Lila folded her arms. “Why do you automatically get dibs?”
“Are you serious?”
“What if I wanted it?” she continued.
“We aren’t five years old, arguing about which bunk we want to sleep in,” I said.
She snorted, a soft laugh escaping her rosy lips. “Aren’t we? And I’ve never had a sibling before. This fight is one I’ve always dreamed about having.”
“If you had a sibling, or watched any movie ever, you’d know that the top bunk is the one people argue over. No one wants the bottom.”
“Then why do you want it?”
I groaned. My severe lack of sleep was getting to me. It was almost as if she knew I was at my wit’s end, and just wanted to mess with me.
“I don’t give a fuck which bed I’m sleeping on, okay? But see that?” I pointed to the men’s shoes by the other beds. “We’re sharing this room with other guys. I’m sure it’s fine, but I’d rather be safe than sorry. The top is less exposed. I’m taking the bottom bunk, got it?”
Her smile faltered just a little as she took in my serious expression. “Wow.” She bit her lip before nodding and placing her small shoulder bag on the top bunk. “That’s actually kind of sweet.”
“Don’t go reading anything into it.” The last thing I needed was Lila giving me those green puppy-dog eyes.
“Relax, Harrison.” She sighed. “I would never be stupid enough to think that you were actually going soft on me.”
I tensed at the double-entendre in her words. She obviously heard it at the same time, because she immediately burst out laughing.
“Actually, I guess you’re technically alwayssoftaround me.” She snorted. “In fact, I think there’s probably no one in the world who makes you softer than I do.”
She continued her giggle-fit as I glared, taking a deep breath through my nose.
“Are you done?” I asked. Apparently, a long travel day and lack of sleep resulted in a punch drunk, slap-happy Lila.
Maybe I should find her adorable. Objectively, she was. She literally gave cartoon character energy. But I just couldn’t handle it. I needed to change, brush my teeth, and crash as soon as humanly possible.
“You’re never any fun,” she said, pouting. Thankfully, she unzipped her suitcase and started rummaging through it. I took that as my cue to grab a change of clothes and my toiletry bag out of my duffel and head to the bathroom. While the small twin-size bed was calling my name, the control-freak germaphobe in me absolutely needed to shower the airplane smell off of me first.
This day felt like an entire week.
The shower pressure was weak, but the water was hot. I let it run over me, allowing my shoulders to deflate for the first time since I’d left for the Denver airport an eternity ago. It was now Wednesday night, and we would leave for home Mondaymorning. That meant this accidental solo trip with Lila would only last four days.
Four whole days.
While that amount of time seemed so short in theory, something told me those days would drag on just like today had. Not even in a bad way, necessarily; it was just the truth.
I’d told Lila I’d be more open-minded on this trip, and while it wouldn’t be easy for me, I had meant it. I didn’t want to be the asshole who ruined this experience for her. She was a nice girl, and it was time I started treating her with a hell of a lot more respect and decency. I didn’t know how to enjoy a vacation, and I certainly didn’t know how to enjoy one with a girl I hardly knew, much less one who was also my total opposite. But damnit, I was going to try.
Before I could get too lost in my thoughts, the shower in the stall next to mine turned on. Soft humming filled my ears, and I jerked my attention to the divider that was just barely high enough to block the sight from next door.
“Lila? What the hell are you doing?”
“Um, showering?” she said it a tone that implied I was being an idiot.
“You couldn’t wait until I was finished?” I bit out.
Her laugh was melodic, mixing with the sound of the steady stream of her shower. “There are two showers, Harrison, and I wanted to refresh myself just as badly as you did. Why should I have to wait?”
The subtle scent of her floral shampoo wafted over to my side and made my nostrils flare. I could hear her next to me as she lathered her hair—or was it her body?
Suddenly I was all too aware that a very naked Lila was just a few feet away from me, separated only by a flimsy plastic divider. I bit down on my lip and closed my eyes, trying to get a clear head.
