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somedaylazysomeday · 2 months ago

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Let It Snow

Working an overtime shift at a hotel is no one's idea of a fun Christmas activity, but bad weather and a lack of coworkers makes it necessary. But maybe things won't be as bad as they seem.

Kyle 'Gaz' Garrick + gn!reader (no reader descriptions, no reader pronouns, no use of 'Y/N')

Rating: T

Word Count: 7,100

Warnings: Inaccurate hotel practices, mixture of British and American terms, seriously I have no idea where this is supposed to be set, winter weather, holiday movies, involuntary overtime shift, makeout sessions, fluff

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“Happy holidays!”

You offered a weak smile in return. Thomas, the hotel’s manager, was dressed in holiday gear from head to toe. From his Santa hat to the bells woven into his shoelaces, it was clear that he was thrilled about this time of year.

“I’m going to finish the paperwork for the week, then I’ll be on my way,” Thomas told you. “Do you need me to work on an event schedule for you?”

“No, I think Denise and I will be fine.” Thomas nodded and disappeared into the back office with another smile.

And why shouldn’t he smile? He had the next few days off.

The Queen’s Brook was a small hotel, even by the area’s standards. It was only twenty rooms, which meant it regularly operated on a skeleton crew. You and Denise ran the front desk while Mark did most of the housekeeping. Thomas filled in at the front desk when needed, and you and Denise helped with housekeeping if Mark was off and there were two of you scheduled to work.

This week, Denise had lucked into the day shift, which mean that you were stuck working the six pm to six am shifts. Not that you expected it to be busy - there was only one guest on the log. Most people would be spending their holidays with family, and the Queen’s Brook wasn’t close to any major metropolitan areas.

Still, Thomas had insisted on having a full selection of holiday offerings for anyone who might stop in. He had planned nightly movie screenings, the front desk was to offer cocoa and seasonal teas for any interested guests, and the back office held stacked containers full of cookies.

At approximately 6:45, Thomas ducked out of the office with his coat already draped over one arm. “Are you sure I can’t do anything for you before I go?”

“I’m fine,” you demurred. “Besides, you need to go. The movie showing is in fifteen minutes and you know you’ll get distracted if you’re still here when it starts.”

“It’s Home Alone,” he reminded you defensively. “How am I supposed to leave in the middle of Home Alone?”

You laughed. “Exactly! You’d better leave while you can.”

“Happy holidays, then,” Thomas said, shrugging into his coat. “I’ll see you on Boxing Day.”

“Enjoy your time off,” you called after his rapidly retreating back, managing not to sound as spiteful as you felt.

As far as work went, you had worse shifts. Denise was off, Mark wouldn’t be in until the next day at nine, and the Brook’s only guest wasn’t due until the following day. That night was quiet, and you relished the glow of the lights strung around the lobby. Besides, you had all the cookies you could eat and a solid supply of movies.

It was shortly before midnight when the front door opened to admit a young man.

He stepped inside quickly, but the cold gust teased around your face and neck even after the door was closed. Snow clung to the man’s face, standing out against the darkness of his short hair. He offered a friendly smile as he stepped up to the other side of the desk.

“Checking in.”

You smiled back, hoping with all of your might that no crumbs clung around your mouth. “Do you have a reservation?”

His smile dimmed slightly. “Er… no, not exactly. I do, but not for tonight.”

“Kyle Garrick?” you checked.

“Great guess,” he congratulated, the warmth on his face making him almost unbearably lovely in the warm glow of the lights. “Unless you’re psychic or something.”

“Not exactly,” you admitted, laughing lightly. “You’re actually our only scheduled guest for the next few days.”

“Really?” he asked. “Well… sorry to make you stay open, then.”

You waved away his apology. “It’s fine. We would be open, anyway. In case anyone wanted to stop while they’re traveling for the holidays or something.”

Kyle nodded, but it was awkward. Clearly, he also saw how low the odds of that were. The hotel wasn’t exactly centrally-located.

“So, should I assume that you want to switch tomorrow night’s reservation to tonight?” you asked, trying to keep the conversation moving.

“Please.”

“Of course. I’ll just need your original confirmation number and some identification.” He started to fish his wallet and phone out of a pocket and you glanced thoughtfully at the stash of holiday treats. “It’ll take me a few minutes to get everything worked out. In the meantime, would you care for some cocoa or tea? We also have half the country’s cookie supply in this room, and it would help me out if you stop me from eating all of them myself.”

