I turn away so he doesn’t see my massive smile. “Well, since you asked so nicely, I’ll skip the crop top. But I’m still not wearing a bra.”
I slam the bathroom door behind me and lock it, fighting back laughter as he releases a tirade of curses on the other side.
Gabe unlocksthe door to our hotel room. It creaks as it swings inward. He steps inside and flips on the light.
“Here we are. Much more reasonable.”
I linger in the entryway. We have an outside door looking over a typical motel balcony at the pothole-pitted parking lot. The big sign near the main freeway says OTEL EAVEN which I think is supposed to be Motel Heaven but I can’t be sure. The clerk up front couldn’t have been older than nineteen, covered in acne, and reeked like weed.
“When I saidmore reasonable, I didn’t mean,more likely to give me tetanus.”
“What’s wrong with this place?” Gabe dumps his bag on the floor and drops heavily onto the edge of the bed. It squeaks disconcertingly.
“For one, I’m pretty sure the rug’s stained.” I study a big brown spot near the television. “Actually, is that blood?”
“Probably not.” Gabe doesn’t sound like he’s sure about that.
“And for another, there’s only one bed.”
“We’re a married couple, remember?”
“Right, but it’d be nice if you had the option of a couch on the other side of a door.”
“Ah, now we’re back into expensive suite territory, and here I was thinking you were trying to save money.”
The rat bastard. Now it’s his turn to grin at me, like I was teasing him this morning. I know what he’s doing, and it’s taking all my effort not to lash out.
Truth is, I really enjoyed living above my means. I’ve been barely comfortable my whole life, and it’s been nice pretending like I’m as rich as my bank account says I am.
But I asked for this, and this is what I get.
“You know what? It’s not that bad.” I shut the door behind me and put my suitcase beside the little end table. There’s a flatscreen TV with a big notice that readsChannels Extraand a minifridge that’s completely warm. I poke my head into the bathroom and find it’s not all that bad, or at least it’s been cleaned recently.
“You sure about that?” Gabe’s leaning back on the bed casually flicking through his phone. “You’re going to be spending a lot of time in here.”
“Why’s that?”
“In case you didn’t notice, things are heating up.” He touches the wound on his chest. “We need to lay low.”
“Perfect reason why we should be staying in a place like this.” I drop into a padded chair facing the bed. It’s about the most uncomfortable seat I’ve ever been in. I swear, someone must’ve filled the cushion with needles.
“I know you think I’m just being cruel—“ A tight smile suggests yes, in fact, that’s his goal. “But this place is a decent choice. It’s off the beaten path, not my usual style, and defensible. I have a team watching the door at all hours and they can be inconspicuous. Although I bet the hookers will give them some trouble.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “Hookers?”
“How else do you think Otel Eaven stays in business?”
I groan and lean back. “I didn’t want to think about it.”
“Cheer up. The place is clean, I promise. The staff here is solid. Mostly because a few of my guys know them personally.”
“That makes me feel so much better. Your criminals have cousins who scrub the toilets.” I get to my feet and wander back to the bathroom. “I’m taking a shower. Can I trust you to be a good boy while I’m in here?”
“Cross my heart and hope to die.”
“Wonderful. Not reassuring at all.”
At least there’s fantastic pressure. Steam rises in thick plumes and I let the water blast my skin, scalding and painful. I stay in longer than I need to, letting my mind wander over what my life’s become.