Two Arts

Chapter 8

A.N. This chapter is a bit longer than usual, enjoy ⭐️

I took up Bailey's advice on the cold shower. Not that it did anything on the front of cooling my thoughts off, but it probably improved my general physical condition.

I barely applied any makeup. I wasn't truly worried about the possibility of Sadie seeing me and being surprised by how my features looked. She had woken up next to my clean face enough times. We were way past the worrying-about-makeup stage.

I looked up her hotel and realized it was going to be on the other side of Central Park, my best way to get there was going to be my motorcycle.

Although September wasn't over yet the temperatures had lowered significantly, and on my bike, the wind had already become strong enough to make me uncomfortable.

I opted for a pair of thicker black jeans and the black padded leather jacket that my mom Laura had gotten me specifically for my rides.

I slipped a hair tie on my wrist and I was ready to go.

I listened to my heartbeat all the way to the luxurious hotel.

I unsuccessfully tried to drown the regular rhythmic noise with the roaring of the motorcycle's muffler, likely causing annoyance to everyone around me, but I couldn't bring myself to care right then, overwhelmed by my own feelings and emotions.

I texted Sadie from the lobby of the hotel, my helmet hooked over my forearm.

I need a keycard for the elevator

After only one minute she answered.

I called down, they'll give you one

I swallowed and my eyes locked with the man's at the reception of the fancy hotel as I walked in his direction.

"Good evening, I am a guest, room 2002," I channeled all of the years of formal events I had had to attend with my moms and willed myself to not sound like a scared little child.

The elevator ascended way too fast for my comfort, I watched the numbers roll one on top of the other almost as quickly as my breathing.

I passed a hand through my hair, suddenly conscious of the way it looked after sitting in the helmet.

Floor 78.

The feminine prerecorded voice invited me to step out of the fast metallic box.

I stared at the golden direction plaque indicating to which side I needed to walk toward for the room I was searching for.

Was I a fool?

What did I think would happen?

What did I want to happen?

I willed my organs to stick with their designated spots and knocked at the broad wooden door.

My heart came to a full stop from the moment my knuckles left the door until it was fully open in front of me, and then it began to race, to the point I was afraid an ambulance was going to be my only way out of there.

Seeing Sadie sober was not for the faint of heart.

I took my time to take in her image, in the light of the sunset that was coming through from the floor-to-ceiling windows of her suite.

She was wearing loose cream-colored shorts and a thick oversized brown cardigan. She looked small in that outfit, innocent, not the girl who had texted me provocative messages the previous night.