Kyle glanced up at you, dark eyes sparkling with good humor even past the weariness in them. “Well, if it helps you out, I suppose I can have a cocoa and some cookies.”

By the time you fetched a disposable cup of cocoa and a napkin with some cookies, Kyle had pulled out his ID and placed his phone with the confirmation number on the counter. You put the cup and the cookies beside it and Kyle laughed at the sheer number of treats you had stacked on the napkin.

“Taking advantage of my kindness, I see.”

You grinned at him. “Like I said, you’re our only scheduled guest. I have to take advantage of you while you’re here.”

The second of quiet surprise passed slowly, ticking stickily past as you and Kyle watched each other with wide eyes. You truly hadn’t meant it to sound so lascivious, but you couldn’t deny that Kyle was an incredibly handsome man. Still, the last thing you wanted was to make him feel uncomfortable.

“Let me get you set up,” you said, reaching for the phone and ID card.

Kyle’s fingers came down on the other end of the phone screen, holding it in place. “I think, if I’m going to help with this cookie problem of yours, you’ll have to join me. Can I talk you into a cocoa of your own while we eat and work?”

You were delighted at his suggestion - not only was there an attractive guest in the hotel, but he seemed to be flirting back at you. It probably wouldn’t lead to much, but it was a fun way to pass the time.

“I could do that,” you agreed, moving to pour your own cocoa from the warmer.

Even with the ancient computer system deciding to be extra-stubborn, the two of you didn’t manage to clear the pile of cookies before Kyle was all checked in. The time had passed with pleasant small talk and jokes between the two of you. Kyle had proven to be funny and insightful, the perfect conversational partner. You had tried to hold your own, but you were coasting on the sugar rush to make it through the rest of your shift.

“Okay, you should be all sorted now,” you announced. “You’ll be on the third floor. Breakfast is from six to ten-thirty tomorrow morning in the area behind you. Complimentary tea is available all hours. The pool is currently under renovation, but the gym is down this hall to your left. Elevators are straight back from here.”

You handed him the paper envelope with his keys. “Here are your keys. There are two, but let us know if you need any extras.”

“Presumptuous of you,” Kyle said, flashing a mischievous, teasing smile as you choked on air.

“Funny,” you complimented, shaking your head and taking a swig of cocoa to clear your throat. “Tonight’s holiday movie is Home Alone, by the way. I’ll be restarting it in about half an hour, if you’re interested in watching?”

A series of emotions flowed over Kyle’s expressive face. Interest, humor, realization, regret, and weariness were the ones you caught, and you weren’t fully surprised when he shook his head.

“I want to.” You smiled easily, glancing back at the computer, but he touched the back of your hand to draw your attention back to his pretty brown eyes. “I really want to. But It’s been a long… month. I need to catch some sleep, especially if I’m going to make it my parents’ house tomorrow. What time is checkout?”

“Eleven am,” you answered automatically, a little dazed by the force of his attention.

He nodded slowly. “Will you still be working?”

“No, the day shift takes over at six.” You fought the near-irresistible urge to apologize. “Well, don’t worry. There will be plenty of cookies if you want some more in the morning. In the meantime, please call the front desk if you need anything, Mr. Garrick.”

He smiled sadly at you. “Kyle, please.”

“Kyle, then,” you agreed, voice soft. “Let me know if you need anything.”

Kyle nodded, shouldering his green duffel bag - was that military issue? - as he went for the elevator.

Half an hour later, you restarted Home Alone. True to his word, Kyle had not reappeared. You told yourself it was for the best and allowed yourself another consolation cookie.

By the time the end credits of Home Alone started to roll, you weren’t thinking about Kyle anymore. Of course, that was mostly because you were thinking of yourself. Specifically, you were wondering if you would be able to get home.

Your cozy apartment was a little less than an hour’s drive from the hotel, but the winding roads meant that your commute time could vary wildly depending on the weather. And despite the normal mildness of December weather in the area, it had started to sleet outside.

At first, you had mistaken it for rain, but then you noticed the icy buildup at the bottom of the windows that looked out into the parking lot. Then it started to coat the grass with a frozen white crust and the weather showed no signs that it was going to slow or stop.

When the pavement of the parking lot began to take on a distinctly glazed look, you really started to worry. Denise was supposed to be there in a little over two hours, but she wouldn’t be able to relieve you if she couldn’t get to work at all. And Mark wouldn’t come in until nine, assuming he could come in.

Normally, the quiet pre-dawn hours were ones you spent on your phone. But you couldn’t focus on social media, and your music just drowned out the sounds of the weather you were straining to hear.

