hotel room 108

chapter 1

nathan

The commute from Marvel Entertainment in New York to my shared home in Brooklyn is long and irritating. Although it's a short drive, it's a dangerous one. I can't begin to count how many times I've almost been hit by a car or truck. It’s honestly unreal.

I pull into my driveway, thanking the lord that I've survived the night. As I approach my front door, I put my keys in the hole quickly. When the door opens in my house I see my best friend Levi Laphen on my couch.

"Levi? You know I love you, but why the hell are you here? And eating all of my powdered doughnuts?!"

Levi jumps up from the couch out of fright, probably choking on his doughnut. He starts to laugh as I kick his leg, making him move so I can throw my briefcase on the floor.

"Sorry darling," he replies sarcastically, "Your blonde bimbo let me in."

"Surprised she didn't hit you upside the head with her Prada bag..." I chuckle.

"Please, everyone knows she can't handle the intensity that is Prada. She makes it look like she's wearing a monkey on her shoulder."

"And you?"

"I'm a fashion icon--no scratch that, fashion overlord."

"Yeah yeah, whatever you say."

Mark the beginning of time, and that’s when Levi and Tiffany began their burning hatred for each other. Actually, since high school, if we're being historically accurate. He insists that I deserve better and that I'll see a more applicable offer and leave her to die in a ditch, but it won't happen. Tiffany is the love of my life. 

"Wait," I say, "Where is Tiff anyway?"

"Late meeting with her boss she told me, not that I would listen in any other situation," Levi explains, "I swear she's worse than Eleanor, and it's Eleanor we're talking about."

"Why don't you stop dissing my exes and let's focus on the fact that you're single, and always in my house?"

"I personally loathe the loves of the taken. Being single means you're free to everything."

"f**k you, Laphen," I say, realizing there are exactly zero full boxes of powdered doughnuts, "you ate my holy food."

"Therefore I am the antichrist," he beams and I throw an empty box at his head.

"What's gotten up your ass then?"

"I humiliated myself in front of the assistant CEO," I mutter.

"The who now?! Since when does Marvel have assistant CEO's?"

"Since they probably knew I was going to lock him in."

"Sweet damn Nathan," Levi sighs, puckering his lips, "Powder doughnut kiss?"

I peck his lips and he slaps my face. It's normal for us to act this way, and Tiffany understands our very close and intimate friendship.

And no, we don't have s*x or give each other blowjobs.

"That's what you get for cheating on your 'sunshine' Holloway." He slaps my butt and I kick his side.

"Hey," I smirk, "You're only the housewife!"

"I am not!" Levi exclaims,

"Then why are you always here? You sorry sucker!"

•

Levi and I eventually calm down and watch a couple of movies together, it's Friday, so I'm off 'till Monday.

"You know," he sighs, "You should really stop worrying about this assistant CEO..."

"I'm not worrying, what are you talkin' about?"

"Nathan, I can sense anything you're feeling, what's the big deal? He didn't get locked in, you held the door."

"Levi, anything I do can affect my position there. I… I wanna be able to provide for Tiff and I, I don't wanna fail her, or us."

"You don't have to please her--"

"Levi."

"Alright I'm sorry," he throws a handful of popcorn at me and I smile,

"Nathan, you're the best person fit for your position. No one would ever think of firing you. Now shut up, stop worrying, and get me some Pop-Tarts."

"What are you trying to do, starve me?"

"I didn't wanna tell you, but I think you're fat."

I throw a pillow at him with all my might and we both laugh.

"You fucktard."

•

Saturday morning I wake up to Cold War Kids playing and the smell of pancakes invading my nostrils. I've never been happier that Levi took that trip to America and learned how to make pancakes.

I rise from my peaceful sleep and trudge to where I kept a growing pile of my clothes. Not a good habit, but Tiffany and I don't share a room, so all is well.

"Levi darling!" I sing, "¿Dónde está mi comida?"

"¡En la cocina!" Levi sings back to me. I slide on my socks and travel on the hardwood floor.

"Nathan babe!"

I slip as the front door opens. I fall with a thud and suddenly I'm looking up at Tiffany.

"Tiff," I croak, "Babe can ya help me?"

"Shouldn't have been fooling around..." she sighs, pulling me up. I kiss her forehead and call Levi out to say hello.

"Has the b***h ship pulled into port?"

"Jesus Levi, declaw for just a minute?"

He rolls his eyes and crosses his arms. Tiffany does the same and I feel like I'm in the middle of a Wild West movie.

"They finally drop you off from the gay convention?" She says.

"Tiff..." I groan. Though, Levi is armed with a comeback.

"Yeah, and I f****d more guys than you've ever seen bitch."

I cover my eyes as the two begin to throw insults at each other. Tiffany and Levi are the only two people in my life that I let argue like this. I love them too much to not let them.

"Hey Tiff," I say, wrapping my free hand around her waist, "Levi made us breakfast, why don't we eat together."

"Not yet," he smiles, "Just...one more thing."

"What?"

"The poison."

"Levi."

•

Later that day, Levi leaves for work and Tiffany goes up to her room for her 'girl time'. Apparently, I'm not allowed to interfere with girl time, because it's priceless time she needs to treasure.

Whatever.

I grab my coat and my latest book, 'The Statistical Probability of Falling in Love at First Sight'.

Yeah, I know. Why this book? Shouldn't I be reading something with zombies or Nazi's or prostitutes? Sorry to disappoint, but I appreciate the arts more than most would.

I open the door to the coffee shop and smile to myself. Having this place right by my house is a blessing.

"Nathan!" 

I'm greeted by Liam, my friend and the son of the baker.

"Hey, the usual?"

I nod and he disappears behind the counter. I sit in my usual booth and smile. Finally, back into fantasy land. I've barely gotten a full chapter done and I'm already engrossed in the story. I guess books do this to me every once in a while.

"Uh, excuse me?"

I look up from my novel and my throat goes dry. Putting my book down, I wave at my assistant CEO.

"Heyo..." 

I try to hide my book but he picks it up.

"The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight? Nathan Holloway, I am appalled and impressed."

"I...you know my full name?"

"How about we grab a coffee before I explain why I stalked your files?"

I'm flustered, to be rational. I'm so honored yet frightened that he stalked my files, while I don't remember the poor man's name.

"Uh, Henry or somethin', right? God I'm so sorry I'm so bad with names..."

"You just won't give this cute thing a rest, will you?"

"Cute thing?"

He chuckles and holds his hand out,

"Hayden Scott."

I nod and shake his hand.

"Nathan? Your order?"

"I'll grab it," he smiles cheekily and trots away. I run a hand through my hair and steady my heavy breathing. Liam winks at me and I groan.

Why are all my friends gay?