“It is not fucking fine,” I snap. I march into the office to see Howard, the manager. “Hi, Howard.”
“Hey, Christo.”
“Listen, we’ve got a problem. I need a private room for Hayden and me for three nights, please.”
He looks between us. “Finally got the balls to make a move, did you?”
“Fuck off. Listen. There are a bunch of drunk idiots in our room, and I’m not leaving Hayden with them. I have a bartending course on all weekend, and she has nowhere else to go. They’re all naked and drunk in there. What’s she supposed to do?”
“I’ll just go to the beach and read my book,” she says.
“It’s raining,” I snap.
“I’m fine,” she replies, indignant. “I’m not a damsel in distress, Christopher. I can look after myself, you know.”
“No private rooms left,” Howard replies.
“Fine. We’ll go back to the hotel.” I begin to drag Hayden from the office.
“We are not going back to the hotel. We’re not wasting that money.” She digs her heels in. “We’re staying here,” she demands. “I’m not a princess.”
“No.” I begin to see red. “Howard, we have stayed here every weekend for three months. Surely we get some preferential treatment, for fuck’s sake.”
He stares at me.
“How many fights have I broken up for you in that bar?”
“You caused half of them.”
“I mean it,” I splutter. I’m going to be late for my course.
“Fine, you can have a room on one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“You said you were doing a bar course?”
“Yeah, so?”
“You have to work behind the bar for me tonight.”
“I don’t even know what I’m doing yet.”
“It would be good practice.” Hayden smiles hopefully.
Damn it, I can’t leave her here with nowhere to hang today. “Fine. But I want the room keys now.”
“Deal.”
He holds up the keys, and I snatch them out of his hand. “And you’re paying me for tonight.”
“You can keep the tips.” We go to walk out of the office. “Oh, and Christo.”
“What?”
“It’s a full moon party tonight.”
“Are you fucking serious?” I bark. “Every man and his fucking dog will be here.”
“Thus the need for more bar staff.” He fakes a smile.
Great.
I drag Hayden down the hall quickly to the room, and I open the door. A tiny double bed sits in the middle of the room. “This place is a fucking shithole,” I snap.
“You’re just used to the hotel. It’s not so bad.” Hayden shrugs. “Looks like the perfect reading spot to me.”
“I am done with hostels.” I kiss her quickly. “See you tonight.”
“No, you won’t. You’re working,” she teases.
“Don’t remind me.”
I sit in class and stare at the blackboard. The teacher goes on and on and on.