Chapter 6: Room Nineteen

The lodge in Estes Park had a moose head over the front desk and no other rooms.

I know because I asked the clerk three times.

"We're at capacity, ma'am," he said. "Whole floor of Tallgrass. Room Nineteen is what we have."

"Is there a cot?"

"There's a king bed. It's a very good bed."

Behind me Drake set down two overnight bags and said nothing, with his whole body.

Odette had given the afternoon to a ropes course and the evening to a long table of elk stew.

At nine she stood and said, "Bed, children," and did not look at us when she said it.

Room Nineteen was at the end of a pine hallway.

Inside there was a stone fireplace with a fire already laid.

A quilt the color of cranberry sauce, a window onto black mountains, and one enormous bed.

On the pillow lay a card.

Enjoy the double booking! Love, Laney. P.S. Don't thank me.

"I'm going to kill her," I said.

"I'll hold her down."

I shut the door and locked it.

It was Wednesday.

I stood with my back against the wood and looked at him.

He stood by the window in shirtsleeves, with his vest unbuttoned and the lamp lighting half of his face.

"It's my day," I said.

"I'm aware."

"Take off your vest."

He took off his vest and hung it neatly on the chair, which is the most Drake thing a man has ever done.

"Shirt."

He undid the buttons one at a time.

He has a broad chest with a dusting of grey hair.

A long old scar under one rib that I wanted to ask about, and shoulders that made my mouth go dry.

"Come here," I said.

He came.

I put my palms on his chest and felt his heart hammering under them.

"I want something tonight," I said. "And I want to say it plainly."

"Then say it plainly."

His smile pulled up one side of his mouth.

"What do you want, Roz?"

"I want you inside me. I want you to take your time. And I want to come first."

He closed his eyes.

"That," he said, hoarse, "is the most reasonable thing anyone has ever asked me."

I undressed myself, because I wanted him to watch.

The cardigan, the blouse, the grey skirt.

I stood there in my bra and underwear, with my hair coming down out of its ponytail and my glasses on.

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