Page 59 of The Barkeep and the Bro

“For—”

“The big event.”

“Precisely.”

Shit. I wrapped my knuckles on the desk, wracking my brain for an alternative idea. Perhaps he could stay with a friend or stay with another guest he knew? But I didn’t know what their situations were, who they were bringing. He was integral to set up, so I couldn’t ask him to drive up and then home two days in a row.

I flicked my eyes at the hotel employee who clacked away at his computer. Was he looking for rooms or avoiding more bad news?

“Do you have an extra key for my room?” I asked, resigned.

“I do.” He handed it over.

We could both fit on a king-size bed. Charlie wasn’t a huge guy.Perfect for spooning.

“You can put him on my reservation. Charlie Porterfield.”

“Shacking up with your bartender?” Cal appeared behind me. “Checking in. Last name Hogan.”

“We’re not shacking up. I forgot to book Charlie a room.” I was going to have to explain myself all weekend, wasn’t I?

“Interesting. I wonder why.”

I ignored his raised eyebrows.

“You are all set, Mr. Dekker,” the front desk manager said. “I have you and Mr. Porterfield sharing your room.”

“What’s this now?”

Ugh, of course, Leo and Dusty showed up at this exact moment.

“Nothing, Leo.”

“Mitch and Charlie are shacking up together, but it’sonlybecause Mitch forgot to book him his own room.” Cal smothered his words in sarcasm.

“Interesting,” Dusty said. “I wonder why.”

“And I’m guessing there’s just one bed,” Leo said, having way too much fun at my expense.

“Do you have a cot we could put in the room?” I asked the front desk manager, practically brimming with desperation.

Another big frown. “We do not. But I have a crib?”

“For a grown man?” I shot back.

“Whatever gets your rocks off,” Cal said.

“We’ll stick with the king-size bed. I’ll sleep in the bathtub.” I swiped my keys from the desk. “You guys are assholes,” I grumbled as I left.

* * *

The room was small,and ninety percent of the square footage was taken up by the bed.

It was comically too big for this room. The TV hung on the wall, and a pitiful-looking desk cowered in the corner.

I looked behind me at Charlie, who studied the furnishings with a stone-faced eye.

“I feel like a damn idiot for not remembering to book you your own room. There are no other vacancies here or across the street.”

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