I move to get close to Carter again, but he shakes his head.
I know we’ve had one close call too many.
We need to wait.
But for how long?
And can either of us keep up this charade for a whole week?
I know I sure as hell can’t.
I should’ve packed a whole suitcase of panties if I was even going to try.
By the time dad and I dress in our rooms and congregate in Carter’s room through the connecting doors, he has a fine fire crackling in all three rooms.
He’s the perfect picture of a man who’s skied during the day and spent the afternoon settling the rooms into a warm and comfortable place for the night, which we all feel settling in early.
“Looks like I’ll skip my shower,” he announces, not hiding his chagrin and shrugging at my dad who looks guilty for maybe hogging all the hot water in the first place.
“They have a fire in the lodge,” dad offers. “Maybe another set of showers too.”
“Would you rather I stayed in the lodge?” Carter says forcefully, holding my dad’s stare with his deep, penetrating eyes.
“That’s not what I meant,” dad stammers.
“Then why have me shift rooms in the first place?” he growls.
“Why have me here at all, Greg?” he asks cuttingly, but not losing his cool.
Asking my dad simple questions, man to man.
“I think we’d better calm down,” my dad says, blowing air out of puffed cheeks and not even daring to look at me.
“We’ve all got cabin fever and we just got here,” he exclaims, laughing to himself.
“Keep the room if you want, Carter. And don’t mind me, I’m just pissed I had my shower cut short, but we will get it all sorted, I promise,” he adds, picking up the receiver of the lodge phone, telling them about the hot water problem.
I can’t help but wonder though, how much of what Carter’s said is true, and just how much of our own hot water we’re getting each other into.
Especially if his room really is gonna be next to mine with only a door between us?
Carter pretends to poke the fire and I pretend to close my door, keeping it ajar while I get finished drying my hair.
All that really involves is sitting on the edge of the bed, wishing Carter could just come in again.
That he could just have me right here, even on this stranger bed which I know wouldn’t feel strange at all if only he’d just pull the covers up over us both and lock all the doors for a few days.
“That’s right! The whole hot water system just went out… well uh… yes my daughter was… oh. Oh, I see…” I hear my dad murmur from the next room.
Tying my hair up in a towel, I venture out, moving over to the fire in Carter’s room as an excuse to be near him again, hearing the last of my dad’s comments over the phone.
“No. No, I don’t think we will be needing a table for dinner at extra cost, thank you. So far, I’ve found the service here to be nothing but rude and condescending!” he finally snaps, slamming down the phone.
I notice Carter’s brow raised and I stifle a smirk, but it’s not fair.
Dad’s really trying to keep this whole thing just perfect for the three of us.
Which is probably why it’s not working.
“What’s up?” Carter asks, keeping his gaze on the flames in the grate.
“Damn nonsense is what!” Dad exclaims. “Some BS about having more than one shower running at a time, putting too much pressure on the pipes.”
He catches himself again.
“Sorry guys, I really thought this place was first rate. Guess not.”
“It’s okay, Greg,” Carter reassures him.
“If you can put up with my stink, how ‘bout we try some of that food you brought with you? Take tonight to just settle in, in our own way buddy?” he suggests, making my dad relax some more as he looks over to me.
“I’d like that,” Dad says.
“We can even play board games,” I suggest, stealing a glance at Carter with my teeth over my lip, signaling him I haven’t forgotten our real date.
Not by a long shot.
Chapter Ten
Carter
Now I know.
That’s something, at least I can tell my aching dick it’s not just dreaming of Serena. She actually wants me too.
This lodge and cabin set up is ancient. I’m actually surprised we have any hot water at all, and Greg’s attitude only gets him a mouthful back from management.
I wonder just how much they’d take for the place…
Bought a hotel in Bangkok the one time I went there. It was terrible. Does great now. One of my better investments.
Like I said though, it’s a good thing Greg comes prepared for anything, and in no time I wash up with some hot water from a kettle and we all settle down to an early evening of cabin entertainment a’ la Greg Blaxhall style.