Requited Romance

POV: Quinn

I rolled over and sat up in the motel bed. It was still dark outside in the early morning hours of 4am. Neil’s snoring outline contrasted against the curtains that barely hid the glaring, outdoor lights. He had already left cash on the nightstand.

‘Thank God’, I thought, as I slipped on my underwear, heels and dress. I grabbed the cash, my keys and slipped out the door as quietly as I could be.

Neil never minded when I left early, unlike some of the other guys who insisted on hours of cuddles and fake sleeping on my end. But... they did pay more, so it was worth it sometimes.

I briskly walked down the road with my arms crossed to hide my shivering as I walked back to Addy and I’s apartment. I was tired and dreading the a.m. shift at work that started in only six hours.

Tim, the club owner, only puts me on one a.m. shift a week, as long as I make him feel “extra special” as he calls it. Once again, worth it sometimes. Addy, my best friend and roommate, isn’t as lucky. But, she still has family money saved up to keep her comfortable.

But, alas, today was my day for a morning shift. I was thankful for Addy to have the same shift this morning because I could make her drive and sleep a little bit longer during the fifteen minute car ride.

I punched the code into the front door key pad and aggressively pulled so that it wouldn’t stick. I took my heels off before walking up the five flights of steps. I threw them next to Addy’s heels as I shut the apartment door behind me.

Addy’s bedroom light was off. I was thankful because she tends to have judgment about my “second job.” I have tried to explain to her, but she doesn’t understand. Family money, remember?

POV: Logan

Neil had disappeared a few hours before the bars had closed. “Should we worry about where Neil is?” I asked his brother, Alex.

“Nah. I think I saw him leave with some hooker. He will come back to the hotel in the morning,” he responded as we hopped into the Uber.

There were five of us all together, celebrating Neils last weekend as a bachelor. I tried to hide my distaste In Neils whereabouts as I slid one more over for Tristan to fit. I felt jealousy wash over my body as Brady slipped into the front seat, leaving me in the back, middle seat.

“Don’t worry, bro, Neil does this every weekend!” Alex said. He had interpreted my facial expression as worry, not disgust. ‘Bro,’ I thought to myself stifling a laugh. This was not my scenery, and Neils little brother was not my friend.

Brady turned around. “Anywhere else we want to go?”

“Absolutely not.” I whispered, rubbing my temples. We had a full day booked ahead of us and there was no way I could stay up any later than this.

Tristan sensed my frustration. “Alex, didn’t you say we were going to your friends club tomorrow around noon? We should just go back to the hotel and wait for Neil to get back and chill out for a bit.”

“I second that!” I said, quickly.

“Oh yeah, Addy said noon would be a good time to get there if we are starting early and day drinking.” Alex responded.

We drove in silence on the way back to the hotel. It was almost two in the morning. I hadn’t stayed up this late in forever. I definitely was starting to feel like the odd man out of all the groomsmen. I thought Neil and I had more in common… It has come to my attention that outside of work, him and I live very different lifestyles. Which surprised me, considering he was the one getting ready to settle down. After the day we had, I cannot imagine him actually being content with this settlement.