distance over to the magnolia tree by the pool “Hello?” she answered softly.

“Hey!” Steven said. “Finally. God, it’s been hard to get ahold of you. I got your message. Are you okay? You need anything?”

Samantha let her back rest on the smooth bark, lolling her head back and taking in the peaceful yard around her. “We’re fine. It’s only the radiator cap. Can you believe it? I had no idea such a thing was so important.”

Steven laughed in response. “Me either, honestly.”

She nodded, set her bag on the ground, and turned to face the pool. It was completely empty, so peaceful.

“Other than that, are things going okay?”

She took a step forward, a tightness in her belly growing with each second. “Yeah. How are things with you? How’s the new gig?”

There was a smile in his voice. “Busy…” He went on to tell her about his boss, about working until eight at night, and how he’d already lost five pounds. But then he cleared his throat, and she realized there was something he needed to say.

“I’ve actually been trying to get hold of you for a while now,” he said. His voice lowering before he spoke again. “They’re sending me to San Francisco this weekend. I won’t be able to make it to the wedding.”

Samantha’s knees went weak, and she grabbed hold of the bench in front of her to hold herself steady. “What do you mean? Can’t you get out of it?”

“Sam, I’m not going to tell them I can’t go. It’s a huge opportunity.”

“But the wedding has been planned for months!”

“I know, but when your boss needs you for a favor, you do it. The fact he wanted me there is a big deal.

She closed her eyes, thinking about all the times Renee had warned her about this. About him always putting work and his dreams before her. “What about me? What about what I want, what I need?”

“Samantha, don’t blow this out of proportion—”

“What? You’re acting like I’m being ridiculous, but I told you about this six months ago.”

“I know, but plans change. This is a really important step in my career, Sam. I’m sorry it means I’m going to have to let you down, but I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

Before she could open her mouth to respond, he muffled the phone. “My boss is coming. We’ll talk when you get home.”

He was gone. Leaving her with tears rolling down her cheeks. Tears of rejection and anger. Of confusion, frustration, and embarrassment. She looked down to her phone and opened up a text:



Samantha: No need to talk. We’re over. I’m done.



She closed her eyes, her body trembling. She meant every word of it. With every fiber of her being. Every drop of blood, sweat, and tears she’d put into their relationship. She was done. She put her phone in her back pocket, then turned around to see Tristan watching. Standing in the path that led straight to her. His legs were braced apart, his hands stuffed deep in the pockets of his jeans. “You okay?”