Page 47 of More Than a Match

“Alright, up you get,” I groan as I stand and offer her my hand. “I don’t wanna move either, but we have to if we’re going to figure out this whole smell thing.”

“Can’t you just do it?” she flutters her eyelashes at me. “We don’t need both of our noses. Just one. And look, you’re already up!”

“You rascal. Fine. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

I make my way outside, the fresh air flooding my nostrils and washing away the stale air from the apartment. I lean over the railing and look down into the parking lot below. I can hear the gentle hum of distant city traffic, and for a moment, the world seems peaceful and still. I close my eyes and take several slow, measured breaths. Tonight could have gone so, so poorly. Thankfully, it didn’t. I don’t know what I would have done if Jason became aggressive or traumatized her in some way. I’d be in lockup by now for murder, I know that much.

I take a few more deep breaths and head back inside. As soon as I open the door, I know the answer.

“Hey babe?”

“Yeah?”

“It’s nose blindness. It still stinks.”

“Damn.”

“Yeah. Let’s pack up and head out for the night.”

“Where are we going to go?”

“There’s a hotel up the street with decent rates. Let’s go there and get all showered, order a pizza, and have a good night’s sleep. I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted.”

She nods and groans. “That sounds great. It’s late though, will they still take us?”

“Let me call and find out. If they will, we’ll get going. If not, we need a backup plan.”

“Alright,” she agrees, slumping over on the couch face down. “Just let me know what we’re doing.”

“Will do. You think of somewhere to go if this doesn’t work out, alright?”

“Mhmm,” she mumbles into the cushions and gives me a thumbs up.

The phone call only takes a few minutes, and I hang up with a grin. “They’ve got a room, and they do offer late check out. So I went ahead and put our name on it. It’s ours till tomorrow afternoon.”

She rolls over on the couch and scooches back to a sitting position. “Sounds good. Help me up and let’s go.”

CHAPTER 33: MINA

The hot water cascades over my body as I work the shampoo into a lather. This is the third round of shampoo, and I’m hoping that after this, I’ll feel clean enough to use the conditioner. Tonight has been an ordeal, and thankfully, not too bad. Just emotionally draining. There’s a gentle knock at the bathroom door.

“Hey babe?” Alex’s voice is muffled by the door and the sound of the water, not to mention the shampoo suds creating a cloud around my ears.

“Yeah?” I yell back.

“Just wanted to make sure you’re ok. Also, pizza’s here.”

“Thanks baby. Yeah, I’m good, I’ll be out in a few minutes!”

It’s time to wrap this up, but I don’t want to. The hot water feels so good on my tired muscles. After working a full shift I’m usually pretty tired, but then going through an emotionally stressful roller coaster and having to do a full deep clean on the apartment really topped it all off. I feel like once I fall asleep, I won’t ever want to wake up. Thankfully I’ve got tomorrow off to recuperate.

I condition my hair quickly and finish my shower. This hotel is one of the fancy ones that leaves robes for the guests, so once I’m done drying off I wrap myself in the lush fabric and sweep my hair into a towel.

I emerge from the bathroom, finally feeling clean after the debacle of the day. Alex is sitting on the bed in his boxers, the pizza box open in front of him.

“Hey, I waited for you. Let’s eat, then I’m going to shower.”

“Sounds good.” The smell of the pizza fills the hotel room, and my stomach growls in response. “Damn, I didn’t realize how hungry I was until just now. I haven’t eaten anything since lunch, since Jason and I never actually made it to dinner.”

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