Chapter 308

**Chapter 0308**

Nan was back in the hotel suite when I returned later that evening. She looked beautiful in a black dress that hugged her figure and fell just above her knees, highlighting her curves.

Nan had a short haircut that framed her face nicely. She kept her hair pulled back, and her light makeup highlighted her features. Nan was the type of girl who didn’t need a lot of makeup to look good. Her natural beauty shone through effortlessly.

She knew this.

She was staring at herself in the mirror, a frown on her lips as she examined her reflection. She was looking closely at the dress she had never worn before, along with the matching shoes that made her look tall and elegant.

Nan looked a bit uncomfortable. The shoes she was wearing were squeezing her feet and cutting off her circulation.

I frowned and raised my eyebrows. “New dress?” I asked as I closed the door behind me.

Nan turned around to face me, her cheeks flushed pink.

“Oh, hi…” she said softly. “I didn’t hear you come in.” She looked down at her dress, and her cheeks turned even redder. “Tyler got me this dress for tonight. I told him I didn’t have anything to wear.”

He was getting clothes sent to the room for the concert.

“Is he really getting you clothes now?” I asked, raising my eyebrows at her.

She shrugged and bit her lower lip.

“It’s not like that,” she said.

She argued quickly, her defenses rising around her like walls, keeping her safe. “I’m going to return them after,” she declared.

When I didn’t reply, tears filled her eyes. It broke my heart and made me feel weak.

“I’m not here to scold you,” she continued.

“I wanted to apologize for what I said earlier,” I told her, sighing. She shook her head.

“No, you were right,” she replied. “I’m the one being awful. I shouldn’t be like this.”

Hanging out with Tyler is nice, Judy, but he’s just a good distraction for me right now. I really need that distraction because I’m still really upset about what happened with Chester. I don’t even know how to react to it.

I don’t plan on being with Tyler once we get back home.

“I need something to take my mind off things right now…”

I nodded and walked over to her. I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her tightly.

“I understand,” I said softly. “I’m sorry if I made you feel…”

“You are wrong about that,” she said. “You are an adult and can make your own decisions. You know yourself better than anyone else.”

She smiled through her tears as we drove away. I reached over and wiped a stray tear from her cheek.

I playfully tapped Nan on the cheek with the back of my hand, and we both chuckled softly. I didn’t like fighting with Nan, but when we did, we usually made up quickly.

“Have fun tonight,” I said, nudging her arm gently.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Nan asked, looking at me with concern.

“Are you going to dinner with the other competitors?” Nan asked as I searched through the closet for something to wear.

“Nope,” I replied with a grin, turning to face her. “I have other plans.”

Nan looked at me with curiosity, clearly wanting to know more.

She threw her head back and laughed. While I got dressed, she kept talking to me, helping me prepare for my evening with Gavin. By the time I was ready, Nan had kindly come to the room to pick him up herself. I scooped up my things and headed out.

I reminded myself that it wasn’t my place to get involved.

I was meeting up with Tyler. He didn’t seem to have a plan at first, but he quickly brushed it off.

After I finished getting dressed, I grabbed my things and headed out.

I grabbed my purse and rushed out of the room. Gavin’s suite was just a few doors down. As I approached his door, I took a few deep breaths. Meeting like this felt risky; anyone could walk by and see me going into his room.

I lightly knocked on the door, but when no one answered, I knocked harder. Still, there was no response. Pressing my ear against the door, I tried to listen for any sign that he was inside. I heard nothing.

I felt a wave of uncertainty wash over me. Was he home? Did something happen? I took a step back and looked around, hoping to see some sign of life. But the quiet street offered no clues.

Taking a deep breath, I decided to knock again, this time louder, my heart racing with anticipation.

I frowned and looked at the clock; it was just after 7. He had told me to meet him in his room tonight, so I figured he meant around dinnertime when everyone else would be busy. I probably should have confirmed the exact time with him.

I sighed as I dug through my purse. I really didn’t want to go to dinner tonight. I was feeling too nervous about the competition tomorrow, and all I wanted was to crawl into bed and spend some time with Gavin. I knew I still had stuff to prepare, but I couldn’t shake off the desire to just relax and be with him.

I had a copy of his room key from when I made a mistake at the front desk. Once I found the key, I let myself into his room.

I closed the door behind me and put the key back in my purse. I quietly stepped inside, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness.

I took my purse off my shoulder and placed it on the kitchen counter. As I walked around the room, I could smell Gavin’s scent in the air. It was comforting, making me feel at home. It seemed to calm both my wolf and me, putting us at ease. I found my…

I felt my anxieties starting to fade away. I looked at the neatly made bed, and ideas popped into my head. I wanted to surprise Gavin when he arrived. I wanted to be ready for him.