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Daniel clears his throat There’s an uncouess it’s fine with me Ia bed," he adds quickly, as if the thought couldn’t be

Rejection slaps ht, sure," I agree quickly "As long as you don’t snore!"

We ride up the elevator in silence, avoiding eye contact The Muzak fills the space between us, a weird pan-pipe version of a Top 40 pop hit "I alonder about the people who make this music," I babble, desperate to break the aardness "I , like, ‘hey, honey, I had the best day recording a watered-down version of Katy Perry!’"

Daniel cracks a suilty secret They feel shameful every ti checks," I sigh, thinking of ives me a curious look, but thankfully, the elevator stops at our floor, cutting the conversation short

Our room is just down the hall I fu open the door "Hoe carpet, a tiny TV, and a bed

One bed

One

We both stop, just inside the doorway "Oh" I say, feeling a treacherous flicker of happiness

"I can take the couch," Daniel says quickly, hauling our bags over to the side of the roolorified ar around "You know, o over to the bed and pat down the hs He’s red in the face, and I realize with horror that he’d rather crash on the hard carpeting than share a bed withto ju?

"You knohat, we can figure it out later," I try to block out the stab of rejection that spirals through rees quickly "You should get out of those clothes"

My eyes widen

"To dry off!" Daniel exclaims, his voice twisted "Because you’re wet From the snow"

"So are you"

There’s a pause as we stare at each other, eyes locked My heart stops, and suddenly, the world see but ether in the small roo water down his jaw; his sweater clings to that muscular torso, and for a crazythose daht off his body His jaw clenches with tension, and I can aline that look in his eyes is desire Then he looks away, clearing his throat

"You can use the bathroos, and flee for the bathrooe of the tub with a sigh