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Chapter 26
The Royal Rouge Hotel wasn’t unlike any others that had crossed their paths before. There was a friendly and almost homelike atmosphere in the quite halls. Brian let out a long—spent sigh and walked towards one of the upper-lobby windows. He looked out into the glow where clustered buildings made clear silhouettes against the breaking morning daylight. He wondered if she was out in that city somewhere.
Brian often had trouble sleeping in hotels. It wasn’t different for him to be wondering around the building as he was. He turned his head. Through an open door, came the sound of voices. Placing his hands casually in his jean pockets, he walked through the entryway, into a small game room. The lights were dim, and gave the walls a reddish-brown tint, reminding him of an old western movie.
There was a couple sitting at a small table, two men playing a restless game of pool, and a few people spread out at the bar.
Again he heard those voices, and turned to see the bartender and a young women talking quietly.
No, he thought, it wasn’t her. Couldn’t be.
He studied what he could see of her face. She was thin. A little too thin. Her eyes seemed empty as they gazed across the room.
He couldn’t seem to breath.
Finally being in the same room with her was unbearable. What was she doing here? Her body looked fragile, and so scared. Brian’s fist balled up unconsciously, what had Rob done to her?
Nevertheless, it was her. The girl he ached for. The seconds it took him to walk towards her seemed to last hours.
Reaching out his fingers, he touched her arm, and clenched his teeth when she flinched and turned around to face him.
“Hey.” He felt her body relax and watched her lips curve up.
“Brian.” Sierra barely noticed her hands trembling. She would feel her heart stop. What was he doing here? How had he found her? She wondered if she was dreaming. Her gaze fell on his soft eyes. She hadn’t realized how much she missed the look of them.
Brian took a breath. He had waited so long to tell her this. “Sierra I –“
“I’m sorry Brian, I have to go.” She didn’t want to her him speak. In a way she was scared of what he would say.
Brian shifted his body, pulling her against him. Letting his head fall, he buried his face in her neck, listened to her heart beating.
Slowly, he moved his lips up to her ear, “I love you.”
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