Daniel and Tam exited the elevator and entered the hotel hallway. They walked past the same door every five steps, soft footfalls and another door; their feet crushed fractal flowers on the carpet. The blooms indifferent to heavy steps. He saw the hallway as a reflection cast in dual mirror and extended into infinity. He brushed his hand on each door handle, touched every possibility, and walked, forever, until he reached the door to her room. Daniel placed his hand on the small of her back. His t-shirt, still wet, stuck to his chest and emphasized his stomach’s bulge, not fat, but full from a month without exercise. The scent of chlorine invaded his nostrils. He squinted patriotic eyes. They burned red, white, and blue. Tam wore a white towel around her neck. The Gothic cloth gleamed next to her sable hair; hair that consumed light, held it close, and refused to set it free. …show more content…
She pushed the door open. A small space opened up: an armchair, glass table, nightstand, and bed crammed into the tight compartment. Next to the bed a glass wall separated the bathroom from the bedroom, an attempt at intimacy, a destruction of privacy. Daniel dropped his backpack on the chair and sat on the bed.
“You didn’t have to get a room. My friend, Ben, the one whose couch we crashed on, flew out this morning. He said we could use his condo while he’s gone,” Daniel said.
“I know. You seem genuine, but my motto is trust but verify.”
“So, the poolside cocktails were a test. Did I