“Hey, babe.” Lucca grins, showing off his perfect smile. I cringe at the word babe. Why is he calling her a pet name? Does he know her?
I inspect her. She is pretty, with long auburn hair and big brown eyes. She seems to be closer to Lucca’s age, maybe a bit younger. Her shirt is tight, showing off her petite frame and large breasts.
“What can I do for you, handsome?” The receptionist giggles, and I suppress a gag. I already dislike her, and I don’t even know her.
Lucca leans against the counter. “Just looking to crash for a night. You wouldn’t have a room at the end available?”
“I might.” The girl smiles. “One room? For you and…” she trails off, her gaze swinging over to where I’m standing.
“My sister,” Lucca explains. “She’s underage, so I’ll share a room with her. Two beds if you have any available. I’m paying cash,” he adds, placing two twenty-dollar bills on the counter.
“No problem.” She types something into the computer that looks like it’s thirty years old, at the very least. If I didn’t see the screen light up myself, I’d be sure it wouldn’t even be running anymore.
“I do have the room at the very end free… and the one right next to it as well. So, if you want to spend some time away from the kid, you could come next door and maybe hang out with me later?”
I don’t know what bothers me more, her calling me the kid, her trying to get Lucca away from me, or the way Lucca smiles at her like he is actually considering it.
My stomach churns, and my chest constricts. A nasty feeling spreads through my body. A feeling that takes me a moment to recognize…
Jealousy.
I’m jealous. And surprised that it only now dawned on me… I have a crush on Lucca. It makes sense, the fluttering of butterflies in my stomach, the heat in my core pulsing with its own heartbeat every time he touches me.
“Here is your key. I’m Paula, by the way.” Paula grins, sliding the plastic card over to Lucca.
“Thank you, Paula.” Lucca smiles back but doesn’t offer his name. “Come on, Sis. Time to hit the hay.” He turns to me, throwing an arm around my shoulder.
Instantly, I relax. We walk out of the lobby, and Lucca releases me, putting distance between us. We climb back into the car and drive to the end of the building. Getting out of the car, we grab all the bags with the clothes we bought today and head to the room.
“I don’t want you to leave,” I blurt out as soon as we are inside.
“What are you talking about? I’m not leaving.”
Make yourself clearer, Claire.
“I mean, don’t go to the room next door with Paula.” I try really hard not to say her name with venom, but I fail miserably. The idea of Lucca being with another woman is unsettling, and even though I know I shouldn’t feel any way about it, I can’t help myself.
“I’m not.” Lucca chuckles, a sound I haven’t heard in a very long time. It warms my body all over like a sip of hot chocolate on the coldest winter day. “I won’t leave this room. Don’t you worry your pretty little head about that. Why don’t you take a shower? I have to make some phone calls.”
“Oh, okay…” I nod, feeling a little silly for thinking he was going to leave me. I rummage through the bags for a pair of pajamas and scurry into the small attached bathroom.
Using the hotel provided bar of soap, I wash my body head to toe before rinsing off with hot water. My hair feels dry, and the knots are going to be a pain to get out without conditioner, but at least I’m clean.
Turning off the water, I reach for the thin towel on the rack and dry off.
I stand in front of the mirror and stare at my reflection, wondering what Lucca sees when he looks at me. I’m a little scrawny, my boobs are just now taking shape, my belly is flat, and my hips barely have any curves to them.
I look like a teenager, but I haven’t felt like a kid in a long time. I’ve seen too much evil, experienced a kind of hardship that most people will never know. I lost my childlike innocence the day my mother left, and I haven’t seen the world through wondrous eyes in years.
I might live in the body of a teenage girl, but my mind is mature, and I feel like an adult in every way. If only I could make Lucca see it too.
With newfound determination, I quickly pull on my clothes and exit the bathroom. As soon as I open the door, I find Lucca eager to switch, squeezing past me to get into the bathroom. While he is showering, I take a seat on his bed and wait. I try not to think about him being naked in the bathroom.