Page 62 of Grounded
"What the hell?"
Moving the knob to the left and increasing the temperature, I wait another minute before checking again.
"What the hell!" I shout this time.
The water is freezing.
"Something wrong?" Amelia's voice materializes on the opposite side of the bathroom.
I instinctively cover my private parts with my hands even if I locked myself in.
"Did we run out of hot water or something?" I ask while keeping my distance from the door.
"Oh, I bet we did." Her tone is smug and her self-superiority resonates beyond the walls locking her out. "I took a sixty minute shower this morning."
Shaking my head with annoyance, I blow out a long breath and remind myself I'm calling a truce today.
Today.
But not right now.
"An hour? It takes you that long to shave?" I howl out a laugh.
She's quiet on the other side.
Maybe she left. Or maybe she's formulating another way to ruin my morning.
"Figured you deserved a cold shower today," she declares.
"Well unfortunately for you, I'm used to cold showers. I’ve spent years in places where clean water is a luxury. This is no big deal for me."
And it isn't. I'm grateful enough to have soap and shampoo to bathe with. This is merely a minor inconvenience. "Better luck next time."
I jump up and down and inhale a sharp breath to prepare myself for the frigid conditions.
It's a quick ABC wash for today: armpits, butt, cock. Albeit one Amelia won't be able to time because I'll keep the water running long after I'm out and drying off.
I wash up with vigor and step out with a towel around my waist.
The room is freezing, and my entire body breaks out in goosebumps. Oh shit, is that why she wasted all the hot water? So my nether regions would shrink from the chill?
Leaving the bathroom with my clothes in hand, I open the door and see Amelia standing in the hallway, waiting for me.
"Something I can help you with?" I ask.
"Just checking to see how that shower went."
"It was wonderful, thank you for asking. I feel so invigorated."
"Uh-huh."
She doesn't sound amused, so I bring her back to reality.
"Next time you want me to freeze my ass off, don't waste water. Or were you hoping for a peek after?"
I clutch the towel near my belly button, and she doesn't falter.
Interesting.
