Defying Him

Chapter Five: Bread In Soup

Given the time the plane landed, and the video call I had with mom and dad after Brayden left my room, it's now ten minutes until midnight, and I sure am hungry. I stroll down the hall and into the elevator and make my way to the hotel dining option. Which I found scanty and satisfying for my introverted circumstance. There are only two or three diners devouring their meal.

I ordered chicken soup, and the attendant brought some frozen garlic bread along. He recommends I would like it. I wasn't going to have it, but I wasn't going to refuse it. So I smile appreciatively at the attendant for his kindness.

Most of the time I stare at the food I ordered, not because it wasn't delicious, for it was incredibly tasty, but because I am afraid of taking too much for the night, despite my grumbling stomach. I am obsessed with my flawed body and how worse I would look after summer is over.

Pulling out my phone from my pocket, I log into my i********: profile. I have over twenty thousand followers, including Myles Cameron. An unexpected rush of blood in my stomach flows with the chills blowing against my skin. And then I heard his actual voice, "I am so hungry."

My eyes fly up and confirm my hearing.

He is wearing shorts and a plain white t-shirt that made him appear a little younger than twenty. "Can I join?" He asked, and I nod nervously.

He slides into the booth, faces me, and dug a piece of bread into my soup.

My face contorted at his audacity.

"I said you can join me. I never say you can eat my dinner."

"It's midnight. Which is A.M. It's breakfast." He chastised me instead, but chuckle with his mouth full when my expression remains serious.

After he could swallow, he clear his throat and freely continue dipping more bread into the soup. "You will not eat it. Do you rather it go to waste?" He shrugs.

"I was going to have it. That's why I paid for it, but of course, help yourself with my food."

He chuckles again, attractively. It is infectious. I neglect my fear and pluck a piece of bread from the small basket, dunking it into the soup as fast as Myles was doing.

Our eyes locked with shared understanding. It is like we could read through each other's gaze.

When I shove a huge portion into my mouth, his pupils expand and a peal of hysterical laughter surges into my throat. I swallow it down, but it flows anyway at the amount of bread Myles is thrusting into his mouth.

It is impossible not to laugh. His cheeks are puffed out with the contents he's struggling to chew while trying not to choke on the laughter he is repressing. I turn around and cover my face with my hands at my uncontrollable laughter. As soon as Myles's mouth is clear, he broke into a fit of laughter and we laugh until we couldn't catch our breath.

"It's almost one. You should go have some rest." He suggested finally.

I hold his stare for a while and just wonder how he was so confusing to understand.

"Why did you stop coming over?" It just came out without permitting me the chance to reason.

His jaw clenches as he swallows roughly, and his gaze flickers past me. When he glances over, it is as conspiratorial as a wink.

So there is a reason.

"Why can't you tell me?" I pressed. The hurt in my chest is probably evident in my inward stare as I recall what he had been occupied with for the entire weekend.

He looks at a place somewhere over my shoulder and concludes, "I will take you to your room."

He has to be kidding me.

"Myles, I deserve an explanation," I exclaimed, and he draw in a sharp breath, his chest rose and fell. Yet he remains wordless.

I wait for a second, but it turns into minutes. I can't wait forever, so I leave a hundred-dollar bill on the table and storm out of the booth.

The infuriating part is that he follows behind me and into the elevator. He didn't say a word still. It is the most awkward ride of my life. I want to turn over and punch him until he can communicate in a way I understand, but I bear the lump in my throat and blink away the tears crammed in my eyes.

As soon as the elevator opens on my floor, I scurry out of the suffocating room, partially running down the empty hall, to avoid revealing my desperation, as the tears begin crashing down my cheeks. I keep repeatedly wiping my face with the back of my hands.

"Cali." I felt him grab my hand and just like that, I stop in my track. My head down, hiding behind my plunged locks of hair.

"I am sorry." He said and somehow a bit of relief washes through me. "I promise I will come over every dinner when we fly back home." His voice was sincere. He brought a finger under my chin and lift my head. When I meet his eyes, he peers into my teary ones with a fixed expression etched in his complexion, that resembles desire and pain. I wonder what is going through his head at this moment. Because he has to know what I want and what he was doing when he brings his both hands to cup my face. The pad of his thumbs traces every tear under my eyes. The touch is soothing.

He said nothing else, and I didn't care anymore. This is enough. Having him in this proximity is more than enough.

When I return to my room, I am smiling again. I kick off my shoes and jump onto the soft bed, pulling a pillow to my chest, and I reminisce about the past hour. Myles's heavenly laughter, Myles's heavenly stare, Myles's heavenly scent, and Myles's heavenly touch.

I know it is official. I have truly fallen in love.