CHAPTER FOUR: Coffee, Confessions & Clocks
1131 Words
Click…
The soft creak of the bathroom door echoed through the quiet room.
Caleb sat up immediately on the bed, eyes snapping toward the sound. His hair was messy, his face still a little sleepy, but alert; searching.
Brittany stepped out, wrapped in one of the hotel’s white robes, her damp hair dripping gently onto her shoulders.
“Hi,” she said softly, offering a small smile. “Good morning.”
He exhaled, relief washing over his face like a tide. “Jesus," You scared me.”
She blinked. “Scared you? Why?”
“I woke up and you were gone. I thought you left. Or worse.”
She tilted her head, touched by his concern. “I just needed a little time in the bathroom. To, you know… think. Process everything. I took a bath, brushed my teeth and argued with myself in the mirror.”
He smiled gently. “Are you okay now?”
“I’m better,” she said, walking over. “Still processing. But I’m good, you didn't have to worry so much about a stranger.”
“Well, in case I had to,” he replied almost immediately.
They moved to the small couch in the corner of the room, sitting side by side in a silence that felt surprisingly comfortable.
Brittany picked up the remote and flicked on the TV. “Let’s just watch something. Anything. I don’t care.”
“Any preference?”
She shook her head. “Nah. I just want to stop thinking.”
He turned to her slowly. “Thinking about… everything?”
She paused. Her fingers tensed around the remote. “Yeah. Everything.”
His voice softened. “What happened?”
She didn’t answer immediately. Her eyes stayed on the TV screen even though she wasn’t watching. Eventually, she exhaled and said, “My boyfriend… cheated on me.”
Caleb’s brows furrowed, but he stayed silent, letting her speak.
“With my best friend,” she continued. “Beverly. We’ve been friends since preschool.”
My so-called graduation trip turned into a solo betrayal trip.
“Damn,” he muttered. “That’s cold.”
“I walked in on them. The night before, we were supposed to travel together. Graduation trip. I’d booked the room, everything. I thought I’d come back with a proposal.”
His jaw tightened. “You deserved better.”
“Yea I did, not from my best friend at least,” Brittany said with her face down.
“I honestly can't relate, but I'm sure that must have hurt,” he smuggled.
Before she could spiral further, he reached over to the hotel phone and dialed.
“Hey, yeah. Room 406. Can we get two burgers and coffee? Strong coffee. Thanks.”
She looked at him. “You didn’t have to.”
He smiled. “You’re clearly running on heartbreaking fumes. You need food.”
“True.”
They both leaned back, half-watching the Hollywood series playing on screen, half-sinking into the warmth of each other’s presence.
“At your back, moron.” Brittany commented on the movie.
" Lower your tone because he won't hear you,” he smirked.
" At least I tried to warn him.”
Not long after, there was a knock.
Caleb stood and opened the door. A staff member in a neat black uniform stepped in with a tray.
“Oh,” he said, glancing at the two of them. “Got a bit of news too, just came in from the front desk. There’s a room free now, if anyone still wants to move.”
Brittany and Caleb looked at each other.
Then burst out laughing.
“No one’s moving,” Caleb said.
The staff smiled, set down the tray. “Oh, the room is bigger than this, and you can enjoy your premium private space.”
Brittany chuckled softly,“ Don't worry, we will pass darling."
" Okay, I didn't think so.”
He left them with their food, and they dug in quickly, burgers warm, coffee even warmer.
“This is soooo good,” she said while biting the burgers from every edge and cheese dripping from her lips.
Caleb glanced at her between bites. “You said you were traveling alone… so you're still coming on the trip?”
She nodded, sipping her coffee. “I did. I wasn’t going to let them ruin everything. I needed space. I just didn’t think I’d end up sharing a bed with a cocky stranger.”
He smirked. “Lucky for you, I’m more charming than cocky.”
“Debatable,” Brittany added.
They both chuckled.
“Anyway,” she continued, “I had no idea what I was walking into. And then you burst into the room like some twist in a Netflix series.”
“And here I thought I was the main character.”
She rolled her eyes. “Main character? You wish.”
After eating, they lounged for a while, full and lazy. Caleb suggested a few light games; truth or dare, 21 questions, guessing movie quotes.
They laughed. A lot more than either of them expected.
Until his phone buzzed, and he stepped outside to take the call.
Brittany watched the door close behind him, then turned her gaze back to the flickering TV screen.
She bit her bottom lip.
God… who even is he?
What’s his story?
Why is it so easy to be around him?
“What would he bring to the table?
The door opened, and Caleb strolled back in casually, tucking his phone away.
“I can bring literally everything you want to the table,” he said, catching her mid-thought.
She blinked. “What?”
“You were thinking about me, weren’t you?”
Her face flushed. “I…uhm…”
“You were?” he said smugly.
“Shut up.”
They both laughed again, and she didn’t even realize how close they’d gotten on the couch.
They got back to their games.
One second, they were laughing.
The next… she leaned in.
And kissed him.
It was soft. No heat. No rush.
Just real.
He kissed her back with the same quiet tenderness.
“You sure you want to do this," he asked. " I'm not sure, I know." She replied in an unapologetic and cocky tone.
Then they leaned into each other, arms entwined, bodies relaxing into the cushions as the movie continued playing.
Wrapped in warmth. In stillness. In the unexpected comfort of someone who shouldn’t matter but suddenly did.
They headed to bed to close scenes and slept off.
Buzz!
Her phone vibrated sharply against the side table.
She blinked, sat up slightly and grabbed it.
Notification: “Interview Today - 3:00 PM. Don’t Be Late!”
Her eyes widened.
“Oh crap…”
- Writer
