“This is important information at this hour?”
Lili pokes him in the stomach.
“One hundred and ninety-four centimeters, I think,” he says.
She scrunches her nose. “I have no idea what that means. This is America, adapt.”
Everything surges around her, and she realizes she’s been swaying. Arms hold her steady.
Again, that sigh. “Okay, no food. Let’s get you to bed.”
Yes, good,Lili thinks, as he leads them down the hall. In his bedroom—was the bed really that big last time?—she kicks off her heavy-soled boots. Dropping onto the bed, she decides to throw one boot in the corner; after a moment’s consideration, she flings the other back out into the hall.
“I think we should have sex,” she announces.
She has no idea why he looks like he’s trying not to laugh. She said nothing funny.
“Tempting, but no.”
Lili tries to get up, affronted, but he sets her back down. “Stay,” he says, stern. She falls back, spreading her arms like a snow angel. The cool silk sheets slip like water against her flushed skin.
She hears the sound of a bath being run; then arms are lifting her off the bed.
“Come on—up, Lili—”
“Are we fucking now?”
The world reorients, her feet finding the ground. Lili looks around, confused. They’re in the en suite; he wants to fuck in here? The counter’s the right height, she supposes. Not one to complain, she starts to pull her dress over her head.
The door closes. She spins around, alone in the bathroom.
“Hey!” she shouts after the shut door. “Where are you going?”
“Just take a bath.” His voice is weary, veering on patronizing.
“No, we’re supposed to be fucking,” she informs the closed door.
“I’m not letting you sleep in my bed when you’ve been on the Lower East Side.”
“I don’t want to sleep!”
“Bath, Lili. Now.”
She scowls, but the steam from the running water is enticing. She does feel too hot and dirty.
After she wrestles her dress off, she looks around. She opens a few of his drawers—finds Sensodyne, mouthwash, well-organized anonymous toiletries, ridiculous fancy soap with a clean scent of bitter orange and juniper—before leaving her underwear in the drawer where he keeps his beard trimmer.
It’s a black mesh thong, almost entirely see-through. It’s her birthday, after all. She smirks, proud of herself, and piles her tangled hair on top of her head in the semblance of a bun.
“The water is too cold,” she complains, stepping into the bath.
“Good.” His reply is vaguely muffled by the door. “You could do with sobering up.”
“I’m shivering.” The water is actually pleasantly warm, but he might come in if he thinks she’s in danger of pneumonia.
“I’m strangely unmoved.”
Lili slides down the side of the tub in one big motion, trying to stretch her toes to reach the other end. Water sloshes over the edge, spilling onto the marble floor. “Oops,” she giggles.
