Page 32 of Cabin Mate

Finally, I meet his gaze and wrinkle my nose. “Yeah, you’re bigger than I realized … you’ll probably take up most of the bed.”

He smirks. “There are enough throw pillows to create a whole separate bed on the floor.”

“No. It’s seriously fine. You’re some kind of Swedish giant, but I’m tiny. Miniscule. I’ll take up like this much room.” I hold my hands about twelve inches apart.

“Well, we can decide after dinner.” He looks at me skeptically. “Do you need the bathroom? I was going to take a quick shower before we head downstairs.”

The room suddenly seems too warm. Am I blushing? I feel like I’m blushing. And there goes my sweat mustache again.

Brooks is just going to be right through that door, completely naked? This situation is way more of a test of our friendship than I thought it would be. Especially with sharing a bedroom and a bathroom.

“No, go ahead!” My voice sounds squeaky again. “I’ll just use the vanity to touch up my makeup.”

“All right.” He shrugs and grabs his suitcase, hoisting it onto the bench at the foot of the bed. He unzips it and pulls out a leather toiletry bag, then slips off his shoes and socks and walks to the bathroom.

When I hear the click of the door closing behind him, I grab my own suitcase and rummage through it to find my makeup bag. I sit at the vanity and begin powdering my face when I notice the tinge of pink on my cheeks. I glare at my reflection.

“Brooks is your best friend. It’s completely normal for friends to have sleepovers. Stop making it weird,” I whisper to myself before taking a deep breath and continue readying myself for dinner.

I walk to the walk-in closet, knowing my mother will have stocked it with designer clothing. Clothing that will be labeled for each event and expected to be worn as such. Sure enough, there’s a long-sleeved, green cocktail dress with a label tied to the hanger. The label reads, Calvin Klein. Dinner Tuesday evening. I spin the hanger and notice the dress is backless except for a tie at the neck. I won’t be able to wear a bra with it, but thankfully the fabric is thick enough that it won’t be a big deal. Sometimes it’s nice not being well-endowed up top.

If I didn’t love the gorgeous velvet dress so much, I might have put up a fight. Actually, that’s not true. My greatest strength is making everyone around me at ease and bringing peace into every situation … but it’s also my greatest weakness. Standing up for what I want has always been a struggle.

Peeking out of the closet, I make sure the shower is still running and quickly remove my travel clothes, slip the dress on, and tie the ribbon at the back of the neck. Next, I select some gold strappy heels and fasten them around my ankles. I do a spin in front of the full-length mirror and smile. If my mother is going to pick out my clothes for me like I’m an incompetent three-year-old who might show up in rainbow tights, rubber boots and tie dye t-shirt, at least she has good taste.

I walk out of the closet at the same time Brooks walks out of the bathroom, leaving us only a few feet from each other. My eyes widen at the sight of him in nothing but a towel, and I gasp before I can stop myself.

“Sorry, I forgot to grab my clothes out of my suitcase,” he says quickly, walking to his open suitcase, taking out some clothes, then heading back towards the bathroom door. AKA right next to me.

I barely hear him as I take in his naked, glistening torso. His entire top half ripples with every movement he makes, showing his defined muscles. Muscles that are still wet from his shower.

Finally, my brain starts to work again and I clamp my mouth shut and shrug my shoulders. “No big deal, bestie!” I lean toward him and pat his glistening chest—in an effort to seem chill and neutral to his muscled physique. I mean, he isn’t even my type. I’m attracted to dark, slim, poetic types. But as a biomedical engineer, I can appreciate the human body and what a work of art it can be. Plus, the man I’m in business with has obviously worked very hard at the gym. Good for him! What better quality in a business partner than hardworking?

I wonder what exercises result in that very defined V-shape he has going on below his abdominals. The human body is so fascinating. Scientifically speaking, of course.

One side of his mouth quirks up, like he can’t decide whether to be amused by my chest pat or freaked out by it. “Okay,” he says slowly before he smiles for real, noticing my outfit. “Wow, you look gorgeous.”

“Oh, thanks.” I shrug again. My shoulders are going to get as big as Brooks’s with all the shrugging I’ve been doing.

He turns back toward the bathroom and closes the door behind him again. I must’ve started holding my breath after the shoulder shrug because as soon as he’s out of sight, I exhale a deep breath like I’ve been underwater for a full minute.

“Stop looking so annoyed,” Brooks whispers, grabbing my hand in his as we walk down the staircase to the dining room. “You told me to blend in and not draw attention.”

I close my eyes and take a deep, steadying breath. “And that’s what you thought would blend in?” I say, looking directly at his hideous bow tie.

With his free hand, he adjusts the navy-blue bow tie that has a corgi pattern on it. Yes, corgis. Tiny corgis are embroidered all over it. “Rich people love corgis!” he insists. “And bow ties!”

“I knew I should’ve hired a professional male escort.”

He gasps dramatically. “That hurts, Molly.”

I turn to look at him, narrowing my eyes when I see the mischievous expression on his face. “Kind of like your tie is hurting my eyes?”

He looks down at his tie … and talks to it. “Don’t let her hurt you, little guys. Even the queen loved you.” He looks up at the ceiling and closes his eyes in reverence. “God rest her soul.”

I tap my foot on the marble step and keep my eyes narrowed on him.

“Do you want me to change?” he asks, finally taking me seriously.