By half past five, you couldn’t see the lines on the pavement of the parking lot. The sleet had stopped, but it had been replaced by snow. Flakes were falling thick and fast, coating the grass and lot with a layer almost before your eyes. A quick perusal of the weather forecast showed that temperatures weren’t slated to get above freezing at any point in the day.

You were debating what to do when the phone rang. “Hello, you’ve reached Queen’s Brook. How may I help you?”

“It’s Thomas,” said Thomas. “Is it snowing there?”

“Yes,” you confirmed. “Which makes a nice change from the sleet we got through most of the night.”

Thomas swore… well, almost. “Oh, shhh… ugar cookie.”

“You can just say ‘shit’.”

“I have a five year-old,” he reminded you. “I think she’s asleep right now, but you can never be too sure.”

“What are we going to do?” you asked, choosing - for once - not to remark on or ask to speak with Thomas’s adorable daughter.

“Denise can’t make it,” Thomas said, and you could swear you heard the tolling of a large bell behind the words. “I thought, if the weather was just bad at her house, we might be fine, but…”

“But it’s bad everywhere,” you finished for him. “I take it that Mark won’t be in today, either.”

“No, he lives further away than anyone else.” At the very least, Thomas sounded as miserable as you felt. That kind of empathy was rare from management of any business. Especially management who was currently out of the country. “If Denise can’t get there, Mark can’t either.”

“I don't know what to do,” you admitted. “I'm almost done my full twelve hour shift. I can't work much longer than that. I need some sleep.”

Thomas sighed. “Okay, how about this? The scheduled guest isn't there yet. Put a closed sign on the front door until check-in at four. Get some sleep in the meantime.”

“The guest is here.” You rubbed your forehead, beyond done with the day. “He came last night instead of tonight. Change of plans.”

For a moment, you thought Thomas was going to cave and use an actual swear word, but he managed not to. “When do you think he's going to check out? Do you think he's going to check out today at all?”

You frowned, trying to make assumptions about Kyle based only on the short conversation you’d had with him. “Probably? He seemed determined to get home for the holidays.”

“Well, ask him as soon as you think he’s awake,” Thomas decided. “If he checks out, shut down until four and get some sleep. If he’s going to stay another night, I’m not sure what we’re going to do. Maybe have you sleep in the office so you’re still technically on duty? Call me back if that happens.”

“Okay.” You rubbed your eyes, suddenly exhausted. “I’ll check with him at eight-ish and get back to you if he’s staying.”

“Please do.” Thomas was quiet for a moment. “I’m sorry you’re having to deal with this. Post my number if you close down, or put it at the front desk. I’ll field calls and let you know if something needs to be handled immediately.”

“Okay.”

“And I’ll have Denise cover your shift on Christmas Day,” Thomas offered. “She wanted to make up the hours she’s missing today. I’ll cover your Boxing Day shift. All you have to do is make it through today and tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

“I need to hear you say something other than okay,” Thomas said, laughing weakly. “Otherwise, I’ll kick the guest out and close down so you can take a room.”

“No need to go that far,” you assured him, trying to inject some good humor into your voice. “If he’s staying, I’ll just shut myself in the office and sleep when no one needs anything.”

“Still, let me know if that happens,” Thomas instructed. “I’m sorry again.”

When you had hung up the phone, you buried your face in your hands and heaved a deep sigh. It was going to be a long day.

“Is everything okay?”

You jumped and whipped your attention back to the room instead of the computer screen. “Kyle! Sorry, you scared me. Why are you awake so early?”

Kyle shrugged, looking irritatingly awake for so early in the morning. “Just came back from some time abroad. Guess I still haven’t gotten used to this time zone. Sorry for the scare, though.”

“I probably needed it,” you cranked your neck in a vain attempt to release the tension that had gathered there. “It’s going to be a long day.”

He frowned at that, studying you intently. “What do you mean?”

“Looked outside yet today?” you asked instead, unable to help the wry chuckle that escaped you. Kyle ducked to peer out through the small gap between the edge of the blinds and the windowsill. His muttered curse told you everything you needed to know.

“How bad is it?”

You frowned. “Dunno, I haven’t been out in it. But the news says it’s pretty bad. Says drivers who aren’t experienced with ice should stay off of the roads. And it isn’t expected to melt until tomorrow morning.”

“Driving on ice has never been my best thing,” Kyle admitted, throwing a dark look at the vehicle that must have been his. “Not with those tires, anyway.”

“So you’re staying another night, then?”

