imagining me farting. That is the last thing I want a man like Holden to think about.
“Don’t worry, dear, you’ll pick up on their humor quickly enough. Now, how many nights will you be staying?” Bea asks me, pulling out a set of keys.
“I have no idea,” I reply honestly.
“Are you running from something, sweetheart?” Bea laughs, and though I know to her it is just another joke, her words sting with truth.
I shake my head. “Just trying for a spontaneous adventure.”
“I see, well the nightly and weekly rates are all in the info I gave you.” Bea pauses, looking into my eyes as if studying me. Her glance shifts, and I can tell she sees something in me, but I’m just not sure what. She places the keys in my hand, wrapping my fingers around them. She adds, “Why don’t you get settled in, and we can run your payment in the bar later this evening? I have a kitchen to get back to.”
“I’m grateful; thank you,” I say in response and look at the key.
“Back down the hall, first door at the top of the stairs,” she instructs. The room is the farthest from the bathroom, but also farthest from Holden, which in the moment seems like a good thing.
I turn and make my way to the door, sliding my key in, and drag my luggage inside, thrusting it up onto the bed. Light drenches the room from the window on the left wall. I’m thrilled to see, just as I had desired, my room is one with the window box of flowers. There’s no dresser—just a small double bed, and nightstands that could double for clothing storage, if needed. On the far wall, opposite the window, is a wardrobe of chestnut colors. Shoved against the wall with the door I’d just entered through is a small desk. It isn’t fancy, but it is functional. I imagine how perfect the room would have been for Jane Austen to create one of her enchanting characters.
I’m not one to tire, but it seems as though I’ve felt the need to nap every day since leaving on this trip. Perhaps this is the jet lag I’ve heard so much about, but never experienced. Flying overseas is what it took to suck the wind out of my sails apparently. Of course, if I’m being completely honest, I’ve pretty much felt like this since Jack and I split. Kenzie keeps telling me I’m depressed, but I refuse to believe it. I won’t accept that a man could put me in such a state.
Hoping the embarrassment I experienced earlier will have slipped from everyone’s mind after a little time, I decide a nap is exactly what I need. Then I will slip downstairs for a bite to eat and some exploring. Now if I can quit thinking about Holden’s half-cocked smile long enough to fall asleep, I’ll be all set.
“Let me get this straight,” Kenzie starts, but I know where she’s headed before the words ever leave her mouth. “You’re staying right down the hall from an insanely hot guy, and you haven’t done anything about it yet?”
I laugh; I miss her smile and her inappropriate comments. “I’ve been gone less than a week, and you would already have me jumping in bed with the first hot guy I see.”
“First off, I’m sure he isn’t the first you’ve seen, and second, do you think a kiss would be so terrible?”
“I talked to him for two minutes, and it was completely embarrassing.”
“From what you’ve told me, it was harmless fun.”
“Harmless or not, most of the bar was laughing about my possible flatulence. Not exactly a great way to lead in to, ’Hey, you’re pretty hot, wanna make out?’”
“Not that you ever would,” Kenzie says.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask, defensive. But I know exactly what she means. I’ve never taken chances. My version of living on the wild side is walking from the bathroom to the bedroom without putting my robe on first. Yep, that’s right, naked. I’m not like Kenzie. She is able to throw caution to the wind and embrace life with every fiber of her being.
“Nothing, forget I said anything—”
“Uh huh,
“Don’t worry, dear, you’ll pick up on their humor quickly enough. Now, how many nights will you be staying?” Bea asks me, pulling out a set of keys.
“I have no idea,” I reply honestly.
“Are you running from something, sweetheart?” Bea laughs, and though I know to her it is just another joke, her words sting with truth.
I shake my head. “Just trying for a spontaneous adventure.”
“I see, well the nightly and weekly rates are all in the info I gave you.” Bea pauses, looking into my eyes as if studying me. Her glance shifts, and I can tell she sees something in me, but I’m just not sure what. She places the keys in my hand, wrapping my fingers around them. She adds, “Why don’t you get settled in, and we can run your payment in the bar later this evening? I have a kitchen to get back to.”
“I’m grateful; thank you,” I say in response and look at the key.
“Back down the hall, first door at the top of the stairs,” she instructs. The room is the farthest from the bathroom, but also farthest from Holden, which in the moment seems like a good thing.
I turn and make my way to the door, sliding my key in, and drag my luggage inside, thrusting it up onto the bed. Light drenches the room from the window on the left wall. I’m thrilled to see, just as I had desired, my room is one with the window box of flowers. There’s no dresser—just a small double bed, and nightstands that could double for clothing storage, if needed. On the far wall, opposite the window, is a wardrobe of chestnut colors. Shoved against the wall with the door I’d just entered through is a small desk. It isn’t fancy, but it is functional. I imagine how perfect the room would have been for Jane Austen to create one of her enchanting characters.
I’m not one to tire, but it seems as though I’ve felt the need to nap every day since leaving on this trip. Perhaps this is the jet lag I’ve heard so much about, but never experienced. Flying overseas is what it took to suck the wind out of my sails apparently. Of course, if I’m being completely honest, I’ve pretty much felt like this since Jack and I split. Kenzie keeps telling me I’m depressed, but I refuse to believe it. I won’t accept that a man could put me in such a state.
Hoping the embarrassment I experienced earlier will have slipped from everyone’s mind after a little time, I decide a nap is exactly what I need. Then I will slip downstairs for a bite to eat and some exploring. Now if I can quit thinking about Holden’s half-cocked smile long enough to fall asleep, I’ll be all set.
“Let me get this straight,” Kenzie starts, but I know where she’s headed before the words ever leave her mouth. “You’re staying right down the hall from an insanely hot guy, and you haven’t done anything about it yet?”
I laugh; I miss her smile and her inappropriate comments. “I’ve been gone less than a week, and you would already have me jumping in bed with the first hot guy I see.”
“First off, I’m sure he isn’t the first you’ve seen, and second, do you think a kiss would be so terrible?”
“I talked to him for two minutes, and it was completely embarrassing.”
“From what you’ve told me, it was harmless fun.”
“Harmless or not, most of the bar was laughing about my possible flatulence. Not exactly a great way to lead in to, ’Hey, you’re pretty hot, wanna make out?’”
“Not that you ever would,” Kenzie says.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask, defensive. But I know exactly what she means. I’ve never taken chances. My version of living on the wild side is walking from the bathroom to the bedroom without putting my robe on first. Yep, that’s right, naked. I’m not like Kenzie. She is able to throw caution to the wind and embrace life with every fiber of her being.
“Nothing, forget I said anything—”
“Uh huh,
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