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Note: this story has been adapted, with permission, from a script that had been posted on r/gonewildaudio.
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The hotel lobby was more crowded than it had ever been designed to be. But when no planes were flying and it was snowing too hard to even drive anywhere, the airport hotel sort of became the home for thousands.

Molly looked at the crowd with dismay. Any hope she’d had of finding a quiet corner to spend the night – let alone a room – had vanished in the chaos and cacophony.

One part of the overcrowded room was filled with what looked to be frat boys trying yo see if they could drink the hotel dry.

Ugh. Molly wanted no part of that.

But wait – was that an open chair? She had to check.

“H-hi. Mind if I sit here? This place is so crowded, and I really could use somewhere to sit.”

The man next to her looked up and smiled. He was about Molly’s age, pleasant-looking, and his grin was welcoming. He waved at the chair and she took a seat.

“Thanks! I’m Molly. It is so crazy in here. I really appreciate this.”

“Don’t mention it. I’m just glad those guys didn’t come claim the chair for their beer pong tournament.” He laughed. He had a nice laugh, Molly wondered. “I’m Jack, by the way.”

“Hi Jack.” Molly smiled, wryly. “I thought I’d be able to avoid silly college students for one more night, but alas.”

“Do you work at a college?”

“I do – I’ve been a psych prof for about 17 years now. I love my job, but conferences are supposed to be a break, y’know?”

“I don’t get to go to conferences for my job – they don’t pay to send kindergarten teachers on trips.”

“Wow! At the other end of the age spectrum, eh? I could never imagine having enough energy for kids that age. College students are, well, not sedate…but I can kick them out of class if they become too much of a pain.”

They talked about teaching a little while longer, and Molly realized she was getting thirsty.”

Jack saw the look on her face and laughed gently. “Yeah, it’d be nice to get a drink, but I don’t think we’re going to get the server’s attention.”

Molly suddenly brightened. “Wait! I have in my bag a couple of bottles of wine I was going to bring home! And they’re even screw-top.” She paused. “Though I don’t see how we’re going to get glasses.”

Jack smirked. “Would it be too uncouth to drink right from the bottle?”

“Not for me! I mean, it’s been a while, but I’m game if you are. You don’t have any cooties, do you?” She giggled.

They opened the first bottle and passed it between them. The alcohol warmed Molly – first her tummy, then all over. She felt sort of naughty, doing something that she probably hadn’t done in a couple of decades. And it occurred to her that she was swapping spit – although not mouth to mouth – with a man she’d just met. A man who wasn’t her husband.

Suddenly she wasn’t just feeling warm from the wine.

She shook her head and tried to think of something else. “So, what brought you to this circle of travel hell, stuck in the airport hotel with roughly half the city and no rooms to be found?”

Jack’s face turned red. Molly wondered it was the effect of the wine, but it turned out to be something else.

“I’ve got one. A room, that is.”

“No way! You do? Lucky – how’d you manage to snag one?”

“My wife booked it for me. She was watching the weather and guessed that I might need it. Guess she was right.”

Molly gaped. Why hadn’t she wondered of that? Or her husband, for that matter.

“That was some good forethought! You must be the luckiest man here.”

The wondered of her husband – and Jack’s wife – was a sobering one. Drinking with a man she just met – a clever, friendly, cute man – was a fun fantasy to play with, but reality was reality.

Molly picked up the bottle and took the last swig. “Wow, we’re going through this quickly. If we finish these bottles too fast, I’m going to fall on my face before I get to whatever corner I’m going to sit in until morning.”

Jack paused, looking at her, obviously thinking about something. Finally he figured out whatever it was. “You could, if you want, stay in my room. I haven’t been up there yet – they were late in getting it ready, but I’m sure there’s a couch or something.”

Molly was shocked. “No, no. I couldn’t. You don’t even know me.”

She paused. The excitement from earlier came back in a rush, but she pushed it apart.

“I mean, I may I may not have cooties, but I could be a crazy axe-murderer or something. And what would your wife say if she knew you were letting a strange woman sleep in your room?”

“I’d like to think she’d appreciate me being kind to someone in need. But she’s already asleep where she is, and I don’t want to call and wake her up. What about you?”

Molly wondered about it. This felt like a dangerous game to play, but it had been so long since she’d felt this rush. “My husband? I don’t know. I do know that he’s had a strange woman or three in hotel rooms over the years. It’s fine with me, as long as he’s careful. I haven’t, myself. Just never seemed like it made sense for me.”

They both fell quiet, looking at each other for a bit.

Finally, Molly spoke. “Anyway. That got heavy there for a moment. Ehem. Yes, my good sir, I will graciously take you up on your chivalrous offer. As long as you’re sure.”

Jack nodded.

“Well then, thank you. A couch will certainly be better than wherever I’d end up down here.”

Jack nodded again. “So, now that that’s figured out, do you want to get out of this chaos and have another drink somewhere a little more quiet.”

NSFW: yes

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