Broken Pieces, L. S. [brene brown rising strong .txt] 📗

know how to ask the right questions, is just that unfortunately I still don’t have that answer. Carter is a good guy, I know he is special and I care for him but love? I am still trying to figure that out. I haven’t been in love my whole life. I liked Max before but I wasn’t in love with him. I don’t even have any idea on how to know if someone is in love with another person. So I am completely clueless.

“I don’t know. I mean, I started to care for him, I get worried when isn’t home on the time that he should be and he hasn’t called me to inform he is coming late,” I said trying to figure it out. “Does that mean I am falling for him too?” I asked.

Nicole was silent for a while. I don’t know if she has a clue about it. I don’t think love struck her either.

“Well, I don’t know. I don’t think I’ve ever felt love towards someone before so I really cannot help you on that part.” She giggled. “But you know what, I know it will come, Carter is a good guy, I guess”

“Yes, he is”

We still talked on the phone for the next hour. She told me about her life in Miami Beach. She still works with Keith but she got promoted, she is now the club designers who dress the girls up. She only needs to work like thrice a week. I am happy that she is happy with her life. I told her that I am still hoping that she will be back to school so she can get a fresh start too. She said, she isn’t interested but she will think about it. She also told me that she is still seeing the 40-ish business man. We ended the phone call when sleepiness drawn into her. I stayed at the pool for a couple more minutes before I decided to crawl back to bed beside the snoring Carter.

 

 

“Everything ready?”

I rub my eyes to keep them from falling as Carter watched Marcus to load up the compartment of his red Ferrari. It’s five freaking in the morning and I am still sleepy as hell. Carter and I are going to Palm Springs for the $20,000 weekend getaway he bought from the charity event last month. He finally had some spare time from the office and I wasn’t really busy with school stuff so I agreed that this is the best weekend to book the trip.

“Yeah, but I am still sleepy though,” I pouted.

He pulled me into him and I smelled his usual body wash that immediately soothes my nose. He is wearing white linen buttoned down shirt that he folded the sleeves on his elbow paired with a khaki cargo shorts and a combination of gray and off white Sperry Top-Sider shoes.

“You can sleep on the road,” he said and kisses my hair.

His ray ban eyeglasses slightly press on my head. He put his hand on my waist as we wait for the car to be loaded up. I was wearing a floral spaghetti strap sundress and pair of black T-strap flat sandals and my eyes are also covered with my own ray ban sunglasses. I am starting to get used to the always sunny weather here is LA.

“Mr. Greene, everything is good.” Marcus said as he stood still in front of Carter.

Carter nodded.

“Thank you Marcus.”

Marcus opened the door of the passenger side and Carter motioned me to get in. So I did. He walked towards the driver seat and gets himself in. Marcus offered to drive us but Carter refused, he said he wanted to have this vacation just for the two of us. Besides the drive to Palm Springs will only be for two hours or so.

“I don’t want any distraction for the weekend Marcus and please take care of everything here.” Carter said from the car window.

Marcus nodded with eagerness and stepped back as Carter started the engine. I am a bit excited about this trip. I have never been to Palm Springs before. “I’m glad you agreed with it,” he said as we got into the road.

“I don’t have much to do in school anyway, besides I know you need this trip too.” I told him.

He slightly squeezed my leg and held the hand that I rested on my lap. I am aware about the delay on the hotel construction they have in Colorado and how much stress that project was giving him.

“Yeah, I really need to get out of town for a couple of days and its really nice that I have you with me.”

I smiled and gave him a slight nod. He let go of my hand and focus on the road.

“Get some sleep baby,” he whispered.

I nodded and then I closed my eyes trying to find my slumber.

 

 

“Baby, were here,”

I opened my eyes as I heard the husky voice of Carter who is trying to wake me up. When I looked around, we are already on the hotel entrance. We are waiting for our turn since there are a couple more cars on the line before ours. I sat straight as we waited for our turn. I fell asleep on entire time Carter was driving our way here. I checked myself on the rear view mirror making sure I don’t look like a mess. I also started to get curious on how I look. Carter is business tycoon not to mention a gorgeous bachelor so as his girlfriend, yes I said it clear I am his girlfriend so I needed to look nice all the time especially whenever we are together.

“You look beautiful, you don’t need to be conscious and you’re just perfect the way you are” he said as he ran his finger through my blonde locks.

