chapter thirty nine
florence thompson
song: if you ever wanna be in love - james bay

We ended up eating our meals as we joked around, Vincent declaring that there was a very good reason why he never had McDonald's and would never have it after this. Apparently, he wasn't a fan. I suppose I can't blame him after only eating chicken and fish his whole life, I probably wouldn't like it either.

After we left McDonald's, it was dark out so we decided to head to our motel. When we pulled up I had a pretty good idea as to why it had such low ratings. It was also then that I realized Vincent literally owns hotels. This has got to be the weirdest thing he's done.

It's like being a gourmet chef and getting a meal off the dollar menu at McDonald's.

It makes zero sense.

We checked in and got to our room in no time. When we approached the door, I slid the key into the mechanism before it beeped loudly and unlocked the door. I pushed the door open and held it open for Vincent who was carrying both of our bags before letting it close behind him.

The room was dimly lit, one large bed sat with the headboard against the wall, a TV a few feet away from the end of the bed against the other wall. There was nothing spectacular about it and it was definitely one of the worst ones I've stayed in.

Don't get me wrong, I've stayed in some really nice Motel 6's. This one just definitely doesn't qualify.

Vincent Neurotic De Bellis went through and checked everything from the bed for bed bugs to mold in the bathroom. He thoroughly inspected the room for any signs of something that could be potentially harmful before plopping our bags onto the bed.

"Coast clear?" I asked, looking up to him and plopping down onto the end of the bed, hands in my lap as I looked around the room.

"As clear as it can be..." He trailed off, glancing around the room with his hands on his hips.

"It's not that bad," I offered, looking around also.

Above the chipping paint in places, yellow lighting, and the vague scent of marijuana, all it needed was a little TLC.

God knows it was getting enough THC.

"I'm not sure we're looking at the same room," he sighed, plopping down next to me.

I rolled my eyes before standing up to grab the remote and sitting back down next to Vincent.

"Wanna watch a movie?" I asked, glancing over to him. He shrugged, seeming to neither hate or love the idea. I scrolled through the channels until I found one was playing my favorite movie. "Have you ever seen Dirty Dancing?" I inquired, hopeful of his answer.

He shook his head no.

I gasped before selecting the channel.

"It's my favorite movie," I informed him as a commercial played, pushing myself off of the bed and sliding my shoes off.

"Let's watch it then," he agreed, watching me closely as I smiled at him, pulling my wavy hair up into a ponytail.

"What's your favorite movie?" I asked as I moved towards the bed, opening my pink overnight bag and pulling out my signature oversized maroon hoodie that I brought for bed and a pair of pajama shorts.

"You're going to think I'm stupid," he admitted, making me raise my eyebrows.

"I doubt that," I replied, zipping my bag back up and moving towards the bathroom with my clothes. I leaned against the wall next to the bathroom door and watched him intently.

"If you make fun of me...We're going to have a problem." He raised his brows at me, challenging me.

"Okay, deal."

"The Titanic."

I couldn't help it. I promise I tried. I really did. It was against all my control when a snort escaped me. It was all downhill from there really, truly. The snort turned into chucking and the chucking turned into hands-on-knees, loud, boisterous laughter that made me breathless.

It was fucked up of me really. The movie was based on a real-life tragedy, but more centered around one romance. I was just shocked when the words had left his tongue since pretty much every man I've ever known has despised that movie with a passion.

"You said you wouldn't make fun of me," he grumbled loudly.

"I'm-...I'm sorry!" I tried to get out between my laughter that was beginning to make my sides hurt. Tears welled in my eyes from how hard I was laughing.

"That's it!" He exclaimed playfully, pushing himself up off the end and coming towards me.

"No, no!" I squealed, holding my clothes in my hands out at him in self defense.

He easily plucked the clothes from my hands and tossed them over his shoulder. Before I could protest any further he bent down, quickly throwing me onto his shoulder, butt in the air.

He spun around, trudging back towards the bed were he tossed our bags onto the floor before shamelessly dropping me onto the bed. I yelped on impact, and I was sure the neighboring guests probably either thought I was being murdered or getting action.

My head landed just below the pillows. So close yet so far.

Before I realized it Vincent crawled on top of me, pinning my hands above my head playfully as he straddled my waist.

"Sorry, Miss Thompson, what were you laughing about again?" He smirked above me, his dark hair falling over his forehead.

I chuckled softly, wriggling slightly underneath him.

"Oh, just some silly stuff I heard. No big." I tried to shrug but failed miserably since my arms were being pinned above me.

"Did you just call me silly, Miss Thompson?" He inquired, cocking a brow at me.

