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“Okay,” Nigel nodded. “Fair enough – you don’t feel comfortable leaving a stranger in your house. I understand.”
“Will you make us some coffee?” Adam asked me and grabbed his jacket and boots. “We’ll be right back.”
I got up, put on some pants, and boiled some water.
The coffee was almost done when they came back.
Nigel took off his jacket and went straight to the fireplace, holding out his fingers to warm above the fire.
“So, how big is the fallen tree?” I asked.
“We need a chainsaw. I saw one in the shack but we have to wait for daylight.”
“Ohh.” I looked back at Nigel.
“I hate to ask,” he said, “but do you think I could crash here until I can track down my car tomorrow?”
“Of course,” I said.
Adam scowled. “But there’s only one bed and one small sofa.”
“That’s okay, I can take the sofa,” Nigel offered.
Adam and I exchanged a glance; clearly he wasn’t happy about this.
“What’s wrong?” Nigel must have felt the tension between me and Adam.
“It’s just that Adam loooves to sleep on the sofa,” I teased. “I don’t mind sharing the bed, but Adam is kinda old school so he stays on the couch.”
“Ohh… wait, you’re not a couple?” He pointed from Adam to me.
“No, we’re not,” Adam said firmly.
An awkward silent spread before Adam started giving orders. “Nigel, you and I can take the bed, and then she can take the couch.”
“Are you sure? Because I don’t mind sleeping on the couch,” Nigel offered.
“Good, because I do mind,” I said. “I’m sleeping in the bed.”
The two men looked at each other.
“Are you old school, Nigel?” I asked and thought Adam was going to murder me with his eyes. “Or are you okay with sleeping next to a stranger?”
Nigel moved nervously; his eyes darted between Adam and me. “I can sleep wherever,” he muttered.
“You’re taking the couch.” Adam pointed at Nigel, who nodded vehemently.
“Okay, then. How about a cup of coffee?” I offered in a lighter tone to counterbalance Adam’s grumpy mood.
“Thank you.”
As I poured the coffee, Nigel looked over at me a lot and I knew the inevitable was coming. “I’m sorry, but have I possibly seen you in a movie?” he asked.
“No, that was my sister,” I said, sticking to my story.
“Oh, I thought you might be Cleo.”
“She’s not,” Adam interjected quickly.
