Close Both My Eyes

"Hey, Ro," Jaime said with a smile as the door to my hotel room swung open. I returned the smile, not wanting him to know that I was hurt by his absence at the airport. He opened his arms, motioning me in with a childlike grin, and even though I was upset, I obliged. Jaime gave the best hugs, he always had. "Did you have a good flight?" He questioned softly, his lips brushing against my hair as he left a soft kiss on my temple.

"Yeah, it was fine," I replied half-heartedly. "I'm happy to see you, Hime. I missed you."

"I missed you, too, Ro." He pulled away a little, keeping me at arms length as he looked me over, his eyes sad and guilty. "Look, Rowan, I, I'm really sorry for not picking you up when I promised I'd be there, it's just that, well, Jess was sick and I-" I patted him on the shoulder reassuringly, causing him to take a break from his rambling excuse.

"Jaime, it's fine" I mumbled. It wasn't fine, but he didn't need to know that; it would only bring about questions, questions that I myself didn't quite know the answer to, starting with why in the hell I cared so much about something so insignificant. "You didn't tell me Jess would be here."

Silently, I cursed myself for the way that came out, and I watched Jaime's face transform with shock followed by questioning.

"I, Ro I." He stumbled over his words once again, but this time he stopped himself before I had a chance to. "She asked if she could come; I couldn't say no."

I found his choice of words odd. He said he couldn't say no, not that he didn't want to refuse her request. Maybe I was reading too far into it, but his phrasing, plus the far off look in his eyes, seemed quite peculiar to me.

"It doesn't matter, Jaime, I'm just glad to be here," I mumbled as convincingly as possible. That was a lie; it did matter, it mattered a lot, but I wouldn't let him know that.

"So," Jaime started as he threw himself across the bed, stretching his arms over his head, "what's new with my little Row Boat?"

I cringed at the sound of that stupid nickname falling from his lips. I hated it; I always had, but he insisted on using it. Trying to keep him from calling me that was of no use anymore.

"Oh, nothing," I replied softly, taking a seat next to him and pulling my legs up under me. "I dumped Jeff..."

"Finally!" Jaime shouted, his form springing up to face me before I could even finish my sentence. Raising an eyebrow at him, I gazed at my best friend with questioning eyes. "What? He wasn't right for you, Rowan. He was an ass. It's hard to watch your best friend date people who aren't good for them."

"Yeah, I know the feeling," I murmured, hoping he wouldn't hear.

"What?" Jaime asked. I shook my head, dismissing the statement before quickly changing the subject by asking about the tour.

We talked a while longer before Jaime had to leave for soundcheck. I walked him to the door, giving him a final hug before he left. He held onto me for longer than normal, and I embraced the situation.

"I'm glad you dumped him, Ro," he whispered softly in my ear, "you deserve so much better."

With that Jaime turned and walked out the door.

As I stood there thinking, I couldn't help but wonder if Jaime still thought I deserved him.