Page 19 of Through the Five-Hole

“Yep.It’s the nicer of the two.The other one just has a mattress on the floor and one small lamp.It’s basically used when I watch little Mia for Levi and Scarlett, which isn’t often, but she loves tents, so I build blanket forts for her and Potato.”

“Potato?”I questioned.

“Yeah, her stuffed animal.”He chuckled.

Why didn’t I insist on a hotel, I thought to myself as I continued to look around.There was no way I was sleeping in here, in his bed, with a pillow his boxers had been on.

“It’s fine.I’ll take the other room,” I muttered.

“This one has an excellent mattress and a private bathroom.The other room, you’ll have to use the main hallway bathroom.I think you will be more comfortable here.”

“It’s fine,” I said, still thinking about putting my head on the pillow that held his boxers.

“This room is better suited for you.It even has a small desk that you can work at uninterrupted,” he said, walking over, clearing a pile of dirty clothes to reveal a small white desk.He shoved the clothes in the hamper and then came back to the door.

“I told you the other room will be fine!”I shoved past him and went into the hall, to the other bedroom door, and shoved it open.He was right.Just as he’d said, there was nothing more than a mattress and a small lamp on the floor.I walked in, placed my bags over in the corner, then opened the closet door to find a few empty hangers on the rod.

“Suit yourself.Need anything else?”he questioned.

“Nope, nothing,” I said, looking around the room, wondering how on earth I was going to make this work.Perhaps I shouldn’t have been so stubborn and just used the other room.

I walked over to the door after he’d left and shut it, turned around and walked over to my bags.I began unpacking things, carefully hanging my items in the closet, doubling some shirts and pants along with skirts on some hangers.When I got to my undergarments, I decided to just leave them in the suitcase because I didn’t have any other choice, and zipped the lid closed.

I was just about to turn and pull out some of my toiletries when the door opened and Colton appeared holding a small folding table.

“For the light,” he grumbled, leaving it in the doorway.

I quickly grabbed it and placed it beside the mattress, placing the small light on it, and then setting my toiletry bag off to the side.It was then I realized there were no sheets or blankets on the bed, but when I turned back to the door, Colton was gone.

I took a deep breath and then made my way over to the door and poked my head out into the hall.The house was quiet.I made my way down to the kitchen, where I found Colton sitting at the kitchen table drinking a bottle of beer.

“Comfortable?”he questioned.

Comfortable?Was he kidding?I wasn’t comfortable.Who lived like this?

“Uh, could I get some sheets?”

“Sorry, baby girl, I don’t have any.”

I frowned.He’d just told me he made blanket forts.

“Um, you don’t have any?”I said again, my voice shaking.

“Nope, that was why I offered you my room, but you insisted on taking the other.So, if you want sheets, you’ll have to get some from the store,” he said, bringing the bottle of beer to his lips and taking a drink, while looking me directly in the eyes.

I said nothing.I simply turned to leave the kitchen but stopped at the entrance and turned around again, meeting his eyes.“Before I forget, enjoy that beer.It will be your last.”

“What?”

“You heard me,” I said, heading back down the hall.

“The fuck it is!”he yelled back just as I shut the door to my new room.

As I paced back and forth, listening to the swearing that was going on out in the kitchen, I had a feeling everyone was right.He was going to be my most challenging client yet, and all I could do was look at the four walls of this hellhole he called a bedroom and do my best to keep a level head.

I’d takena cab to the store and returned with some food, sheets, and a few things I’d need to make my stay a little more comfortable.The first thing I’d noticed was that the driveway was empty, as was the house.

Glad to be alone, I took my time making my room as comfortable as I could.After I washed everything, I made the bed with the new sheets I’d bought, then covered it was the new duvet.I pulled the blinds on the windows and then carried my laptop and notebooks to the kitchen to do some work while I made my dinner.