Ghosts of Averoigne

“And in the meantime?” Logan yawned.

His yawn triggered hers. “I think you just answered your own question.”

Twenty-Two

Sleeping away the snowy afternoon was a great idea, or at least it seemed that way at first. Kara was beyond tired, mentally and physically drained. They could get some rest, all of them. Be prepared for tonight.

It’s too damned cold in here!

It was odd too, because last night the room had been so oppressing hot. Now it seemed like cold radiated from anywhere and everywhere. The floor, the walls, and especially the constantly rattling window — all of it gave off a draft that had Kara pulling her covers up to her chin.

She also didn’t feel secure, although she’d never admit that to either of her exes. Kara had the door safely locked, the curtains pulled tight. The room was dim, but not dark. And still…

I could call him. Tell him to come join me.

She expected the little voice in her head to tell her no. To scream at her that she was being stupid again. Rather than tell her that, it decided to screw with her even more:

Call who?

It was a good question. A great question, actually. Alone and cold as she was, and stripped right now of all inhibitions? Kara could admit to herself she had certain feelings for both of them.

I could call Jeremy…

That would be easy. He was already staying on her floor. She could invite him into her bed, have him keep her warm. Set the alarm on her phone, throw him out shortly before they were to all meet up in the downstairs lobby. Logan would never even know.

And hell, why should it matter if Logan knew at all? She wasn’t committed to h

im. She owed him nothing — not the slightest bit of explanation. Not even after last night.

Yes, Jeremy was the safe choice. Then again, Logan was somehow more familiar. Carnally familiar, Kara reminded herself sharply. Although her mind — or body for that matter — really didn’t need much reminding.

Or I could stay here and suck it up, she told herself. Stop acting weak for once.

She flipped her pillow over. It was cold on the other side, but she did it anyway. An anger started welling up within her, a frustration at wanting something she shouldn’t want. Needing something she shouldn’t need.

The phone probably has no service anyway, she remembered. Or very little.

All at once she decided to let that be the decision maker. She wouldn’t use the hotel line. She’d let her own phone decide…

Kara rolled over and punched the button. The screen flicked on. One bar… one little bar. She was lucky.

Or unlucky, she didn’t know which.

She paused for a moment, her arms cold and covered in gooseflesh from being outside the blankets. Kara typed out a message, deleted it, then typed it out again. Then she stopped. Debated. Her finger hovered over the send button…

Fuck.

The little bar she had was gone.

I’m an asshole, she thought to herself. And now I’ll be an asshole without any sleep.

Kara stared at the NO SERVICE message for a long time. She was about to put the phone down when the one tiny bar suddenly appeared again.

She typed like mad and hit the send button.

Come sleep with me.

She heard the ‘bloop’ as the message went out. The little flag above it read ‘delivered’. Ten seconds went by, then twenty. Then a half minute. A minute…