There is a point in one's life when they come to realize that it is always worth it to pay the extra for your own hotel room. I, or should I say we, came to that decision a few years ago on a ski trip to Mont Tremblant, Quebec. A shared chalet with kitchen was half the price of a standard hotel room. My partner Karen thought it would be safe with three couples staying there, how long could a long weekend be?
We were horribly, horribly wrong. Upon our arrival we were confronted with gear and backpacks strewn across the living room floor and my two friends sprawled out on the couch playing video games over a coffee table packed with wires, beer, chips, joints and snack cakes.
"Umm, gents where are the girls?"
"Didn't you get my text?" Keith mumbled without averting his gaze from the screen.
"No, why?" A look of terror darted across Karen's eyes.
"Suzie dumped Eric and there was no way Tina was going to drive for six hours up into the mountains with two guys to sit around a chalet for a long weekend. I suspect she actually ditched us to go out with Suzie tonight."
"Not a good sign Keith."
"I know, I know."
"Since you two have taken up camp in the living room, where is our bedroom?"
"Well that be the other thing, this chalet is more of loft."
"Which means?"
"Well there really isn't a bedroom, just that attic thingy. We didn't bother to take a look."
Karen and I gazed up the set of stairs leading to a second stage with a big skylight. "It's ours then."
"We figured as much. Seeing that it has a separate bathroom."
"Good to see that you boys are at least partially house broken."
I brought the bags upstairs while Karen stood by the doorway, boots still on. Not a good sign, even though she was playing nice to steal some chips from the boys. It was a beautiful loft and the skylight was already full of moonlight reflecting off of the mountains. The fireplace had been replaced by an electrical unit but it still had a charm that was only missing a white fur rug and a mini bar.
"Its quite nice up here Karen," I called down.
"I'll see it later, we have to go pick up supplies before the liquor store closes."
"No need, this is Quebec, the deps stay open all night."
Her voice dropped, "Don't you want to pick up some those nice only in Quebec micro brews that you are always talking about?"
"Smashing idea, lets do it and stop in for a nice hot chocolate on the way back."
It didn't take two steps off the front porch before I knew something definitely was up. Karen was not in for a guys' weekend at the chalet. No matter how nice the loft was, we were not staying.
Perhaps it was the mountain air, or maybe the Christmas lights but after two rounds of chocolat chaud, the atmosphere lightened. She drew closer in the cold night and we shared a big thick woollen blanket on the cafe patio. Karen placed her hands between my thighs and lent her head on my shoulder. "It is too late to drive anywhere, let's stay for one night and figure things out in the morning."
When we got back, the chips were gone and so were the boys. Judging by the smell they must have smoked up and headed out for food. Upstairs in our loft, we switched on the fireplace, threw extra blankets on the bed and opened the skylight for a little fresh air. The extra sugar ( and rum ) in our drinks made it hard to sleep, so we both lay in bed facing the electric fire roll and roll and watched the moon drift across the night sky through the skylight.
Late into the night, the two boys came home and it was obvious they were not alone. It was a loud and clumsy foursome that struggled to open beers and search for more joints. There was some talk then quiet odd noises. Karen grabbed her phone and crept up to the loft's railing to take a picture.
"Throw another log on our fire while you are at it hon," I whispered.
"Do it yourself."
It only took a second and Karen darted back to the bed and jumped under the covers. She giggled.
"What?"