Daddy Issues

69 - Coward

We both had a couple of drinks during dinner. So at least we're a little more relaxed again by the time we enter our room. It's nothing special. Just a small room with two beds, separated by only a few feet, some basic furniture, a television suspended from the ceiling and outdated wallpaper and curtains.

I rush over to the bed furthest into the room and toss my phone onto it to claim it.

'I pick that one.'

'Why?' Dan asks, chuckling slightly.

'It's the furthest from the door. If anyone comes in trying to murder us, they'll get to me last.'

'So you don't care if I get murdered?' Dan says, offended.

'Of course I'd care, I'd be heartbroken,' I say, putting my hand over my heart. 'But at least I'd live to regret it.'

I grin and he shakes his head. Then I walk over to the window and look outside. The snow is still coming down hard, no signs of the storm calming down any time soon.

'What are we going to do now?' I say. 'It's still early.'

'I saw some board games back at the reception,' Dan says. 'Maybe we can borrow one of those. Or we could watch a movie.'

'I could play a board game. What are you in the mood for?'

I turn around to face him, and for a second, catch a strange look on his face as he watches me. But as soon as he realizes I'm looking at him too, he runs a hand over his face and looks away.

'I don't care,' he says, blushing slightly. Shit, this isn't good. We were doing fine over dinner, but now, being in this room, seems to have him a little flustered again.

'You pick.'

'Okay,' I say. Maybe it will be good to be away from each other while I go to reception. Even if it's just for a very short while. 'I'll go check it out.'

'I'm going to have a quick shower, okay? I'm all sticky from driving.'

'Good idea, maybe I'll do that too later. Ugh, I hate having to put on the same clothes again.'

'There's robes here,' Dan says, opening up the closet, built into the wall. 'We could wear that.'

He turns to look at me before he grabs one.

'Or... would that be awkward?'

Dan in a robe with nothing underneath, so close to me. I put on a smile that I hope looks casual. Don't be stupid, he might wear something underneath. He'll probably wear his underwear. There's nothing inappropriate about a robe. Maybe I'll put on a robe too, because I'm dying to get out of these jeans. The bottoms are all wet from walking through the snow, it's annoying.

'No,' I say. 'Of course not. Wear whatever you like.'

'Okay,' Dan says, taking one of the robes with him. I decide not to delay getting out of this room. I need to stay focused if I don't want to make things weird tonight. It will all be fine.

---

About an hour later, we're on opposite sides of his bed, a Scrabble board between us. I haven't played this game in a long time, but the selection didn't exactly contain the latest games, so I chose this one.

I tried not to let it get to me when Dan walked out of the bathroom in his robe, steam pouring out behind him, his hair all damp and messy. But it did get to me. So I decided to have a shower too. A moment longer to myself and an opportunity to cool off. Then I changed into the other robe, so my clothes could dry a little.

So I was ready for an innocent game of Scrabble, but somehow, the game changed into a dirty word competition. I blame the alcohol we had with dinner and the mini liquors Dan pulled out of the mini fridge in the room. One look at him made it clear that he was still feeling nervous, which is probably what made him throw one back as soon as I got out of the shower.