Kyle smiled at you. “Looks like it. As long as you’ve got the room?”

“I think we’ll be able to find something for you,” you agreed, happy that Kyle’s flirtatiousness was back. “Are you good to stay in the same room?”

He arched a brow at you. “Unless you know something about it that I don’t.”

You laughed, working on adjusting his reservation in the computer instead of answering.

When he was all set up for the day, Kyle thanked you. “Maybe I’ll try to get a little more sleep. Don’t want my sleep schedule to be too wrecked.”

You agreed, tactfully not mentioning that you were currently finishing up a twelve-hour overnight shift and that you hardly knew what a sleep schedule was anymore.

When he had left, you retreated into the back office. You hadn’t been awake that long, all things considered. Still, there was something about the quiet office - combined with all of the cocoa you had drank and the sound of sleet on the windows - that made you feel markedly drowsy. The office was a little chilly since it was on the corner of the building, so you helped yourself to the snowflake-patterned throw blanket Thomas had left draped over the back of his office chair.

There was a loud knock and you startled, your elbow slipping off the side of the desk. You caught yourself before you could hit your face on the ancient keyboard, but it came at the high price of making an undignified yelping noise.

“Are you okay?” Kyle called.

“All good,” you answered hurriedly, trying to fix your appearance. You were fairly sure you had fallen asleep, but why did you feel so groggy?

You cursed when you caught sight of a clock. You had definitely fallen asleep, for something like three hours. Kyle was probably starving. With no one else around, you were responsible for serving breakfast and you hadn’t even started it yet.

In an inelegant scramble, you managed to fight your way out of the office, blinking owlishly when you found Kyle halfway between the front desk and the office door.

“Sorry,” he apologized, pulling back his outstretched hand. “I thought you might have gotten hurt. You sure you’re okay?”

You gave your best bright smile, trying not to think about how tired your eyes felt. “Of course! Are you hungry? My apologies - with everyone else stuck at home, I'll be responsible for making breakfast this morning. We have eggs, bacon, toast, and oatmeal. There is also a pastry cupboard with a good selection of items-”

“Hey,” Kyle interrupted, fingertips grazing your forearm as you stepped around him. “Did you say you're the only one here?”

You were a pretty good judge of character and Kyle hadn't made you feel uncomfortable at any point, but that question brought you back to reality. This could end up being a precarious situation if you had misunderstood who he was.

“Technically speaking, yes,” you agreed. “But there are the security cameras and all kinds of alarms, plus the systems we use help me keep an eye on everything. We're safe.”

“How long have you been working?” Kyle let you walk away from him, not working to prolong the contact between you. Another point in his favor.

“Uhh, about fifteen hours,” you said, leading the way to the kitchen. “But that’s counting the nap I just took, so the real number is a lot lower.”

Kyle paused at the doorway to the kitchen. You had propped the door itself open, but the flooring turned from faded carpet to chipped tile, so it was clearly the start of a new area. With the tips of his shoes neatly at the line of tile, Kyle asked, “Am I allowed to be in here? I don’t want to get you in trouble. I can wait in the dining area…”

“Up to you,” you offered with a shrug. Honestly, the fact that he had waited for permission was yet another point in his favor, and you were staring to feel rather silly for having doubted his character, even momentarily. “I never mind company while I’m cooking, but I have no problem bringing everything out to you if that’s what you prefer.”

“I’ll stay then,” he accepted easily, stepping into the industrial kitchen and looking around. The curiosity was evident in Kyle’s face and posture, but he still rushed to open the door of the fridge for you, or carry the pan to the stovetop.

In most chain hotels, breakfast was a much simpler matter. You opened the pre-packaged foods, heated them up to the required temperatures, and stuck them in a serving dish. Cold items would be placed on ice, pastries went in the display, and the sad fruit offerings lived in a cage or basket that never managed to tempt guests into eating them. The most exciting thing that could happen was if one of the juice concentrates in the machine ran out and someone had to replace it.

The Queen’s Brook was different. Since it was so small and oddly located, the only hope it had of attracting guests was to offer a ‘boutique experience’. That meant real breakfast, with special attention paid to food allergies and flavor preferences for each guest. That business model could be hectic when the Brook was at full capacity, but it happened so rarely that it was hardly an issue.

Still, all of that was to say that you were well-accustomed to making a variety of breakfast foods. You started browning some butter in the pan, then retrieved the packages of bacon and eggs from the fridge. Kyle watched the process with interest. You remembered to ask how he liked his eggs, but he opted for fried. It was what you were preparing for yourself, which made things even more simple.

