“How much did it cost?”
“It's not important. Let's go.” We both got out of the car and headed to the door.
“Jet, how much did the room cost?” She wasn't letting it go, and I really didn't want to tell her.
“Jet?”
I put the key in the lock, and laughed, as I said, “Fifty bucks.”
“Fifty! Oh, this is going to be good! Just great, I don't think I've ever heard of a room for rent for that low.”
“Well, it was a first for me too, but I'm sure it's delightful.”
She looked at me and shook her head, looking vaguely unimpressed.
I pushed open the door and it swung open to reveal a dark, musty room. The oldest furniture known to man littered the room, and some of it looked to be falling apart. The walls were yellow from smoke, and the bedding looked like it had never been washed. It was covered with stains. It was one of the most terrifying scenes I had ever seen, and I'm a fighter. Natalie burst out laughing and left the room. I looked after her and wondered if she was planning on coming back. I eyeballed the room, and figured she probably wasn't planning on it. I followed her outside and found her leaning against the hood of the car.
“I am not sleeping in that room!”
“Natalie.”
“Jet, no. Seriously. Go get your money back, we’re leaving!”
“Baby, where are we going to go? We have been driving around for a half hour, and there's just nothing out there. I'm sorry, we are going to have to tough it out for the night.”
“Have you lost your mind? Do you want to take another look in there?” She walked back over to the room and pushed the door open again. “That is a roach motel in there!”
I laughed. “Baby, we have nowhere else to go, you know that. You didn't want to sleep in the car, and really, that would be our only other option at this point.”
“Jet ... ugh, I'm not doing this!”
“Baby, are you yelling at me?” I laughed.
She shook her head laughing. “Find someplace else, and find it now. I don't like acting like a princess, but in this case it's happening right now.”
“Sweetie, I know you deserve the Ritz, and if I could find one, I would take you there in an instant, but I can’t; this is it. I fucked up, I know, but this is what we have for tonight.”
“Jet, I don’t need the Ritz, but did you see the sheets? I’m sure if you did, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
I grinned. “Wow, how is it that when you’re mad you turn me on, and all I want to do is fix it?”
She laughed. “Don’t even think about getting lucky on those sheets.”
“Baby, you make me crazy.”
“Jet, I’d rather sleep in the car.”
“Don’t be silly. It’ll be okay, it’s just one night.”
I took her hand and pulled her in the room, closing the door behind us.
“Jet, you know this place has cockroaches, it’s inevitable. You also know the moment one touches me your life is over. True story.”
I growled. “Baby … man, what I wouldn’t do for clean sheets.”
Natalie burst out laughing.
“Mmm … there’s my girl. I’ll protect you, baby.”