Advantage

He reclines on his bed in the expensive hotel room that he got for free, head sinking into the itchy feather pillows. With slow, deliberate movements he lights up in the non-smoking room, knowing that he won't be charged for breaking this trivial rule.

Johnny Carson tells jokes on the television, but he turned it down 20 minutes ago in favor of listening in on Bill's phone conversation on the other side of the door.

I can't do this.

He needs to know their decision; impatience has gotten the best of him. And so he listens.

Teena, please.

Bill is a coward, too soft after all this time.

Muffled, the other man's voice breaks. Spender holds his breath.

Samantha.

He smiles around his cigarette.

*"Mom, listen to me! I need to know! Did he make you make a choice?"

"No. I couldn't choose. It was your father's choice and I hated him for it."

-Paper Clip