Stronger than the Boys {1}

Chapter Thirty - Many Conversations

Jay and I shared a bed in the hotel room. Even though there were two doubles, as soon as we walked into the room we had the same thought. 'I am not sleeping alone.'

It was a dark and damp room that smelt like mould and bleach. With our enhanced senses, we could both tell that someone had probably, most-likely, died in here at some point. Even the bathroom was rusty and gross. But I guess this is what you get when you pay the lowest price in a dead-end town in the middle of nowhere.

The sheets of the bed were crusty and hard when I pulled them back and I gave an alarmed look to Jay. "Good thing I'm your own personal heater and you don't need any blankets."

That means he intends to cuddle.

I was feeling queasy but something told me I didn't want to throw up in the toilet back there because it won't drain. Then we'll be left with the smell of puke also surrounding us while we try to sleep.

Jay made a hasty decision and ripped all of the sheets off the bed, I didn't move to stop him. He left the fitted sheet on (because neither of us wanted to see that gross mattress) and then pulled out a blanket out of the bottom of his backpack. He spilled his extra set of clothes all over the floor but quickly shoved them back in before spreading the blanket out over the fitted sheet and the pillows - it was a really big blanket.

He then smiled and gestured to his wonderful solution.

"How'd you fit a blanket in there and why?"

He laughed out loud just once, "in case we had to sleep in the middle of nowhere and on the dirt ground."

I nodded once, that was a survival answer.

We both then took turns in the bathroom, washing up a little and getting pj's on. I brought a baggy t-shirt and a pair of shorts to sleep in and Jay just stripped down to his underwear and climbed onto the bed. He grinned at me when I was done brushing my teeth, "no underwear this time?"

I clenched my teeth. I had considered not bringing anything to sleep in like last time to lighten the load I was carrying for myself, but then I remembered that last time Jay couldn't let go of me and the tingles on my stomach and I decided I needed at least a shirt. I was afraid of liking it too much and I can't have distractions while looking for my mother. Otherwise, I think I'd lay in bed all day with him instead and that cannot happen.

I paused for a moment longer than I probably should have but both of our heads snapped towards the front door when there was a knock on it. Part of me felt over-joy with relief that I hadn't been caught half-naked in bed with Jay yet but I knew who was there and I visibly frowned. Jay was also frowning.

"Go away Jeremy," I yelled, half-heartedly.

"Can we please talk?" Jeremy said quietly back, "face-to-face."

I sighed, "tomorrow."

He waited a long minute and then finally walked away and went back to the original room we had rented. I relaxed a little then looked back to Jay who was frowning still.

"What is his deal? He already admitted he has a mate."

I didn't respond. Instead, I just walked over to the side of the bed and laid down. I faced the window while laying on my side and stayed as close to the edge as I could. I could feel Jay watching me and I knew he was a little annoyed but Jeremy was upsetting me.

After a full minute of not moving, Jay decided to take action himself. He wrapped both arms around my stomach and pulled me closer to him, finally resting my back against his chest, and his arms didn't loosen. The bed let out more smell with this movement but both of us took small breaths to try and ignore it.