I pulled the key card from my pocket and held it up to the tap reader on the door handle. A second later I heard the click inside, and the little green light come on and grabbed the handle and turned it. Once inside the spacious hotel room I dropped my laptop bag on the desk and my suitcase on the end of the bed. It had been a long day of boring conferences combined with a mandatory dinner/award ceremony afterwards that was supposed to "build comradery." While it wasn't awful, and the food was good in my book it was a bit much after nearly 11 hours of meetings all day.
I kicked my shoes off and hopped onto the bed grabbing the tv remote as I did. I cut the tv on and started channel surfing. I was greeted with the typical hotel channel package which was basically equal to basic cable. After almost mindlessly flipping through the channels I put it on NatGeo, my default channel to watch/listen to if nothing else good presents itself. I sunk into the mattress which was huge and quite plush and shut my eyes and just listened to the narrator's low voice on the tv talk about the wildlife in central Africa.
I wasn't asleep but I was quite relaxed especially after having a couple of cocktails during the dinner ceremony. I knew I should probably take a shower and review the materials for the next day's meetings but for the moment I was content to listen to the narrators low soothing voice talk about tigers. As I listed to the tv I suddenly heard the click of the door handle again. As I sat up a little and opened my eyes, I saw my teammate Megan emerge from the hallway that held the bathroom.
Megan hit the corner and upon seeing me sprawled on the bed jolted and her eyes grew wide as her mouth formed an "O" of surprise.
"Oh!" she said and jumped back slightly. "I didn't realize I'd have a roommate. Hi Ben." she said looking awkward.
I sat up fully as I said, "I think there's been a mix up. Maybe we should call the desk."
"Yeah, you might be right." Megan said. I stood up and grabbed picked up the phone and called the front desk. After explaining the situation to them the response I got back wasn't the one I wanted to hear. I hung the phone up and turned to look at Megan who was eyeing me with curiosity. She must have picked up on my discomfort because she asked, "What did they say?"
"Unfortunately, there aren't any more rooms in the hotel." I told her. "Best they could maybe do is get us an extra roll away bed."
Megan looked at the large king-sized bed next to us and said, "Oh I don't think we need to do that. We're both grown people and I think we can behave." Maybe it was just me, but she seemed to say that with an odd glint in her eye. Must have been the alcohol in my system. And honestly if there was anyone, I worked with that I would choose to have this happen with it was Megan. I got along with her better than anyone else on the staff. I wouldn't necessarily say we were friends but were definitely more than just colleagues if that makes any sense.
Then, as if the situation wasn't awkward enough, she quickly added, "I promise I don't bite...most of the time." Where in the world did that come from. She then dropped her bags on the floor and like I had been before she came in and sprawled out on the bed. It was interesting to see her in a more relaxed state than I usually did. Her brown slightly curly hair seemed to spread itself out as she spread her arms out in like a snow angel pose.
"Wow this bed is comfy." she said grinning.
"You going to save me some room there?" I asked playfully figuring I'd follow her lead and try to see some humor in the situation. My insolence got a pillow thrown at me. I couldn't help but laugh before saying, "Fine you can have the bed for now. I need to take a shower anyway."
I then grabbed my bag and went into the bathroom. As I brushed my teeth and undressed, I wondered what was happening between Megan and I. Yes, we had always gotten along and weren't afraid to kid and tease one another now and then, what just happened between us seemed to take that a bit further. The image of her sprawled out on the bed arms and legs wide, hair spread out stuck in my mind as I took a shower.
I came out of the bathroom in my long nightshirt and found Megan in a much more suitable position on the bed if we were going to be sharing it that night. She was on one side propped up against the pillows against the headboard. She had changed from her blouse and slacks into a baggy t-shirt and sweatpants. She had the remote in her hand and was scrolling through the channel guide. She sees me come in and starts laughing.
"What's so funny?" I asked.
"What is that you are wearing?" she asked almost incredulously.
"You've never seen a men's nightshirt?" I asked.
"Only in movies that take place in the 18th century." Megan said still chuckling.
"Hey, don't judge me!" I said. "These are very comfortable to sleep in.
"If you say so George Washington." she said hopping off the bed. "My turn to take a shower." she said scampering into the bathroom. What was that? I ask myself again as I sit down on the opposite side of the bed and pick up the remote and turn it back to NatGeo.