"I did, Mr. De Bellis. Whatcha gonna do about it, huh?" I cocked my head as I looked up at his ridiculously handsome face.

His brows raised slowly at me, his gaze shifting.

He dipped his head lower, sending my stomach straight into a frenzy. He found my neck where he dragged his nose from my jaw down the crook of my neck and back up.

A breath escaped my lips, one that was more audible than I'd like. One he clearly heard thanks to the smile I felt against my skin.

He pressed his lips gently against my neck, his cologne swirling around me and filling my senses.

Killing all my brain cells.

He pressed kisses on my skin until he landed at the sweet spot of my neck where he began lightly sucking. A small moan left my lips against my will, my body arched up to meet his.

As he continued to suck on the skin, his hands travelled down from my wrists, to below my shoulders and then back up again.

He broke away from my neck before trailing kisses back up to my jaw where he began littering my face with them. He released my hands before he pressed his hands on either side of my head on the mattress.

Before I could process what was about to happen or give any care, Vincent's lips finally met my own. They were exactly like I'd remembered them. Soft and gentle, tasting of peppermint.

I slipped my arms around his neck, pulling him further down against me. I wanted us to be flush with one another, where we couldn't tell where I ended and he began. To be one.

We laid like that for a few moments, our tongues exploring one another's mouth, hands all over each other, before we finally broke apart, panting. I could feel how swollen my lips were, Vincent's also looking pretty red.

He looked down at me, dazed, shaking his head.

"Well...that wasn't supposed to happen." He smirked, sounding breathless.

"According to who?" I asked, furrowing my brows.

"Your rules."

My eyes widened slightly.

"...Right," I whispered, closing my eyes momentarily.

"Oh no, no, no," I heard him rush before his right hand cupped my cheek and he pressed his lips against mine again, this time in a quick peck. He pulled back, still hovering over me, closer to my face this time. "Don't think, that never ends well. Let's just enjoy tonight." He smiled, eyes softening.

I nodded, smiling before leaning up and planting a brief kiss on his lips. Now that we actually kissed, since our first barely counted, I wanted to do it all the time.

"Now," he pushed himself up so he wasn't hovering over me. "You need to go change," he spoke, climbing off of me and letting me free.

I sighed, wanting nothing more than to be enveloped in him again but instead I nodded, pushing myself up and grabbing my discarded clothes from the floor before scurrying into the bathroom.

Scrolling through my phone momentarily, I noticed I had a voicemail notification. I furrowed my brows, not recognizing the number but making note to check it later.

I was quick to change into my pajamas before entering back into the room where Vincent was already laying on the bed, an arm behind his head as he watched the TV where Baby and her family had just gotten to the camp.

He looked over to me, drinking in my very casual form, eyes lingering a beat too long on my bare legs before he patted the spot next to him. I climbed into the bed, pulling the covers over me as he wrapped his arm around me securely, pulling me against him.

I laid my head of his shoulder, placing my hand on his muscular chest.

We watched the movie, tangled in one another for the next hour and forty minutes. I couldn't help but point out my favorite scene when it came up, where they were practicing in the water. How silly and carefree they seemed as they continued to fall backwards, into the water.

"Did you like it?" I asked as the credits began to roll, stretching out and sitting up, surprising a yawn

"It's definitely an interesting movie," he commented, smiling fondly at me as I turned to him.

I rolled my eyes.

As if on cue Vincent's phone began ringing. He furrowed his brows before looking at the screen.

"I'll call them back later," he said as he was about to decline the call but I quickly stopped him.

"No, pick it up, I've got to use the restroom anyway." I insisted, knowing full well I wanted to go listen to that voicemail as the curiosity was slowly killing me.

He nodded faintly before pressing the answer button and holding the phone to his ear, reciting some formal greeting.

I climbed off the bed, moving to the bathroom and trying my best to make little noise as I closed the door.

I pulled my phone out, the curiosity finally getting to me as I pulled up my voicemail, pressing my password in before holding it to my ear.

"Hi Miss Thompson, this is Margo from HR here at Vanderbilt Inc. I just wanted to let you know that we have decided you would be a great fit for this position and would love to set up a day to get you in here so we can get paperwork and such squared away...." The voicemail continued as she left the number and other small details, but my brain momentarily became foggy.

My heart pounded on my chest as I became overwhelmed with this feeling of excitement but sadness and uncertainty. I know it's completely awesome they've chosen me but it's also something in my gut that's telling me this isn't meant for me, but it's not like Glenn's is my forever.

I sighed, shoving my phone into my pocket and putting on a smile for show before exiting the bathroom.

Vincent was sat at the end of the bed, his head down for some reason. I figured maybe he was looking down at his phone.

