“Just think of it like Christmas,” she said to Daniel, pointing at the picture of the room with the red decor, hoping to disarm his nervousness. Daniel always loved Christmas, even more than most kids.
When they entered the room they got another surprise. There was a gift basket. Daniel looked through the contents and read them out.
“We got champagne, a couple glasses. There’s some smaller bottles. Looks like massage oil, a couple of different kinds, bubble bath, lube, a bunch of condoms. Oh! Including french ticklers, a couple flavored ones, a couple of pill packs. Yep, it’s Viagra. And get this: edible undies!” He held up the package for Amanda to see.
“Oh My God!” she looked at the stuff in the basket, looked around the room, and then at Daniel, and then started laughing. Daniel laughed too, happy to have the tension broken, at least a little. Despite the surroundings, neither one of them had any expectations that anything was going to happen between them.
“What the hell is this place?!” Daniel exclaimed, not really expecting an answer.
“At least it looks clean,” Amanda offered. Then she added, “Just don’t turn on a black light.” They both cringed.
“The tub could come in handy since there’s no AC, Daniel observed.” He hadn’t thought yet about privacy.
“It is hot in here.” Amanda was thinking this was all very awkward, and the heat in the room, on a summer Nevada night with no AC, was stifling.
They discovered the room had no shower, only the honeymoon spa tub, which did include a hand-held showerhead at the end of a hose. The bathroom was just a toilet and a sink. At least the bed was queen size. They both stared at it.
“I can take the floor,” said Daniel.
“Nonsense. It’s plenty big enough for us both. We can put pillows in between if you want. Plus I’m sure they wash the sheets. I’m not so sure about how often they shampoo the carpets.”
“Good point.”
“We’re just going to have to make do as best we can, I guess. Might as well open the champagne.”
“What’s the legal drinking age in Nevada?”
“I don’t know and I don’t care. They didn’t card us so I’m going to assume you’re OK. Have you had champagne before, Daniel?”
“Once or twice. Want me to open it?”
“Please.”
Daniel opened the bottle with the basic corkscrew provided and poured them each a glass. “What shall we drink to?” he asked.
“To unexpected circumstances.”
“To unexpected circumstances!” He echoed her toast and they clinked glasses. They laughed, and smiled at each other. This certainly was unexpected. “How long do you think we might be here?”
“I don’t know. Tow Truck Bob said he’d have to look at the car in the morning. Might even be a couple days if he has to get a part or something.”
“So, wait and see?”
“Yep. Wait and see.”
“What are we gonna do all day?” Daniel was worried about being bored.
“I don’t know. Explore this little corner of Northeastern Nevada?”
“How much do you think we can walk to in 107 degree heat?”
“Yeah we might not get too far.” She smiled, still somewhat amused at their predicament.
Daniel was still feeling a little put out. “I don’t even have a toothbrush, much less a change of clothes. We left everything packed up back at the car.”