Chapter 7 No Room at the Inn

According to Case’s phone, there weren’t any hotels in this little town on the border of Illinois and Wisconsin, but there was a bed and breakfast. When Case stopped the SUV outside, they saw a sign that said “no vacancy.”

“We’ll have to check anyway.” He opened his door and then came around to help her, but Andrea was already out, her coat on but not buttoned. She hurried through the snow to the porch. Luckily, the door was unlocked.

A man who couldn’t be much older than eighteen stood behind the counter, watching a small television. He glanced up and said, “Sorry, folks. We’re out of rooms,” and then refocused on the game he was watching. Andrea couldn’t tell what it was but heard cheering and whistles.

“Are you sure?” Case asked. “The highway is closed, and we can't get to where we were going. You don’t have any rooms at all?”

“Nope, sorry. There’s another town about ten minutes down the road. Well, ten minutes when it’s not snowing.”

Andrea didn’t like his attitude. “What if the closure is before that town? Don't you have a lounge or parlor? Do you have a couch we could sleep on for a few hours?”

“We don’t do that.” He scoffed and didn’t even look at her.

“Come on, Andrea. Let’s try go to the next town.” Case tugged gently on her arm.

She raised her eyebrows. Was Case really giving up that easily? Why didn't he press the issue? “Wait.” She stepped up to the counter and put her hands on top of it. “Listen, sir, I would like to speak to the owners. Are they here? I’m sure they would make a special exception if they knew I was on the way to see my sick grandfather in the hospital and got snowed in.”

He looked up then, and the sarcastic expression on his face melted. “You’re... you’re Andrea Sparks!”

“Yeah, I am. And I would really love it if you could check again to see if you have an empty room.”

“Oh, wow! I just love you!” he gushed. “Let me see.” He went to his computer and typed a few things, but Andrea thought he was faking, like he already knew he had a room. “Well, Miss Sparks, we do have one small room. It looks like some folks weren’t able to make it into town because of the snow.”

“We’ll take it,” Case said before Andrea could reply. She didn’t like the sound of “one small room,” but Case was probably right. They’d have to make it work.

“Great,” the kid said and Case checked them in while Andrea sent her mom a text. No word on Grandpa’s surgery yet. “It’s up the stairs, second door on the left. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Thank you.” Case took the key, and their luggage. Andrea dropped her phone in her pocket, intending to follow.

“Miss Sparks? Could I get a selfie? Please? And an autograph?”

She tried not to sigh because he had given them a room. “Sure.” Jubilantly, he ran around the counter, phone in hand, and she did her best to smile. It had been a long day!

Andrea caught up to Case outside of their room. He was standing in the doorway with his hands on his hips. “We have a problem.”

“What is it?” She pushed past him and immediately saw what it was. The room was so small, there was only one bed and no couch. “Oh, no.”

“I’ll go ask the kid for some blankets so I can sleep on the floor.”

“No, you can’t do that,” she protested. “You need your sleep so you can be alert tomorrow.”

“Are you going to sleep on the floor?” He shook his head, and she knew he’d never let her do that. “It’s okay. I can sleep anywhere.”

Andrea reached out and grabbed his arm as he started to walk away. “It’s a big enough bed, Case. We’ll just put some pillows between us. It will be fine.”

“Are you sure?”

No—she wasn’t sure. But she also didn’t want him to have to sleep on the hard floor, and she didn’t want to sleep there either. “Yes, I’m sure.”

“Okay. Thank you, Andrea.”

She let go of his arm, and her hand suddenly felt cold, like it was meant to be touching him. “I’m going to take a shower.”

“I saw a fast food joint down the road. I’m going to go get something to eat. Are you hungry?”

Her stomach growled. “Yes! I would love a cheeseburger.” She went through her suitcase to find something to put on after her shower.

Laughing, Case said, “I love a girl who can eat.”

Andrea looked up at him with a question mark in her eyes. “What do you mean?”

“Most of the girls I date eat like birds. That’s not healthy. I like a girl who eats meat.”

She smiled, glad he found her amusing and different than the girls he’d dated. “Get me some fries, too.”