5. Reality Bites

I was in one of Tylers hotels. I had called him after I left Elvis, asked him if the offer still stood.

He sent me the address after I told him his driver didn't have to come. It took some convincing but eventually he falltered.

I was standing in the lobby, waiting for the receiptionist to give me my room key.

She walked out of the back with a few forms I had to fill in which I did.

”Here you go, top floor. Use the elevator furthest down,” she said with a bright smile.

I thanked her and started walking to the elevator, my suitcase dragging behind me.

I got in and hoped for no one else to enter, I wanted the peace and quiet. And to my surprise, I didnt have any other guests riding the elevator.

The door opened up, and my heart stopped in my chest. I walked out into the biggest living room I had ever seen. There was a pool table by the wall, a bar in the corner, a large U-shaped couch in the middle and a plasma tv attached to the wall.

This wasn't a hotel room, this was an apparent. Bigger then the one I had.

I left my suitcase by the elevator and started walking around. An entire wall was floor to ceiling windows, overlooking the city.

The kitchen was through swing doors down the call. There were three bedrooms when you walked through the living room and down another hall. A small staircase led up to what I believe to be the master bedroom. It was the biggest out of all three.

And through the bedrrom, there were two doors that led into a huge walk in closet.

Every girls dream apartment.

But it was a loan.

It wasn't mine, and in a month, I'd have nowhere to live.

I’d have to get myself a new apartment and start looking for jobs that would take a twenty-one year old girl with no education or degree.

I picked up my phone and dialed Tylers number.

”Yes?”

”I wanted an ordinary room,”

”Is it not to your liking?”

”No, it’s, gorgeous. it’s perfect but it’s too much. Could you please see if you can,” I paused not knowning how to say it, ”Downgrade me,”

I heard Tyler chuckle on the other line, at least it sounded like it.

”There are no other rooms available, that was the only one.” I sighed, knowing I needed a place to live. I was here now, might as well make the most of it.

”Fine, but at least tell me how much you're paying so I can pay you back. I’ll start looking for an aprtment.” The line went silent. Nether one spoke and Tyler didn't answer.

I heard his heavy breaths on the other line.

”I own the hotel, Rose, I don't pay for a room. There is no hurry for you to find an apartment either, just enjoy it for now. There is wine in the cabinet and the kitchen is stocked up with food. Make yourself at home,”

But I didn't want to. I didnt want to make myself at home in a place I would never live. This was a dream home, for anyone, but it wasn't my home. I didn't want to live in some distorted fantasy for a month only to be hit with the harsh reality afterwards. It would only make things worse.

”Please,” his voice sounded strained.

I didnt understand why he was so condemned on me staying here when there were plenty of other places.

”Fine, I’ll stay and um, thank you,” I said and we hung up.

* * *

I had unpacked my suitcase and was meant to take a short nap. I ended up falling into a deep slumber and woke up when someone shook me awake.

My eyes jerked open and I looked at the intruder.

At first everything was foggy, I looked around the room, everything feeling unfamiliar.

My eyes then landed on a pair of ash-grey ones and I sat up.

”Noah?” I asked and rubbed my eyes. I saw that I was still in my jeans and blouse from yesterday. I hadn't even changed.

”Sleep well?” He asked me with a grin.

I nodded my head and yawned. I needed coffee.

I walked into the kitchen and saw that Tyler was there as well.

”Do you guys have key cards to this place?” I asked them questingly as I started digging In the cabinets for a coffee maker.

”Here,” Tyler came up behind me and opened a cabinet. He pulled out a few cartons of coffee patches and pointed to a machine.

”Which flavor?” He asked me when I didn't move.

Partly because didn't know what the hell to do and didn't want to look like a fool and partly because him gracing his body against mine, even with clothes between us, did something to me.

”just regular with milk,” I said and watched as he opened the top of the machine and placed the thing down. It all looked very complicated. Coffee shouldn't be complicated.

He placed a cup underneath and pressed two different buttons. After a while, the coffee poured down, looking creamy and fantastic.

He handed me the cup and I thanked him.

”So, back to the key cards,” I said and eyed them both.

”I, um, I own this penthouse,” he said.

”You what? So I’m staying in your home?”

”I don't usually stay here, just at times. Which is why you can have it.”

”And you can come and go as you please?” I said with a raised brow.

”Basically yeah.” He didn't seem to see the problem in that.

Noah got a phone call and left us alone. I drank my coffee and Tyler typed on his phone. He was wearing a suit, it hugged his body nicely. Something I shouldn't be thinking about.

”I just wanted to check on you,” he sounded unsure of himself. Like he was out of his depth.

”Why?”

”Yesterday, you sounded off." His voice turned colder and sterner as he spoke. Like he was trying to hide his intentions.

”I broke up with my boyfriend.” Tyler scoffed and nodded his head.

I glared at him, waiting for him to make eye contact with me.

”What’s funny?”

”i knew you would.”

”Imposible. I didn't even know I would break up with him.” I said and scoffed.

”I did.” The confidence in his was voice rising.

And I could see it in his eyes, he wasn't bluffing.

”How?”

Tyler exhaled a breath and stood up, his phone ringing.

”i have to take this.” He said and started walking away. He stopped by the elevator and turned around. His face looked serious, cold even.

”When we were at the restaurant, you said you had an apartment, you never said you had a home.” With that, he stepped in to the elevator, the doors closed and he was gone.

His words still lingering, fresh in my mind.

’You never said you had a home’

My heart tightened and I thought back to so many details and moments to see if there was anything else. Perhaps he was right, I had just been blind to the fact myself.

Maybe it was obvious that things weren't good. I didn’t want to live in the penthouse because I didn't want to get a distorted idea of how my life was, but had I been doing that exact thing with Elvis?

I broke up with him and today, I felt nothing. I didn't feel sad to not have him in my life.

I felt worried and a little frightened because he was all I had. Him, the guys, the aprtment, the job.

It was secure, safe. But it wasn't love. It was a distorted imagine of a life I thought I lived.