Page 30 of Fake Rocks
“Here you go. The room is already paid for, but if you’d like anything charged to the room, I’ll need a card.” She looked toward me, but Saff brandished her credit card.
“You can use this one.” Saff gave her a tight smile as she took the details.
“Lovely, thank you. You’re right up on the top floor.” The receptionist gave Saff her card back, then slid the keys across the counter towards me. “Do give us a call if you need anything at all.”
I picked up our bags and we made our way to the lifts. It was certainly an experience being in a place like this, with someone like Saff. I wanted to make sure I enjoyed every moment.
“Wow.” I whistled as we entered the suite.
It was an enormous, split level affair. We came in to a living/dining area with a massive LCD TV on the wall, and a midi stereo with iPod dock. Leading off from it was a huge bathroom with a roll top free-standing bath, a separate shower and double sink units, while there was a mezzanine bed deck with another flat screen TV and en suite toilet.
I had never been in something quite so luxurious. Usually if I stayed away from home, it was in the cheapest B&B or chain hotel I could find. Nothing like this.
“Wait, there’s only one bed.” Even amongst all the good stuff, I’d managed to find a flaw.
“Yeah, but it looks like a king size,” commented Saff. “Plenty of room for us both.”
The thought of actually sleeping next to her scared me a little. What if I had an involuntary reaction to being so close to her and she thought badly of me? I couldn’t risk it. Luckily, it looked as if the sofa would be able to accommodate me, as long as there was some extra bedding.
“It’s fine, I’ll sleep on the sofa.”
“Don’t be silly, you don’t have to do that.” Saff shook her head. “I’ll feel bad if you do. After all, it’s because of me you’re here and you shouldn’t have to suffer.”
I didn’t want to tell her spending time around her was enough and I definitely wouldn’t be suffering.
“Or I could see if they’ve got another room?” she added.
“Because that will go down well if someone tips off your gossip columnists or whoever they are. Imagine the headlines of ‘Saff Barnes and her new boyfriend already in lover’s tiff as he sleeps in a separate room’.” I used air quotes to indicate the potential headline. “Seriously, Saff, it’s not a problem. I’ve slept on worse places than that sofa.” I wasn’t even joking. With the squishy looking cushions and acres of space, it was a hell of a lot more inviting than the bunk bed I’d gotten used to. And even though I’d already witnessed Saff’s snoring, I knew it wouldn’t be anywhere near as bad as my old roommate’s.
17
Saff
Tris was amazing. I couldn’t get over the fact he wanted to sleep on the sofa instead of in bed with me.
Unless it was the ‘with me’ part that was the issue. I kind of hoped it wasn’t.
The train journey whizzed by, the two of us just chatting shit and getting to know each other better. Finding out he’d lost his mum at the same time as I had somehow made me feel closer to him. Like we had a bond between us. I wanted him even more now.
A whole thirty-six hours in Manchester stretched out in front of us.
I yawned. “I know it’s early, but I’m not keen on going out tonight. Don’t suppose you fancy ordering up some room service and maybe watching a movie?”
“Sounds good. Although you know we’re going to argue over film choices, right?”
“What because you like chick flicks and I love action films?” It was a small joke. Being around Jonas for half my life - a gay guy who loved a bloke with muscles - we were always watching some shoot-em-up, gang related thing. Although I agreed with him, Vin Diesel was totally hot.
Tris waved the room service menu at me. “You ready to eat now? It’ll probably be half an hour or so before the food arrives anyway.”
Perhaps it had been the crappy sandwich from the train, but my stomach rumbled as if on cue in anticipation of some decent sustenance.
He laughed. “Maybe we can get them to hurry it up?”
I stuck my tongue out and crossed the living area to take the menu from him. He held it slightly out of my reach, his gaze teasing as he waved it at me.
“How much do you want it?”
You or the menu?
