Previously...

It was just one bed. For two complete strangers. And there was no couch or something similar in sight. Sleeping arrangements would certainly be interesting.

"Um…," I started dumbly, stopping for a short moment to order my thoughts and think about what to actually say. I was certain he had seen the one bed by now as well, so stating the obvious would be pretty pointless.

"You can have the bed," he simply stated, not even thinking about it. Just like that.

"What? No. No way," I started to protest. "I am sure we can somehow work something out or… I mean… find some way of making this work."

"Judging by your initial reaction, I figure you wouldn't be entirely comfortable with whatever deal we come up with," he more or less laughed, amused.

"We should have maybe specified that we needed a room with two beds," I mused.

"Last room, remember?" he asked, and I suddenly did.

"Maybe they have some sort of camp bed," I suggested and saw him look at me, confused.

"A camp bed?" he asked and judging by the incredulous sound in his voice, he believed this as much as I did. "It isn't a big deal…"

"But…," I tried arguing, but was interrupted quickly.

"I insist," he simply stated, and I was not sure how to proceed. Seeing that he was the one currently paying for the room, I found it inappropriate to make him sleep on the floor – or wherever he planned on crashing down. But he also seemed like someone who wouldn't be easy when it came to winning an argument against him.

"I… this would seem so wrong if I make you bunk down on a floor," I phrased my thoughts and saw him look at me with curiosity and a raised eyebrow.

"Why?" he finally asked.

"Well, for one, you saved me from probably freezing to death."

"And that's why I can't sleep on the floor?" he asked, amused, and I just nodded. It seemed as good a start as anywhere really. "Babe," he continued, smiling, amused still. "I have slept on a lot worse surfaces during my time for Uncle Sam and on the special forces circuit. The floor really won't be a problem."

"I...oh," I said dumbly, not sure how to reply. Somehow, I kept thinking that his statement about him having been in the military at some point or even Special Forces seemed to fit. He had a somehow worldly feel about him and was, to a certain degree, intimidating without actually putting the fear of God in you. Though I had no issues seeing him doing that as well if he worked up some anger and rage.

"It really isn't a big deal," he reinforced after a few moments, and I needed to laugh. He seemed so set and determined on the fact that I would not sleep anywhere other than the only bed in the room.

Hesitating shortly, I thought about it. "I really do not feel comfortable, seeing as I am already indebted to you, if I now also force you to sleep on the hardwood floor or...somewhere else," I stated, looking around the room in order to see if maybe there was some couch as an alternative.

While the room was spacious, it was also sparse furniture-wise. There was a large bed, a few chairs and a small table, as well as a desk with something that resembled an office chair, and that was it. Nothing that would technically provide a somewhat comfortable surface for sleeping.

"Trust me, this is really okay for me. As mentioned, I have slept in a lot worse places than the floor," he mentioned once more. Before I could reply, he went on. "Also, if my mother ever gets wind of it, I will never hear the end of that story."

"I won't tell her if you won't," I suggested and saw him smile.

"It's about principle. My principle, to be precise."

To some degree I found his outrage about the idea of me sleeping on the floor almost adorable, especially since I sadly enough knew plenty of men who would have no issue doing just that. What did that say about the company I kept or the kinds of men I usually dated?

"I… there really won't be any way for me to win this, will there?" I asked, somewhat amused. He just shook his head in agreement and that was that.

I made my way back to the closet and found upon inspection an additional duvet as well as some pillows, making this seem suddenly not as uncomfortable as initially thought. I still felt bad for his insistence on sleeping on the floor, but now it would at least be somewhat comfortable. Or at least I hoped.

I threw the duvet and pillows on the bed, seeing his eyes follow my discovery.

"When we use the comforter as some sort of mattress, this could be at least cozy to some degree."

I saw him starting what was most likely another debate, but interfered before he could get even one word in. "And this is my principle I insist on."

That seemed to work surprisingly well since no argument followed my statement. He smiled at me, probably figuring I was set on this.

The hotel had provided us with some bare necessities like toothbrushes and the likes, and about half an hour after we had checked in, we were ready to call it a night.

I didn't sleep well, but then again, I usually never did in hotels. The few times I had been on vacation or was sent to some overnight stay for work-reasons, I usually spent more time twisting and turning than getting any shuteye. So, when my cellphone's alarm rang, I was already wide awake, feeling like I hadn't had a moment of sleep.

After contemplating just staying in bed for a while longer and realizing that this would mean I'd lose my flight, I let out a groan and got my dead body out of the comfort of the warm and cozy bedding. Seeing Carlos already up and awake, looking like he was ready to go, I guess I had some catching up to do.

We seemed to be surprisingly well in sync for two strangers that only knew each other for a few hours, working around each other without many issues or much fuss.

"I'm not feeling like having actual breakfast, but maybe we could quickly stop in the lobby for some coffee to-go? I don't think it will help me much in regard to waking up, but at least it'll be warm."

So that's what we did. We took our carry-ons, made a quick pit stop at the coffee machine opposite reception and got a moment later into a waiting cab. The surrounding snowfall, which was still as strong as last night, if not even stronger, had me worried for a moment. If last night's blizzard caused a disruption, I didn't see how today should be any different.

About two minutes into the ride, Carlos's as well as my phone rang simultaneously and one look at my display was making me groan. It was a notification from the airline, letting us know our flight this morning had been canceled yet again. A second message a few moments later informed me that I had been rebooked, but only for tonight, close to midnight.

Currently it was 5am, so a midnight departure - if that was even going to happen - meant I had a very, very long day ahead of me. And looking outside the cab's window, I wasn't certain the snow would get any better anytime soon.

"I hope you have better luck with your rebooking," I remarked, looking at my companion, who seemed equally thrilled as I was feeling.

"This starts to be annoying," he simply commented, before telling the driver to turn around and get back to the hotel.

Luckily for us, the hotel had once more the room available, and we got back into just the same one.

I went straight back into bed and that was that for me. I might at least make good use of the additional hours it would take for me to get home. Before bidding goodnight to the freshly started day, I decided on letting my mother know that my flight once more had been canceled.

Whatever her response would be, I wouldn't know for several hours, seeing as the moment I put my phone away, I was dead to the world.