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I’ve barely finished knocking when it swings open. A baggy light blue polo shirt flies at me and crushes me in an enthusiastic embrace. At least it’s not cardboard.
“We’re gonna be roomies!” Chad says, rubbing my back a few times before letting go.
“Guess so,” I mumble. “Thanks for letting me crash.”
“You kidding? I’ve been hoping for this since the day we met! Want to help, roomie?”
He motions toward a giant grid of tiny white mint circles on the bed.
Wait. The bed. There’s only one bed. I’m supposed to share a bed with him too?! If he tries to snuggle, I’m sleeping in the hall.
He doesn’t wait for an answer before returning to his task.
“That’s the keep bag and the reject bag,” he says waving toward two open mint bags on the floor.
“I’m sorry?”
“See how this one is slightly crooked?” He plucks a mint from the sea of wrappers on the comforter.
“I mean, it’s a circle, so not really?”
“Look closely.”
He shoves it toward me, and I squint at it.
Still don’t see it.
“The L is chipped.”
I blink at the mint. Then at him.
“Reject bag.”
He tosses it in the overflowing bag to his right. There are maybe six in the other one.
“It takes some practice, but I have faith in you,” he says. “You look like a guy who knows how to sort things.”
“Yeah, um, thanks. Hey, you clearly have a good flow going here. I don’t want to mess that up. Larinda and I have to work anyway. Maybe later?”
He gives me a cautioning look. “Well, there probably won’t be anything left to do later. I have to get these to Jarvis by oh-eleven-hundred-zero hours.”
Since that was two hours ago (and not remotely correct), I’m confident he doesn’t know how military time works.
“I totally understand and will live with the disappointment. Good luck.”
I twist a quick smile, while transferring some belongings to my overnight bag. I’ll just freshen up at Larinda’s place. I have a feeling Chad will take his role as host way too seriously for my comfort and I don’t need him holding the towel for me when I get out of the shower.
“Okay, well, text me when you’re finished,” he says. “Maybe we can take a walk or hit the pool. I saw a tree I want to check out before it gets dark. I didn’t even know they had trees in Indianapolis!” he laughs.
“Sounds good. I’ll let you know, but don’t wait for me. I’d hate for you to miss the… tree.”
He returns to his mint sorting, and I sneak out before he can stop me again.
19—INDIANAPOLIS (LARINDA’S SUITE)
LARINDA
Go figure right after I messaged Val to come over for some much-needed cuddle—er, working—time, Nash and Paige showed up to say hello. Since they’re staying at a different hotel, I felt bad sending them away. Hopefully, Val doesn’t mind an impromptu double date?
