Chapter Text
The chain around his rear-view mirror swayed with the truck as Rhett finally pulled into a small lot right off the road, headlights shining on the array of small cottages scattered across the property. He was trying his best to keep his eyes open and on the road, the journey being much longer than he expected.
He could have slept in the car again - pulled off on the side of the road somewhere and crash out in the cab for a few hours, but if he had to spend one more night trying to fit his six foot seven frame across the seat of his truck his back may decide to never work again.
He made plans to come to this town before leaving the last one. Raymon, an old man Rhett had grown particularly close to during his stay in Ingall's Harbor, suggested Rhett hit up this small little tourist spot next. He told Rhett about the small inn that rented cabins right on the river and assured Rhett that there would be plenty of work to keep him busy for a few months.
He made it onto the porch of the quaint office cabin, hearing the buzz of insects searching for light in the darkness, finding it from the little porch light at the corner. A couple of rocking chairs sat to the right of the brightly painted blue door. An array of flowers perched in between them.
This was certainly different from the places he usually laid his head, most of them only having a trash can and an ashtray outside the office.
The door jerked him to a stop, Rhett almost bursting through it, not realizing it was locked. "What the hell?" he mumbled under his breath, giving an irritated rap on the door.
He looked through the sheer curtain hanging on the four pane window. A small lamp, giving off only a little light in the room, sat on a long counter to the right, giving him the impression that the place was empty.
He thought about leaving but the fear of having to fight sleep with a buckle in his side all night had him knocking a few more times - just in case. It took three more loud bangs on the door before Rhett saw a light toward the back of the cabin turn on. Quickly followed by a dark haired man stumbling into the room in only a pair of well worn sweatpants, shoving glasses up onto his nose. He flipped the light on in the front room as he made his way to the door.
Hell of a way to run a business , Rhett thought.
The man finally made it over to the door, swinging it open with a huff. "Can I help you?" he spat, voice rough, obviously shocked out of a deep sleep.
"I'd like to rent a room," Rhett said, a bit of an edge to his voice. "This is what this place is for, right?"
The man smirked at Rhett, stepping back and waving his arm into the room, gesturing Rhett inside. He stepped by the man, not missing the rough shut of the door behind him as he acquainted himself with the small lobby.
The brunet made his way behind the counter, retrieving a book from underneath it. "You'll have to excuse my attire, we don't get many check-ins at," he looked behind Rhett to what he could only assume to be a clock. "... 3am. How many nights do you want?"
Rhett actually didn't realize it was quite so late - or early, in this case. He never paid much attention to the time anymore, especially at night. If he looked to the clock too much he’d realize just how much sleep he was missing.
His eyes met the man's, the glasses slightly obstructing Rhett's view of his icy blue eyes. Rhett's gaze momentarily darted down to take in the vast expanse of skin sprinkled with dark hair. He cleared his throat, dragging his eyes away and rubbing the back of his neck. "Just a couple for now," he said, trying for a little less sarcasm this time.
"Name?"
"Rhett McLaughlin."
Rhett saw him scroll out "Rhett M. 4" inside the book then turn to retrieve a key from the board behind him.
"Cabin 4. Take this drive to the right here, it's the fourth on the left." the guy said, coming around from the desk and walking to the door.
"Uh," Rhett followed him with his eyes, again trying to not notice the way the shadows in the room danced across the stranger's broad shoulders. "Don't I need to pay?"
"We'll sort it out once the sun's up." he replied grumpily, jerking the door open and holding it for Rhett to exit before shutting it again.
He watched from his car as the lights turned off inside the cabin and the night grew silent once again. He shook his head, ignoring the smile that threatened to show itself at the grumpy but incredibly cute host.
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Rhett was up again by the time the sun pushed its way in through the blinds of his possible home for the foreseeable future. He could never sleep for more than a few hours at a time, his nights usually plagued with bad dreams and restless sleep.
He got out of the bed, pleasantly surprised by how comfortable it was. Although it could be because he'd spent the previous two nights sleeping inside his truck. He didn't bother making up the bed, he would be back in it in a few hours anyway, catching up on the sleep he lost while being on the road.
The cabin was cozy, the walls were exposed wood but stained a gray color, almost the color of well-worn driftwood. The décor was simple but oddly comforting; starch white fabrics with bursts of color - very similar to the shade of the attendant's eyes Rhett saw the night before.
He made himself some coffee, thankful that the small cabin was stocked well with it. Laughing to himself at the strange assortment of coffee cups in the cupboard, one reading, ‘World’s Best Aunt’.
He opened the fridge, knowing he wouldn't find anything in it, but he was excited to make good use of the tiny kitchen and made a mental note to find a store close by to get a few things for a home-cooked meal. Even if he didn't end up staying, his body would be thankful for the brief reprieve of greasy fast food.
He slipped into the same jeans he'd peeled himself out of the night before and pulled a shirt on that smelled somewhat clean before walking out the door.
He walked the short distance back to the office, enjoying the view of the river that stretched out behind the cabins, the fog hanging heavy over the flowing water as the sun made its way higher into the sky.
The main cabin was much bigger than it seemed last night upon his arrival. He did notice that the lights were on inside before he entered, and hoping to ease the tension that he caused last night with the attendant, he put on his best smile.
Sneaking a peek through the window, he saw the man huddled close to the floor in front of an old ice machine. The noises coming from it sounding like it was on its last leg. The way the dark haired man was cursing under his breath made the smile spread even wider across Rhett's face.
He turned about the time Rhett pushed his way through the door, the bell that rang as Rhett walked in letting him know he wasn't alone anymore. There was a moment that Rhett thought the guy was rolling his eyes but he quickly got control of himself and smiled, though Rhett could tell it wasn't as genuine as his own.
"Jesus, do you ever sleep?" he asked as he turned and placed the cover over the square shaped hole on the front of the machine.
"Not much, no. It'll catch up with me eventually, though." Rhett replied, as friendly as he could. "Just came to settle my bill - if you're not busy."
He stood up, shaky hands smoothing out the front of his jeans. He wore a tight t-shirt that hugged his broad shoulders with some sort of graphic on it that Rhett didn't recognize, his eyes roamed down over tight fitting jeans, cuffed just above his bare feet.
"Not busy at all." he said, without a smile this time, making Rhett wonder if he was like this to all the guests or only the ones that woke him up in the middle of the night.
"I can come back later..." Rhett started, gesturing toward the door behind him but the man was already standing behind the counter propped up on his elbows, as if waiting on Rhett.
What was this guy's problem?
"So, two nights will be 75 dollars with a refundable 25 damage deposit. That okay?" He said, again smiling but Rhett could tell it was a customer service smile he no doubt had in his back pocket at all times.
"Fine, d'ya take cash." Rhett asked quickly, losing his friendly tone from earlier. It was obvious this guy wasn't going to forgive him, he may as well be a jackass too.
He'd had plenty of practice with that anyway.
"Yup," the shorter man said, popping the 'p' on the end and Rhett tried not to focus too hard on those pretty pink lips.