Miranda – We're All Going On A Spanish Holiday

Chapter 14

Miranda and Gary arrive in Rome early in the morning. They find a lovely hotel just near the Colosseum and go in to book a room.

Gary – "Buongiorno! Um, do you speak English?"

Hotelier – "Yes, I speak a little English, how can I help you?"

Gary – "Oh good. Yes, we'd like a room for tonight please."

Hotelier – "Please can you show me your passports?"

Gary – "Yes, sure, here's mine…"

Miranda – "And mine."

Hotelier – "We have two rooms available, please follow me."

Gary – "Oh, we only need one actually…"

Hotelier – "You are not married, you will be requiring two rooms, I think."

The two rooms are at opposite ends of the corridor, but they are bright and clean and Miranda and Gary can't face trekking all around Rome looking for somewhere else.

Miranda – "Lovely, thank you, we'll take them."

Gary – "Yes, (sighs) perfect…"

The hotelier gives them their keys and goes back down to reception.

Miranda and Gary enter their rooms and unpack and shower. Once Miranda is dressed, she locks her door and goes along to Gary's room to see if he is ready. The door is ajar so she goes in, just as Gary is coming out of the bathroom, clad only in a very small towel.

Miranda turns her head, but not before enjoying a good look at Gary's very manly chest.

Miranda – "I'm so sorry Gary, I thought you'd be ready…"

Gary – "Sorry. I was ready, I had a really hot shower, but then realised what I actually needed was a very cold shower…"

Miranda – "Oh. Um. Well. I'll just give you a minute to get dressed."

Miranda turns to leave. But Gary catches up with her as she reaches the door. He puts his arms around her and kisses the back of her neck.

Miranda – "Oh, Mike."

Gary – "Miranda!"

Miranda – "Oh no! Oh I'm so sorry Gary, please don't hate me."

Gary – "You know I don't. But I do think we need to address this. It happens every time we get even just a little bit intimate. It's probably my fault; I said we'd take things slowly, but I just can't help wanting to kiss you…and stuff…"

Miranda – "And I really want to as well…I'm just really scared!"

Gary – "What are you scared of?"

Miranda – "That I'll disappoint you."

Gary – "Miranda, you'll never disappoint me. I love you."

Miranda allows Gary to take her hand and lead her to the bed and they sit down in silence. Gary very slowly, leans towards Miranda and their lips are about to touch, when the door bangs open and the Hotelier enters carrying fresh towels. He stares at Gary and Miranda and is not pleased.

Hotelier – "Please! This is not the sort of establishment that allows unmarried couples to carry on in this way!"

Miranda – "Oh, I'm so sorry, it won't happen again!"

Hotelier – "It had better not! Or I will have to ask you to leave!"

Miranda – "I'll wait for you downstairs, Gary."

Miranda leaves and goes down to reception to wait for Gary, who joins her a few minutes later. They stand awkwardly in silence for a few moments before heading out to see the sights of Rome.