We walked to the office hand in hand to check out of the presidential suite. After we returned the key, we made our way up to my room. I was dreading it because I knew I was going to hear it from Lauri about not coming home and definitely about the change of plans for my ride home.
Standing in front of the door, pulling the orange key chain out of my purse, I exhaled. “I’m dreading this,” I said as I looked at Ramsey.
“Don’t worry, Kid. I’ll step in whenever you need me to,” he said with a wink.
Lauri must have heard us talking because before I could put the key in the keyhole, the door swung open. She stood in the doorway with anger in her eyes.
“Where the hell were you, Karen? What the fuck?” she shouted at us. I felt like I was being scolded by my mother.
“You don’t have to scream at her, Lauri. Go inside before you cause a scene,” Ramsey said walking into the room, forcing Lauri back in.
After we were all inside with the door shut, I spotted Danny lying in bed, smoking out of Lauri’s bowl. Ramsey went over to my bed and lay down as well, never acknowledging Danny. I retreated to one of the gross tweed chairs as Lauri stood in the middle of the room and addressed us.
“So, would you mind explaining yourself, Karen Faris? I’ve been up all night worried sick about you and I had no way to get in touch with you. I beeped you a million times, but I finally heard it buzzing and realized you left it here. We even went to Ramsey’s room looking for you. Where were you all night?” she questioned. I could tell she was still very angry, but I knew that she was sincerely worried about me and that made me feel absolutely horrible.
“Lauri, I’m sorry. We stayed on the beach for a while, and when it was time to come back, there was a crazy party going on in Ramsey’s room and we didn’t want to intrude on you guys,” I explained as she interrupted me.
“So you guys just stayed out all night?”
“No, we got a room here,” I said and as the words came out of my mouth, I felt ashamed for some reason.
Anger consumed her face as she turned her body and started walking toward Ramsey, who didn’t seem fazed by this at all.
“You got a room, Ramsey? Are you kidding me? What the hell were you thinking? She’s my friend, David, not some whore you met on the street,” Lauri screamed at him, waving her hands around in the air.
Ramsey got up off of the bed, and as soon as he did, Danny defensively stood up as well. Ramsey wasn’t trying to be confrontational, but his body language came off that way. He stood right in front of Lauri as he said, as calmly as he could, “Lauri, I’ve known you for a long time and I consider you a very good friend. Having said that, don’t you ever, fucking speak to me like that again.”
Danny took a step closer to them, fearing that Ramsey would lose his temper with Lauri.
“I thought we were friends, Lauri. I can’t imagine what you really think of me to think that I would treat Karen like a whore. Is that something that I normally do, treat girls inappropriately?” Ramsey asked.
“No, Ramsey, but if you knew what she’s been through, you would understand why I’m so angry. She’s been hurt, Ramsey, and doesn’t need some tall, dark and handsome stranger strolling in, trying to seduce all of her troubles away,” Lauri said, having calmed down a bit.
I stood up. “Um, hello. I’m right over here,” I said waving my hands in the air. “Don’t talk about me like I’m not here, and by the way, I’m not a damn child, Lauri.”
As she began to turn to face me, Ramsey grabbed her arm and turned her back in his direction.
“Lauri, Karen is a big girl. I know what she went through, she told me. I would never disrespect her in any way, nor would I disrespect you,” he said calmly. “The only reason I got us a room is because Billy had a million people in my room and we didn’t want to disturb you and Danny. Maybe we should have come by and told you, and I apologize for that, but we didn’t, so deal with it and get over it. And anything else that happened or didn’t happen between me and Karen is none of your business. You have no right to be mad about that,” he said in summation.
Danny took a step back and sat back on the bed, while Ramsey came over and joined me at the table as he sat on the vacant tweed chair. He extended his arm across the table and placed his hand palm up, waiting for me to put mine in his, and I did. Lauri glanced at our knotted hands and looked at me and asked, “What exactly is going on here?”
“Ramsey offered to take me home today and I said yes,” I nervously told her.
“Absolutely not, Karen. My dad is taking you back tonight,” she said. I thought smoke was going to start spewing out of her ears as she became angrier by the second.
“I know, but he won’t have to take me. I was thinking that maybe I’ll ride back upstate with you and Danny and when we get to your house I’ll call my folks and tell them that Ramsey is gonna drive me. What do you think?” I asked.
She let out a huffy breath, rolled her eyes and said, “I think your parents are going to say no, but if that’s what you want to do, fine. Just start getting your shit together. We wanted to leave an hour ago.” Lauri then walked into the bathroom and slammed the door shut.
Ramsey stood up and I followed his lead.
“Later, Danny,” Ramsey said as Danny held up his fingers in a peace sign in response. He walked to the door and opened it.
Before I walked out, I said, “Danny, I’m just gonna say goodbye to Ramsey. I’ll be back inside in a minute. My stuff is already together, so I’m ready to leave whenever you are.”
“It’s fine, Karen. Don’t worry about it,” he sincerely said.
When I closed the door behind me, I only had to walk a few steps to reach Ramsey, who was leaning on the wooden railing. I stood in front of him and he placed his arms around my lower back.
“I wanted to bring you back upstate. Why are you going with them?” he asked.
“To keep some sort of peace. I don’t know why she’s so mad about this. Isn’t she the one who asked you to hang out with me? I mean I just don’t get it, but whatever. So, I’ll just go home with them and I’ll call my parents when I get back to her house. Why don’t you try to sleep a little?” I suggested. Even looking a bit tired, he was still gorgeous as I looked into his sleepy eyes.
“I have to check out and leave too, Kid. Maybe I’ll make Billy drive my car back so I can close my eyes a little bit. I’ll see. But I was really looking forward to the drive with you. I have to say that I’m disappointed,” he said, leaning forward to kiss me.
I was disappointed too. I wanted to stay wrapped in his arms forever. I was getting lost in his kiss once again when the door to my room opened and Lauri said, “Come on, Karen, let’s go. Ramsey, call my house later to see what the deal is.”
“You got it, Lau,” Ramsey said to her while she leaned against the door frame, annoyingly waiting for me. Ramsey hugged me and whispered in my ear, “I wish I didn’t have to let go,” as he released me from his arms. “I’ll call you girls later. Have a safe trip back,” he said. He gave me a quick peck on the cheek and started down the hall. I watched as he disappeared down the stairs, then I headed back into my room.
I walked over to where my duffle was and picked it up. “All packed,” I said, sarcastically.
“Good, we’re leaving in five minutes, so go to the bathroom if you have to,” Lauri said as I sat down and lit one of the Newport Lights Ramsey had bought for me. “Oh you smoke now?” she questioned.
“No more than I ever did, but the unnecessary tension in this room is making me very uncomfortable, so I’m gonna distract my thoughts and have a cigarette. Oh wait, should I have asked you first?” I said and I couldn’t believe what a bitch I was being. Lauri