Page 30 of Holiday on the Rocks
Clearly I needed to tell my facial expressions to use their indoor voice, because with one look her eyes went wide as our situation registered in her brain.
Her nerves entered from stage right. “But there’s got to be a way out of here, right?”
She shuffled over to a metal cabinet in the corner and pulled open a door before rummaging through stuff. “Yeah, I’m sure there’s a hammer here or something.”
“You’re going to hammer us outta here?” Why was her panic spurring me on?
She glanced over her shoulder. “Maybe?”
She bent down and pulled some tools from the bottom shelf. “Wait, I might have the answer.”
Could the answer be to hold her against the wall and kiss all of the lip gloss from her mouth?
She sprung to her feet and held out a wrench. “This might do the trick.” She nodded like a bobble head as she went to the door and dropped to her knees. I liked it very much. “Yeah, I could use this tool to kinda grab the screws and pull out the knob?”
“It’s a wrench.”
More nodding. “That’s what I thought. A wrench.”
“Wrenches are used to tighten or loosen nuts and bolts.”
“Perfect. Yes, I need to loosen these so I’m good.”
“Those aren’t nuts or bolts.”
She let out a sigh. “I’m sure this will work, maybe.”
“I’m sure it will not work.” I walked over to the metal cabinet, turned on the flashlight in my phone, and took a look. “I don’t think the right tools are here for that.”
I turned around to see her stand while she shifted on her feet nervously. “We have to get out of here. There has to be some tool that will work.”
“Don’t think so, sweetie.”
She inhaled sharply, which lit something it shouldn’t, before she walked over and grabbed my phone. She shined the flashlight, bent down, and looked through the contents in a drawer before standing, handing me my phone, and looking down. “I need you to find a way to get that door open.” Her fingers laced together.
“Are you claustrophobic?”
“Huh?”
“Afraid of being trapped in small spaces?”
She took a little step back and spoke in a whisper. “I’m afraid of being trapped in small spaces with you.”
Her words hung in the air. “You’re not afraid of me.” I took a step toward her while she took another back. “Are you afraid of you?”
Her head shook as I took another step when her eyes drop to my lips before she quickly looked away.
“I don’t know what it is between you and me.” I took another small step while she took one back.
“There’s nothing between us.” She gulped. “We’re friends for a few days. Or not.”
I chuckled. “Sure.”
Our dance continued but as she took one more step her back was against the wall. I closed the distance between us as she let out a breath. We stood silently, and I swear I could feel her heart beating.
“You feel it. Like back then.”
She shook her head. “It’s just physical.”