I smiled and whispered him a thank you. The valet attendant opened the passenger door and greeted me with his warm smile. He is wearing a white long sleeve that was buttoned up until his neck, a bow tie and black slacks pants. Another valet attendant went to the driver side and opened Carter’s door. They talked for a while before they started to unload the trunk and took our luggage to the cart. The name Riviera Palm Springs Resorts and Spa is legibly carved on the every wooden board at the side of the place. Carter handed his keys to the attendant and walked over to me. He knots his fingers into mine and pulled me inside the hotel.

“You don’t own this place do you?” I asked.

“No,” he shook his head. “Sometimes it’s nice to go to hotels that I don’t own. It’s sort of refreshing.” He added.

I was amused by his answer. I didn’t know staying at the hotel that you own can be exhausting too.

He led me towards the reception area where a gorgeous petite brunette greeted us dearly.

“Good Morning Sir, Ma’am, welcome to Riviera Palm Springs Resorts and Spa, how can I help you?” she greeted us with her warm smile.

She sounded like the customer service over the phone.

“We have a reservation, Carter Greene and Jillian Winters.” Carter answered.

“One moment sir,”

I remained quiet standing beside Carter while the girl turned her eyes on the computer. She occasionally licks her lips and look at Carter with her smile that started to annoy me. It seems like she is trying to flirt with him. Unfortunately Carter didn’t even glance her way as we wait instead he keeps on pulling me closer to him and occasionally kiss my hair. I hope she gets the signal.

“I just need some identification Sir” the receptionist said after a while.

Carter took his license from his wallet and so did I. I handed him my license and he gave them to the receptionist.

“I just need to have this photocopied sir, please have a seat,” the girl as she pointed us to the waiting area.

We walked towards the waiting area hand in hand and sat on the sofa. I looked around the place. The hotel has a modern Mediterranean interior, the chandelier are nice and sparkling. There happy faces paintings hanging on the wall and they’re kind of entertaining. This is way different from the hotels that Carter owns. This place is much simpler than his fancy hotels.  The receptionist came back from the back office with a couple of papers on her hand. She gave Carter her annoying smile again. Gosh! She didn’t get the signal at all.

Carter pulled me and led me back to the reception area.

“Mr. Greene, we have a Marquee One Bedroom Suite reserved for you and your companion for the weekend, this includes breakfast for two and used of all our facilities like the outdoor pool, gym and the bar.” She told Carter, it seems like I don’t exist with her. “Here is your key sir and if you need anything just call us using the directory you will find in your suite.”

“Thank you,”

“Enjoy your stay at Riviera Palm Springs Resorts and Spa”

Carter gave her a slight nod. I am a bit thankful because he didn’t give her any interest before he pulled me to the elevator. I am aware how attracted Carter is and when we became official I started to be a bit possessive of him. I get annoyed to the girls who try so hard to get his attention, lucky for me Carter’s eyes only sees me and no one else. Adriana Krueger is still around and she made sure to let me know her snide remarks every time she gets the chance but I am getting used to her presence and her bitterness and I’d rather keep quiet than start a fight with her.

Our suite was on the third floor and the room number 3115. Carter swipes the card key on the door handle and gets us inside. Upon entering the room a neatly carpeted living came after our eyes. There are two single white sofas on the left side, a brown leathers sofa opposite the single ones and a white oblong foam center table. There is a flat screen television hanging on the wall opposite the couches. There are also 2 wooden chairs not too far away from the couches and a rounded glass table in between, beside it was sliding door going to the balcony where you can see the view outside and a lot of Palm Trees. The suite was nice and the walls are painted alternate white and brown. The black flooring is accentuated with white circle prints.  On the right side was the door going to the room, there is a king size bed in the middle of the room, there two pink and red stripes pillows and two more plain white pillows on top of the bed that was covered with white sheet while the bed case is brown. There are also two white wooden drawers on each side of the bed with two nightstands on top of it beside the night stand on the left was a digital clock while a cordless telephone system on the right. There is also a single couch near the left drawer and desk and chair not too far away from the couch, on the right side was another sliding door going towards another balcony.  There was a small hallway from the left side going to the bathroom.

I laid my back on the bed, it’s only eight in the morning and I still feel sleepy even though I slept on our way here.

I heard Carter was talking to the hotel attendant who brought our luggage, after a while the attendant left and Carter walked inside the room and sat beside me.

“Still sleepy baby?” he looked down and gave me a peck on the lips.

I gave him a slight nod.

“You’re not sleepy?” I asked.

He lay beside me and his face looking to my direction while I kept mine on the ceiling.

“I am,” he smiled. “I also woke up at four remember” he joked.

He rested