Chloe woke up as Eloy was coming out of the bathroom. His hair was wet, and he had a towel wrapped around his waist. She hoped he wouldn’t want sex again.
“Morning,” he said.
“Hi.” She stretched. “Is there coffee?”
“Not here. We’ll have to go to the gas station on the corner.”
“Can we eat something too? I’m starved. That pizza you delivered was awful.”
He frowned. “The point of the delivery was to communicate with you and set up a meeting. I paid a lot of money to borrow that stuff, so try to be a little more gracious.”
“I need to go home. My parents won’t expect me awake until about ten, but I don’t want them to realize I’ve been out all night.”
“So, shower and get dressed,” he said. “Afterword, we’ll find some breakfast.”
“What good is that going to do? If the FBI improves that picture and they see it’s me driving my car, I’m screwed.” She got out of the bed, wrapping the sheet around her nakedness.
He smiled at her. “Don’t worry. I have a plan that will keep us both out of jail.”
“You do?” Her tone was skeptical.
“Yes.”
She shrugged. “Tell me.”
“Hurry and take your shower so I can take you home.”
When she came into the sleeping area, Eloy was using cleaning wipes to sanitize the hard surfaces of the room.
“What are you doing?”
“We don’t want the cops to prove we were together since the accident. This is just precautionary in case they somehow track us here. Let me clean your prints from the bathroom.” He pulled a fresh wipe from the package.
She watched and shook her head.
Moments later, he returned and glanced around the room. “I think I’ve got everything. Do you have all your stuff?”
“I don’t have much. I didn’t know I’d be spending the night.” She looked at the clock on the cigarette-burned nightstand. “Come on. It’s getting late.”
He picked up his duffle and slung the strap over his shoulder. Then he pulled his wallet from his pocket and removed two twenties. “I’ll get the car. Take these up to the front desk and ask them for tens and fives.”
“Why? We can ask for change at breakfast.”
“Chloe, please! Do as I say.” He grabbed his ball cap from the top of the dresser. “Put this on.”
His order made no sense, but she was beginning to imagine numerous scenarios where her mom or dad went into her room and found it empty. That wouldn’t be good. Maybe they should skip breakfast and he could tell her his plan as he drove her home.
“Did you hear me?”
“I’m sorry. No.”
“Let’s roll.” Using a wipe on the handle, he opened the door for her. “Front desk is to the right. I’ll turn left and head out the back. I’ll meet you out there.”
“Whatever,” she said, snatching the two twenties as she passed him.