Sam LaRose, Author

Okay! Today’s prompt was one of my favorite tropes. Admittedly, I threw it into the jar after reading Oliva Dade’s “All The Feels”, which I got an ARC of from NetGalley (it was okay. You can read my full review on Goodreads). It is one of my favorite tropes…for obvious reasons.

I’ve never been in a One Bed Situation.

I’ve gone to so many Conventions with so many strangers, 8 or more people all crammed into a room…if you get a bed, you’re a lucky bitch and you don’t care WHO you share it with. So… The One Bed Trope is just hilarious to me, because I stopped caring about such things years ago.

I decided to go back to Dee and Lolli with this one. I’m not sure I pegged Lolli very well in this one. It’ll need some later work. He came out too nervous, and Dee a little to…ah, comfortable. Ah well.

Day 8 Prompt: One Bed Trope.

“I’m going to close the shop on Saturday and Sunday to go to some auctions upstate.” Lolli’s voice was warm in my ear when we talked on the phone, about a month after my birthday. Since then, I’d been back to Junque Junction three times before I’d finally gotten the courage to ask him to grab dinner with me and have a real date. He, to my surprise had agreed, and since then…it was like we were inseparable.

“I realize it’s maybe soon to invite a nice girl on an overnight trip, but if you’d like to come, I’d appreciate the company.” I realized he was still talking.

“An over night trip?”

“You can so no,” he assured me. “I just thought you might enjoy the auctions. There are a couple of big estate sales we could hit up too.”

“I…” It did sound like fun, but it was work for him and pleasure for me. “I don’t want to get in your way while you’re working.”

“You wouldn’t be. I’m not buying any big pieces this trip. I just like to take a weekend every month to see what’s out there. It’s more…fun then work.”

“You’re sure you want to spend an entire weekend with me? What if you find out I’m awful.”

He laughed. “It’s not possible. You’re wonderful.”

“You might not think that if you see me with bedhead.”

He laughed again. “I admit that I can’t afford two rooms, but I can get a double. Two beds.” His tone went serious. “I don’t want you to think I’m pressuring you in any way. I really am just asking because I think you’d like the sales.”

I bit my lip. Lolli was, essentially, the most non-threatening guy I’d ever met. With Rae as his sister, I really didn’t think I had anything to be worried about when it came to my personal safety.

“Yes, of course I’ll go with you. That sounds like a lot of fun.”

“Really?” He sounded relieved.

“Yeah, of course.”

“Awesome.” He sighed. “Ah, it’s going to be an early start. I’ll pick you up at…six AM?”

“Shit.”

“I know, but the earliest sale opens at eight, and it’s…a long drive. We’ll have time to stop for breakfast. There’s a great diner just outside Petersville.”

“All right. I can’t promise to be pleasant for at least the first hour though.”

“I can handle it.”

“See you at…six AM on Saturday then.”

“See you. Oh—dress comfortably. Good shoes. We’ll be doing a lot of walking around.”

“Thanks for the heads up. I’ll leave the stilettos at home.”

“Do you really own stilettos?”

“No. I’m afraid my fashion footwear is non-existent.”

“Pity. You’d look good in heels.”

“My ass would look good,” she agreed. “But I’d roll an ankle and my bash my own face in so…flats it is.”

“I do like your face, just the way it is,” he admitted. “See you Saturday.”

“Bye.”

I hung up before I badly flirt more. I tossed the phone down on my desk and held back a squee. My first over night trip with a boy. Wow.

***

Day one was an absolute bust. It rained most of the day, so we forwent the outdoor auction and instead hit some estate sales. But nothing really caught any of our eyes. And we still got drenched. It was a relief when Lolli suggested giving up and checking into the hotel a little earlier.

“We can grab dinner at the hotel restaurant. Or, splurge and order room service?”

“I’ve never ordered room service before,” I admitted.

“It’s expensive as hell, but I think we deserve it.”

“Okay,” I nodded. “Let’s go.”

The hotel was a nice, regionally branded place. It wasn’t over the top, but it wasn’t cheap either. I held out suitcases as Lolli checked in. After a minute or two, I could tell he was agitated about something. He kept looking over at me and shaking his head.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, finally approaching.

“The room reservation got fucked up,” he admitted. “They only have a single King, not the double-queen I booked.”

“Oh.”

“I’m so sorry. If you want, we can just cancel the whole thing and head home. I’m not too hopeful about—”

“Lolli, it’s fine,” I shrugged. “We’re both adults, right?”

He paused, glancing at the hotel clerk who was waiting patiently and feigning ignorance about our conversation.

“If that’s the only room available,” I leveled with him, “it’s fine, Lolli. I trust you to be a gentleman. I was going to share a room with you anyway. What difference does a lack of three feet between us while we sleep make? Besides, if I was going to find out that you snore or something, it’ll be easier to poke you awake from beside than by throwing pillows at you from the other bed.”

“I don’t snore,” he replied. “You’re sure?”

“Yes,” I nodded. I couldn’t believe I was the one being the more levelheaded.

“Okay.” He turned back to the clerk. “We’ll take it.”

“To make it up to you, let me give you vouchers for our dining room. Free Breakfast in the morning.”

“Thank you.” Lolli took the vouchers and the key card envelope.

“Room three-twelve. Turn left when you get off the elevator.” The clerk gave him a friendly smile as they stepped away from the desk.

