“All right, my darling. I gotta get back to my patient. I want to hear all the details later.”
I glance at her over my shoulder and smile. “Sounds good.” Once she’s gone, I stare at my phone and turn it on. There are over a hundred text messages. My finger hovers over the envelope and when I press it, my eyes focus on Greyson’s texts. There are three words that stick out above the rest.
I love you.
9
Greyson
It takes me about thirty seconds into my conversation with Eli to realize Leah is heading back to Charlotte. One thing struck me as odd though—the fact that she didn’t have any luggage with her. No one leaves without their belongings, especially women. They always travel with something they can’t live without. Knowing where she was headed, well where I thought she would head, I finally drag my ass away from her door, but not before her mother comes sashaying down the hall. She smiles brightly when we make eye contact.
“Good morning, Greyson.”
“Morning, Mrs. Nelson. I was just uh—”
“Leah’s an adult, you don’t need to explain why you’re standing outside her room. But I will warn you, she’s not coming back.”
I hang my head. “I thought as much.”
“But you’ll find her at work tomorrow, I’m sure.”
I glance at Mrs. Nelson. She gives me a half shrug and a sly smile. “In fact, if you’re heading that way, maybe you can take her stuff to her?”
“I’d be happy to. I don’t want you to leave your vacation because of something I did.”
Mrs. Nelson laughs a bit. “It wasn’t just you, Greyson. Bryan can be a handful too.”
I stand there while Leah’s mom goes into her room. She comes back twenty long minutes later with Leah’s bags and hands them to me. “You should know—”
“You don’t need to explain anything to me, Greyson,” she cuts me off again. I have a feeling she likes to interrupt people and finish their thoughts for them. “I saw the pictures. I get it.” She winks and walks down the hall, leaving me confused. Am I to assume her mother is okay with Leah and I dating? If so, she’d be our only ally.
With her luggage in hand, I opt for the elevator this time and go back to my room. I start to pack and call Eli. I tell him about my encounter with Leah’s mom, and what my plan is and what I need from him. He promises to deliver and wishes me luck, which is good because I’m going to need it. I’ve done some crazy hairbrained things before in my life, but this one is going to take the cake.
Thankfully, the hotel sends a bellhop to my room to help in getting all my luggage downstairs. The only thing I don’t have are mine and Leah’s golf clubs, but we’ll be close enough to Charleston that we can drive back and get them. I force myself to think nothing but positive thoughts when it comes to Leah. One negative thought and I’ll start second-guessing myself. I do know for certain—she is worth it. She’s worth all of what I’m about to face. Not only today, but in the days and weeks to come. I want more than anything to run back to Vegas and sign our names on the dotted line, sealing our marriage as real.
While I follow the bellhop toward the elevator, I open my phone and look at my Instagram. I fully expect Bryan to have released a statement of his own about his sister and me. Media outlets are commenting that they want an interview. Women are commenting that they’re bummed. Men are giving me virtual high-fives, the likes on the photo are crazy, and the tags are too many for me to look through. I go right to Bryan’s account and find people leaving comments. He’s replied to a few by saying, “I have never spoken about my sister’s love life and I’m not about to start now. Please respect their privacy.”
Their not hers.
Is it possible Bryan has had a change of heart?
Nope, not in a million years. I’m not even remotely foolish enough to think he’s changed his mind.
“Mr. Jennings, we’ve brought your car around back. There is a lot paparazzi out front and we thought it would be better if you weren’t attacked as soon as we walk out of the hotel.”
“Thank you. I really appreciate this.” I reach into my pocket, pull out my wallet and open it, pulling out a couple hundred-dollar bills and handing them to the bellhop. “Share with whoever had the idea and is making this possible.”
He nods his head. “Thank you, sir.”
“No, thank you. I wouldn’t have thought about the paps being outside.”
He chuckles. “Ever since you and Mrs. Jennings returned, they’ve been camped out front.”