Page 49 of Duty Preserved

“I need two rooms,” I said. “For tonight.”

Please have two rooms. Please have two rooms.

She checked her system. “Of course.”

The breath I let out was embarrassing. The woman glanced up from her screen but didn’t comment.

Thank God.

I gave her my name and paid, and she told me the rooms would be ready when we checked in later.

Handled.

I texted Alyson.

Meds delayed. Have to stay overnight in Nanyuki. Back tomorrow.

The response was instantaneous.

OVERNIGHT??? With DONOVAN???

It’s a supply run, Aly.

Sarah, you are spending the night in a hotel with that man. Get it, girl.

I booked two rooms.

Undo that immediately.

I put the phone away. It buzzed again. And again. I pulled it back out.

You have been waiting for this since Paris, whether you admit it or not. Tonight is the night you stop being scared and let something happen.

Nothing is happening. We’re picking up xylazine.

That’s tomorrow’s business. Tonight is all about YOUR business.

I shoved the phone into my bag. It kept buzzing. I unzipped the bag and looked.

I’m serious. If you don’t put your mouth on that man tonight, I will drive to Nanyuki myself and do it for you.

Had she really just gone there? Who was I kidding? Of course she had.

ALYSON.

You know what his arms look like. You know what those hands could do. SARAH. Get out of your own head and get into his lap.

The heat climbed my neck and settled across my cheekbones. I was standing alone in a hotel lobby, and I was flushed to my ears.

I shoved the phone back into my bag, zipped the bag shut, and didn’t look again.

I found Donovan at the hardware shop three streets over. He was loading a box of supplies into the back of the truck, and he straightened when he saw me coming.

“Meds aren’t in,” I said. “The shipment got delayed. They said they’ll have them first thing in the morning, so…”

He waited.

“I booked us rooms. At a hotel. Two rooms.” I said it too fast. “So we don’t have to drive back tonight and turn around and do it again tomorrow.”