“I do, too, but I’m trying to make peace with the possibility that I won’t. And I hope you get to take that tropical vacation someday ... hopefully with me.”
“I like the sound of that.” Marin’s attention caught on a sign for an upcoming rest area, and she pointed. “Do you mind?”
“Course not. Need to stretch your legs?”
Marin nodded. Actually, she didn’t have any pain at the moment. Reclining the seat had done her a world of good, but she’d stayed in the car at both their previous stops while Charlotte walked Ember, and now her bladder was complaining. “So what’s your pick for a dream vacation?”
Charlotte looked thoughtful. “I think for me it’s more about who I’m with than where I am. I don’t care all that much about seeingspecific places, I guess. I care more about having fun experiences with my favorite people.”
“That’s a great way of looking at it.”
A few minutes later, they stopped at the rest area, and Marin was relieved to find that she had no nerve pain when she stood. “Resting while you drove really did the trick. I’m feeling completely better.”
“Yay.” Charlotte leaned in and gave her a quick kiss.
Since they were hours from home and anyone who might know them, Marin grabbed Charlotte’s hips and pulled her in for another deeper kiss. “I love kissing you.”
“Same.”
And then, because she really did have to pee, she let Charlotte go. “Do you mind watching Ember while I go inside?”
“Nope. Take your time.”
Marin and Charlotte took turns going into the rest area, and then they got back on the road. The last two hours of the trip passed uneventfully, with Ember napping in back while Charlotte and Marin played more silly car games.
It wasn’t until they were pulling into the lodge that Marin thought through the logistics for the night ahead. “Um, I picked this place because it had individual cottages instead of a central hotel building, for Ember’s sake, but I don’t remember what the bed situation is.” She hadn’t paid the least bit of attention, assuming she would be alone in the room. She’d been more focused on finding pet-friendly accommodations for the night.
“No worries,” Charlotte said. “We’ll figure it out.”
“Okay,” Marin agreed, but she had a sneaking suspicion they might have a single-bed situation on their hands, and she had no idea how Charlotte would feel about that.
They stopped at the office, and she walked inside to check in. “Can you remind me what the sleeping arrangement is in the cabin I booked?” she asked the clerk.
“The bedroom has a king-size bed, and there’s a pullout sofa in the living room,” he told her.
“Oh, good.” A pullout sofa was better than nothing. “Are there any other cabins available, just in case my friend doesn’t want to sleep on the sofa?”
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but we’re fully booked tonight.” His tone was polite but firm. “It’s one of the last big ski weekends around here.”
“I understand. Thanks for your help.” She took her key card and went back out to the car. “Good news and bad news,” she told Charlotte. “There’s a pullout sofa and a king bed.”
“I’ll take the sofa, no problem,” Charlotte agreed easily.
“Okay.” Marin shouldn’t feel disappointed that Charlotte didn’t want to share her bed, and yet ... maybe she did. Even if they didn’t have sex, she’d love to sleep beside Charlotte.
They drove to cabin twelve and took the parking space in front, then spent the next few minutes carrying their bags inside and getting Ember’s crate set up. The cottage was cozy, with a little living room and kitchenette and a separate bedroom.
The windows probably had pretty views during the daytime. The pictures on the website looked nice, anyway, but it was approaching seven now, and the sun had set. They were both starving, and Ember probably was too. Marin fed and walked the puppy while Charlotte went over to the diner next door, returning with sandwiches and milkshakes.
Then they watched TV together for a little while, cuddling on the sofa with Ember nestled cozily between them. It felt like a scene from a future Marin desperately wanted, the three of them making a happy little family unit. Honestly, she couldn’t think of anything more perfect. As she rested her head on Charlotte’s shoulder, breathing in the fruity scent of her shampoo, she thought this must be love.
Both her heart and her body craved Charlotte every moment of every day. She felt happy in Charlotte’s presence, content, safe.Of course that was love. Maybe she’d been a little bit in love with Charlotte since they reconnected back in January.
She remembered what Charlotte had said in the car about her dream vacation being more about the person than the place, and Marin felt the truth of that here on this slightly stiff sofa in a little cabin outside Rochester with a potentially unpleasant meeting with Nancy looming in the morning. The circumstances were far from ideal, but Marin felt warm, relaxed, and happy simply because she was with Charlotte.
“What are you thinking?” Charlotte asked. “Looks intense.”
“Just thinking how glad I am that you’re here.” Marin brought their lips together. “And that you don’t need to sleep on the sofa tonight if you don’t want to.”