“Seriously, Dee,” Lolli sighed as the elevator doors closed around them. “I am so fucking sorry. This was supposed to be a really fun trip and –”

“Lolli.” I reached over, grabbing his free hand with mine. “I am having a good time. I’m with you.”

His expression softened as he looked down at me. “You are?”

“I wish I wasn’t soaking wet and that you didn’t know exactly the size and shape of my areola, but you know…can’t win them all.”

He laughed at that. “I offered you my hoodie. You insisted you were fine in that tank.”

“You’d already seen them,” she shrugged.

“Dee?”

“Yeah?”

“They are pretty nice areola.”

I swatted him with my weekender bag, shoving him out of the elevator. He laughed on his way down the hallway, and the drama of check-in was pushed out of his head.

“Why don’t you go ahead and take a hot shower. Change into something dry,” he suggested. “I’ll see about ordering us some food.”

I nodded and showed myself into the bathroom. I hadn’t been in too many hotels. My family was the vacation type, what with so many kids. I’d stayed in a couple for school functions, but that was it. This was a little nicer than those hotels. The towels seemed thicker. There were robes hung in the bathroom.

After I’d gotten the bathroom nice and steamy, I contemplated getting dressed or putting on the robe. Just the robe. How would Lolli react? It would be fun to watch him get flustered. I fingered the cuff of one sleeve before shaking my head. It was mean to tease him. He was trying so damn hard to be a gentleman.

I threw on t-shirt and pair of basketball shorts I’d stolen from one of my brothers, and stepped out into the room. It was cool, compared to the warm bathroom. Lolli was just hanging up the phone.

“I got us burgers. I hope that’s okay?”

“That sounds great,” I said. I dropped my bag out of the way and then hopped onto the bed, kneeling at the foot of it. “You can go warm up and change yourself.”

“Thanks. I’ll just be a minute.”

While Lolli was in the bathroom, I got comfortable in the pillows and flicked on the TV. I think we had both expected to be tired out after walking the sales and auction all day, so we hadn’t really planned on what to do. I should have brought a book or something.

I had settled on an old sitcom re-run when Lolli reappeared, towel drying his hair. I was slightly amused by how similar our outfits were. His t-shirt had gotten the sleeves cut off, and when he turned to toss the towel back into the bathroom, I could see a lot of skin through the open holes. His shorts were a little baggier too, but a similar style to mine.

He was just about to sit down when there was a knock and he swore, getting up to grab his wallet off the table. He pulled out at ten dollar bill before opening the door. A hotel staffer came in with a folding stand and a large tray with two covered plates.

“Is there anything more I can get you?” They asked.

“No, this is great. Thank you.” Lolli handed them the cash. They thanked him and made their way back out.

“I’ll run down to the vending machine for drinks. Coke?”

“Sure,” I nodded.

“You can go ahead and start without me.”

“I can wait. You won’t be too long,” I said. I scooted to the foot of the bed, lifting the lid on one of the plates. “Are they both the same?”

“Yes. I wasn’t sure what you liked,” he admitted.

“They look fine,” I told him. I looked up at him. He looked…nervous. “Lolli?”

“Hmm?”

“Drinks?”

“Right!” He startled and turned on his heel, making for the door. A few minutes later I heard a shuffle and cursing before a knock. I laughed, spying the key card on the desk. I got up, and slowly opened the door, peeking outside.

“Can I help you?”

He frowned at me.

“I’ve already gotten my room service,” I opened the door further, leaning in the door way in what I hoped was a flirty way. “But I do enjoy the extra eye candy.”

That got him to smirk.

“You need to relax a little, Lolli,” I stepped out of the way, ushering him in.

He took a seat in front of the other plate. “I’m sorry. I’m…I feel like I’m fucking today up.” He looked up at me.

“I already told you. I’m having a great time.” I moved the tray out of the way so there was space to stand in front of him. I pushed his knees apart with mine, standing between his legs. “I like you a lot, in case you didn’t notice.” I leaned down, pressing my lips to his. He relaxed, his shoulders loosening as he leaned into the kiss. It wasn’t our first kiss. I’d learned quickly that they calmed him. “I wouldn’t have agreed to come if I wasn’t ready for every possible worst case scenario.”

“I’m just nervous,” he admitted. “I’ve…never done this before.”

“Done what before?”

“An over night trip with a…”

“A?” I raised an eyebrow. Was he going to say girl? Girlfriend? Friend?

“With someone I’m seeing.”

I frowned. I couldn’t help it.

“That sounded dumb,” he admitted. “I just mean, I like you too, Dorothy. We’ve been seeing each other for awhile now, and summer is going to be over soon. You’re going to be busy with classes and you’ll forget all about the cute boy you met over the summer and spent some time with.”

“You say that like I’m going somewhere exotic,” I said. I bit my lip. “Does this mean the cute boy isn’t interested in…after summer?”

“He is! I mean, I am. But I wasn’t sure you were.”

“I know I’m younger than you. I’m kind of immature, considering, but I’m curious how far we can take this thing.”

“Good,” he sighed. He wrapped his arms around my waist and I kissed him again.

“Maybe we should eat dinner…and then we can make out some more? This is the first time we’ve ever been alone.” “Okay,” I nodded. “But eat quickly. I’m curious about your areolas. It’s only fair.”