The two of you chatted as you finished getting breakfast together. Kyle was exactly as polite and charming as you had guessed he would be from the few interactions you’d had with him. He insisted on carrying the heavier dishes to the dining area, and held the door for you besides.

Over eggs and toast, he had admitted that he was in the military. When you had teasingly told him that you had already guessed that, he had the nerve to look shocked. Your explanation about his haircut, boots, and duffel bag didn’t seem to have crossed his mind as a possibility.

“You’re pretty observant,” he complimented when he had gotten over his surprise.

“And you’re-” You cut yourself off with a start. Your first instinct had been to reply with something flirtatious. Kyle had been delightful all morning and you found yourself nursing a crush incredibly quickly. With only a slight pause, you managed to divert yourself to, “And you’re very sweet.”

“Depends who I’m talking to, I suppose,” he demurred, fluttering his eyelashes in a way that set you giggling. He laughed along, then interrupted himself. “Hey, since I’m staying another night, what’s on the movie schedule?”

You thought about it for a moment. “Tonight is supposed to be Elf.”

Kyle’s lips curved into a genuinely delighted smile. “I love Elf.”

“Who doesn’t?” You checked your watch. “It’s pretty early still, but we can start it when I finish up with the breakfast dishes. And we have some other movies. No one else is on the books to come in today, so we could have a marathon if that sounds good.”

“Sounds perfect, except one thing.” You raised an eyebrow at him, waiting to hear a polite refusal and mention of a partner that he had forgotten about until that moment. But Kyle only grinned and leapt to his feet. “I’m doing the dishes.”

“Oh, you don’t have to-” you started.

Kyle interrupted before you could get any further. “Please? You cooked and you’re in the middle of a helluva shift. At least let me clean. Otherwise I’ll feel utterly useless.”

You got the feeling that he had never felt useless a day in his life, but you couldn’t deny the charm of those sparkling brown eyes, especially when paired with a dazzling smile.

“Sure,” you agreed weakly.

Kyle’s smile stretched even wider. In an instant, he had gathered up all of the dishes and carried them into the kitchen. The door settled shut behind him and it finally pulled you back to your senses. You followed him in, insisting on drying the dishes after he had washed them.

In the haze of pleasant conversation and the warmth of the kitchen, you and Kyle finished with the dishes and stacked them neatly where they belonged. You retreated back to the main area of the hotel. The lobby couch wasn’t overly comfortable, but you and Kyle piled it with spare comforters and pillows until it was more of a squishy nest than an overly firm couch.

When you finished Elf, you moved onto The Santa Clause, then to Home Alone. Between the late breakfast and the lack of other ingredients in the hotel, you both decided that it would be best to snack on cookies throughout the day instead of having real food.

Halfway through Home Alone, your eyes started getting heavy. The room was cozy, and you were nice and warm under the blankets. Beside you, Kyle was a soothing presence with his steady breathing and occasional chuckle at the movie. Before you could sit up straighter, or pace around the room to wake yourself up, you drifted off into a sound sleep.

When your eyes finally opened again, the room was dark and you were confused. The lamp at one side of the room clicked on, and you were left blinking up in Kyle in befuddlement. “What-?”

“You fell asleep,” he explained succinctly. Then he lifted the plates in his hands. “I reckon we could both stand to eat something other than cookies, so I made scrambled eggs.”

He handed you a plate as you struggled to sit upright. A glance at your watch showed that it was mid-evening. You had fallen asleep in the afternoon, so that was startling. Your face heated as you took a bite of the eggs.

“I’m so sorry, Kyle,” you apologized, trying to push away visions of yourself, slack-jawed and snoring on the couch while he tried unsuccessfully to wake you up. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

“Me, neither,” he admitted with another heart-stopping grin. “But I did. Might have done first, come to think of it. When I woke up, I figured you needed the sleep, so I went and made eggs.”

“You did a good job,” you complimented, eating another forkful. “You could have woken me up, though. You shouldn’t have to cook. You’re paying to stay here.”

Kyle pressed a hand to his chest, pretending shock. “Still? Figured I had earned a free night since I’m so charming.”

His over-exaggerated wink made you laugh aloud. “Sorry, but my boss already knows you’re here for another night. I think you’ll be on the hook for full payment, but you could try your best to negotiate some kind of discount.”

Kyle shrugged, settling comfortably beside you on the sofa, folding one leg onto the cushion so he could face you comfortably. “Honestly, I’ve enjoyed this. I’ll gladly pay for the second night’s stay. Maybe a third, too, if the weather doesn’t get any better.”

