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“Double,” she says.
“Does it have a pullout couch?” I try, pretty sure I know the answer.
“Nope,” she says with a laugh, like I’d asked her if the room came with a private butler. “Just two chairs.”
“Do you have any cots? Like you set up for kids?” Elliot asks.
“They’re all in use.”
That’s us sharing the room completely out, then.
I guess I could just stay up all night. Sit in the lobby watching movies on my phone or something. Or go for a walk.
Outside, the traffic on the highway seems endless even at this hour of the night. I guess this isn’t a particularly walkable area. Highway Inns aren’t exactly known for their downtown locations.
Maybe I could find a quiet corner in a hallway and read and maybe nap a little. The sign on the counter says the buffet breakfast starts at six. That’s only four and a half hours. It will pass quickly enough. And I could get through tomorrow on a bit of hallway napping until we get on the plane to fly home.
Elliot turns to me. “What about your family? Anyone nearby that we, or you, could stay with?”
“My dad’s closest. But he’s two hours away.”
Elliot shrugs. “Well, I guess this is all we’ve got.” He holds up the key packet. “Let’s go take a look.” He nudges me with his elbow. “Don’t worry. It’s not your fault. We’ll figure it out.”
“There’s barely room for two people to stand, never mind lie down,” I say as Elliot closes the door behind us.
There’s about two feet on either side of the bed and about the same at the end before a desk and two armchairs.
“Maybe I could figure out something on the floor here.” He points to where we’re standing, just inside the door between the closet and the bathroom door.
“Oh, you can’t sleep on the floor.” I instinctively grab his arm in horror, then let it go like a hot rock when I realize I’m squeezing a nicely firm bicep.
Trying to hide the heat that’s erupted on my cheeks, I kick at the carpet. “This would break you out in hives.”
“Okay, how about this?” He moves toward the two chairs, not even remotely fazed by the situation. He sits in one, pulls the other closer, and puts his feet on it. “This would totally work.”
“Hmm. It might. But not for you. You’re too tall. I’ll sleep there. You take the bed.”
“Not a fucking chance,” Elliot says, getting to his feet. “You’re in the bed. I absolutely, completely, no arguing, insist.”
Now there’s a sentence I never thought I’d hear him say.
14
ELLIOT
I’ve never been much of a fan of a capella, but now that it’s led me to spend the night with Charlotte, it could grow on me.
I waited and waited for her to suggest we share the double, but obviously it was never going to happen. Just spending the night in the same room as her is a fine consolation prize, though.
The spare blanket is scratchy against my bare legs, but less scratchy than the armchairs, so now I’m cocooned in it like a caterpillar in my makeshift pallet.
It took a few minutes to figure out the two-chair thing. They kept sliding apart, so I put the one I have my feet on against the wall to keep it from slipping away and sending me crashing to the floor between them.
At six foot two, I’m not exactly built for squishing myself into what is, effectively, a four-foot space. But no way was I going to subject Charlotte to this torture.
It’s not a whole lot better than sleeping sitting up, but I’d be happy to sleep on a clothesline if it means being here with Charlotte. So I’ll cheerfully fold myself accordion-style with my knees up to my chin and stay in this weird arrangement all night if I have to.
The room is small, but with a soft, dim light from the nightstand lamp, it does at least feel cozy.
