No Strings Attached

Chapter 2

It was dark when I was drifting off to sleep. After a long day on the road, we were trying to find a motel room to stay the night in. I had told him, "We're about to go in the middle of nowhere. Shouldn't we stop now?"

"Oh, no. It will be fine," he replied to me, yawning. There was no way we would make it.

I was just entering the phase between reality and dreams when my head started hitting the window. The car was bouncing slightly, and I realized Dad was falling asleep and driving off to the side.

"Dad!" I exclaimed, hoping to wake him up.

He bolted upright and slammed the brakes.

I clutched my seatbelt and fought against the inertia wanting to propel me through the windshield. Once the car had totally stopped, I loosened my grip and told him, "Maybe I should drive for a little while."

"No, I can do it," he retorted.

"You almost killed us."

He remained silent for a moment. "Maybe you should drive."

I nodded, and eagerly unbuckled my belt, and trudged around to the other side of the car. Once my dad was ready to go, I put the car back in gear and pulled out of the "warning, you are about to die" lines.

"We should have to travel only for a few hours tomorrow. We will probably make it there before sunset," I told him.

He grunted in response.

"You'll have to help me get there once we are off the highway. I don't really know the area much at all." My dad had come out to Boston a few weeks before so he could take a better look at the apartment we were renting. I knew that I could still use GPS, but I was just talking so I could stay awake. "Maybe after we arrive and check in with the landlord we can walk around town and take a look at all the amazing restaurants I have heard about. And we could go by the high school." I glanced over at him, anticipating a response, but he was already fast asleep. It's a good thing we switched.

About a half an hour later, we rolled into a small town. I didn't know what state we were in at this point, but I was just glad to have found a place to stay. There was a tiny little motel called "Lou's Inn" that I thought would be suitable for the night. I nudged my dad awake when I pulled into the parking lot and snatched our overnight bags from the backseat.

He shuffled in through the doors, lagging behind me. There was a young fellow in a plain grey button-up shirt at the front desk half asleep, but he perked up as soon as he saw us.

"Hi, how can I help you?" he asked politely, standing to greet us.

"Do you have any rooms available?" I asked the man.

"You're in luck," he replied with a grin. "We have one vacancy left for tonight."

"Oh, thank you, that's amazing," I said, overjoyed that I could finally sleep.

The employee smiled. "Just let me get you checked in right over here." He gestured to the desk he was standing next to, so I gladly approached it.

"Could I have a last name?" asked the man as he was booting up his computer.

"Littleton," I replied. I looked behind me to check on my dad, and he was sleeping in a chair already.

He typed a something into his computer before cheerfully saying, "All right! You'll be staying in room 14, Ma'am. Would you like me to escort you and your father to your door?"

"That would be wonderful, thank you very much," I gratefully tell him.

"My pleasure," he said with sincerity. He reached for the bags. "Allow me," he insisted.

"That's very kind of you," I said. I shook Dad awake and told him we were going to our room. He moved like a zombie, and kind of smelt like one, too.

I followed the man out of the lobby towards room 14.

"Where are you folks headed?" the deskman asks out of nowhere.

"Oh, we are moving to Boston from Wyoming," I replied.

"I see," he commented with no particular tone. "Will you be out of here in the morning?"

This is getting strange. "As soon as possible, yes," I told him warily. I knew people around Boston were nice, but I didn't really expect it from the man at the motel.

"Shame. I was hoping to get to know you better, perhaps over breakfast?" he flirted.

Oh God. Make it stop. "Well, maybe," I replied curtly.

He stopped in front of a door with a brass "14" nailed on it. "Well, here we are." He unlocked the door and opened it for my father – who was still reacting like a sloth – and me.

I entered the surprisingly gorgeous motel room with a quaint kitchen and two full-size beds covered in crème orange comforters. The walls were a lemon-yellow with a bright green trim. A small television sat on a white wooden three-drawer dresser, and next to it lay nice bouquet of daisies. "Wow, this is incredible!" I exclaimed.

"Thank you," he said proudly. "I hand-pick the flowers from our garden. Where would you like me to set your bags?"

"The bed is fine, thanks," I replied, not really paying attention to him. I was too busy admiring the simple yet striking elegance of the room.

Dad flopped onto the bed closest to the door and fell asleep once again, not even bothering to change out of his clothes.

"My name is Eric if you need anything else," the bellboy offered, leaning against the doorframe.

I acknowledged him with a slight shake of my head. "No, I think we are okay for tonight. Thanks." I reached into my purse for a five dollar bill to give him.

"A tip isn't necessary," he rejected. "It was enough just to speak with you."

I internally rolled my eyes. Men. They are such flirts. "Oh, please."

He winked at me. I swear, he winked at me. "Are you sure you don't want any midnight snacks before you turn in? I could make you something."

I began to close the door. He was starting to piss me off. "No, I'm fine."

"But–"

He was cut off by the sound of the door slamming in his face.

I sighed and shook my head, as if that would help me forget about Eric the Bellboy. I changed into sweatpants and hopped into bed. I fell asleep almost as soon as my head hit the pillow.