Just as I opened my mouth to tell him I got the job, he spoke.

"Something came up at the office," he sighed, looking up at me.

It was then that I noticed his shoes back on and solemn look on his face. I furrowed my brows as I came to stand in front of him, tucking my good news away and deciding I'd tell him another time.

I shoved my hands into the pocket of my hoodie, standing maybe four feet away from him.

"You're leaving?" I asked quietly, gnawing on my lip.

He frowned, a crease etched between his thick brows that I wanted to smooth away so desperately.

He reached forward, hooking his fingers into the pocket of my hoodie and pulling me forward to stand between his legs. He placed his hands on either side of my legs, resting his forehead against my stomach.

I sighed, pulling my hands from my pocket and running my fingers through his thick hair slowly.

He placed a hand behind my leg, pulling it towards him and making me move to straddle his lap at the end of the bed. I obliged, wrapping my arms around his neck as I practically sat in his lap. He wrapped his muscular arms securely around me, holding me flush against him as I rested my head in the crook of his neck.

"You're leaving?" I asked again, this time much quieter and upset as my heart ached in my chest.

"I wish I didn't have to," he whispered into my shoulder, tightening his grip around me and pulling me harder against him if that was even possible.

"Me too," I mumbled, barely audible.

"Thank you for today, tesoro," he mumbled, making me pull back and cup his face.

"Of course, thank you. I haven't had this much fun in a long time." I smiled fondly as I looked over his face. My smile faltered when I noticed his bags under his eyes and the pure exhaustion written on his face.

He easily captured my lips with his own, effectively quieting the both of us as my hands got lost in his hair again. This time it was much quicker and left me wanting so much more, especially now that I knew he was leaving.

"Do you want me to drop you off at home or have my driver come get you?" He asked, bringing a hand up to brush an escaped tendril of hair away from my face.

I shook my head.

"No, that's alright. I'll have Rico come get me tomorrow or something," I explained, shrugging easily.

He sighed.

"I don't feel great about you staying here alone tonight, Florence," his tone shifted into something much more authoritative.

I rolled my eyes. "You don't have to."

He rolled his eyes back at me, causing me to chuckle. "I'd feel much better if you'd at least let my driver bring you home."

"I'll be fine, Vincent. Why let our room go to waste?" I asked, tilting my head at him.

"I don't care if it does. A seventy dollar motel is not worth something happening to you," he breathed, brushing his thumb over my cheekbone, making me flutter my eyes shut momentarily.

"I'll update you every hour over text until I go to sleep and then I'll text you when I wake up," I promised, pulling one hand away from around his neck and in front of his face, holding my pinky finger out.

He reluctantly and with a sigh, hooked his pinky finger around mine, locking my promise into place.

"If you don't, I'm going to be very upset with you," he warned me, giving me a pointed look with those mismatched eyes.

"Loud and clear," I teased as he wrapped his arms tightly around my waist, pulling me impossibly closer to him.

In order to be comfortable, I wrapped my arms back around his neck and placed my head on my arm, looking over his shoulder.

I noticed his phone light up as it sat on the bed behind us. My curious gaze lingered for a beat too long, long enough to catch the contact name that belonged to a blonde who made my stomach churn.

I squinted, attempting to read the short message on the screen.

Are you coming?

Are you coming?

That doesn't make any sen...

My heart plummeted, landing somewhere near my toes. He's going to see her. He's going to see Julia. He isn't going back for work.

My stomach immediately felt sick, a wave of nausea washed over me and I couldn't believe I allowed myself to get swallowed into this mind game again.

I climbed off of him and back up to my feet before he also stood to his feet, grabbing his bag. He didn't seem to realize my change of demeanor, which I was thankful for.

My heart was stupidly heavy in my chest as I walked with him to the door. He pulled it open, standing with a grip on the handle as he faced me.

"Goodnight, Florence." He smiled warmly at me as he looked down to me.

"Goodnight, Vincent." I returned his smile weakly, watching him closely.

I wondered momentarily how he could stand in front of me like this and lie to me. Act like nothing was wrong when he was leaving me to run into the arms of a leggy supermodel.

I suppose I can't blame him though. I wouldn't choose me over a supermodel either.

He leaned down, pressing one last swift kiss against my lips before turning on his heel and leaving me. With a sigh I released the door so I couldn't watch him walk away, my eyes beginning to burn as I let it close fully before plopping dramatically onto the creaky bed.

As I laid on my back, my blonde hair sprawled around my head on the sketchy motel bed and a heavier heart than I'd arrived with, I wondered how I'd gotten myself into this mess. I thought about how everyone was right.

I'm not cut out for this.

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q: favorite animal???