“Huh?” I asked. “That’s how you greet guests?”
“Guest, huh? Figured you were lost. You sure you want a room here?”
“Unless there’s a nicer motel in town…”
“Ouch,” he said, pressing a hand to his chest. “Rooms are fifty-eight a night, nights and weekends.”
“You’re not going to ask about my dog?” I asked, since she didn’t have her service vest on.
“Honestly, don’t give a shit,” he admitted.
“She’s a service dog.”
“Sure,” he agreed, shrugging. “Any preference for room location?”
“Not really. Unless you’re full, I’d prefer not to be right next to anyone.”
“It’s cute you think this place could ever be full.”
“Yeah, I’m hoping the rooms are better than the outside.”
“They’re not,” he said.
“Why hasn’t the owner updated?”
“Because the clientele is mostly ex-cons, johns, and fuckers who got kicked out by their wives. Also, I don’t feel like it,” he said, reaching for a key. An actual key, not a card.
“You’re the owner?”
“Yep.”
“I should probably apologize.”
“But you’re not gonna,” he said, shooting me a smirk.
“Nope.”
“How long you staying?”
“Let’s start with the night. Then we’ll go from there.”
“Room Two,” he said, passing me a key after I handed him the cash.
“That’s it? No paperwork?”
“Something tells me you’d prefer not to have a trail leading to you right now. Nice moving truck,” he said, nodding outside.
“Thanks,” I said, waving the key, then making my way out of there. “How bad do you think it’s gonna be, girl?” I asked as we moved outside and walked toward our door.
And, well, yeah.
It was about as tragic as I’d been fearing.
The carpet looked original to the building. So did the hideous mauve and emerald-green paisley bedspread and matching curtains. Because that was what the room needed—more of that hideousness.
The nightstands were fake wood, water-stained and warped on top. The TV was an old dome one, hanging from the wall on a metal shelf that locked it in place. As if anyone would steal the damn thing. As if it was worth anything resale.
“Well, we’ll be using the laptop to watch stuff, I guess,” I told Sugar as she started sniffing around every inch of the room.