You straightened at that, remembering that time had indeed passed and you might be able to get a better look at things. The plate of eggs was abandoned at your spot as you peeked out from behind the nearest set of blinds.

“How’s it looking?” Kyle asked, voice coming from just behind your shoulder.

You frowned at the window. “It stopped sleeting. I can’t tell how the roads are from here, though.”

“That’s a good sign-” Kyle started, cutting the statement short as you turned away from the window and you found yourselves standing closer than either of you had expected.

With your focus on his expression and the laughably short distance between you, you could see the way Kyle’s eyes dipped to your lips for a fraction of a second. As if you couldn’t help but mimic him, your gaze dropped to his lips quickly enough to watch them part as he drew in a short breath.

The air itself seemed to thicken, the moment stretching impossibly long as both of you waited to see if the other would close the gap.

When it was clear that neither of you were feeling particularly brave, you chuckled lightly. “I would offer to start another movie, but we only have one left and I don’t think you’ll want to watch it.”

You could literally see the interest spark in Kyle’s eyes. “That so? What is it?”

“White Christmas,” you revealed, with relish.

You didn’t have any strong feelings about the film, personally. It was a classic and you didn’t mind watching it, but seventy-year old romantic comedy musicals were like kryptonite to a large chunk of the population… especially fit, young military men.

But you were pleasantly taken aback when Kyle grinned at you. “Love it, actually. My mum made us see it every year growing up. I have tons of good memories of my family watching it on Christmas Eve.”

Damn. You liked Kyle more with every new piece of personal information he shared.

“It’s not quite Christmas Eve, but we can watch it,” you said, holding up the slim case. “Unless you’d rather wait to see it with your family.”

Kyle snagged the movie from your hand, sending you a lopsided smile as he went to set everything up. “How could I say no to Bing Crosby?”

It was remarkably cozy, sitting on the couch and watching the familiar old film. Kyle was perfect to watch it with, too. He paid attention, laughed at the right times, and even offered an occasional piece of trivia.

Kyle was warm. He smelled nice, too. And when you eventually ended up curled into his side, he wrapped an arm around you, thumb gently rubbing the edge of your shoulder. When you let your head rest on his shoulder, he leaned into the touch.

When your lips met his, it felt like such an obvious extension of the moment that you didn’t have time to be nervous or tense up. The progression was so natural, in fact, that you simply didn’t stop.

The movie wrapped up in the periphery of your focus. Bing Crosby sang White Christmas, accompanied by his costars. As the snow fell on the screen, you managed to pull away from Kyle long enough to glance over with a smile.

“Good movie,” you remarked.

Kyle nodded. “The best.”

His finger under your chin turned your face back toward his and you melted eagerly into another kiss. Then another. And another after that.

Those kisses developed into a full-on makeout session that lasted until Kyle murmured, “Wouldn’t mind going back to my room. Can you sneak away for a while?”

You nodded breathlessly and followed him back into the lobby. Kyle paused when he saw the cameras above the desk. “Is someone going to watch the tapes and be pissed? I don’t want to get you into trouble.”

“No, the recordings are stored locally,” you explained. “They automatically delete themselves after twelve hours if they aren’t reviewed. I’ll erase everything before anyone else can see it. No one will ask since no one looks at them, anyway.”

Kyle nodded, but there was a line between his brows. “Not very safe.”

You shrugged. “It’s done well enough while I’ve been here.” He didn’t seem convinced and you grinned. “Is this really what you want to be talking about right now?”

His answering smile was slow but true. “Good point. My room?”

You followed Kyle to his room, guided by his hand around yours. Whatever you expected when you arrived there, it wasn’t for him to gently lead you to the bed only to continue kissing you gently. He made no move to do anything more than kiss and cuddle, which made you feel incomprehensibly cared for.

You hadn’t actually realized that you were falling asleep until you woke up to a buzz in your back pocket. You blearily looked around to find Kyle lying beside you, eyes closed and breathing slow and even.

When you pulled your phone free and lowered the eye-watering brightness level, you found a text from Denise:

Roads are a lot better today. I’ll be in at six unless you need me there earlier. You must be dead on your feet!

You slumped back against the pillows and started typing furiously.

No, six should be fine. It hasn’t been too bad. Please be careful - if you can’t make it safely, we’ll figure something out.

Only a few seconds passed before your phone buzzed again.

My wife is already at work and she said the roads are clear. Even if I get stuck, Mark said he’ll definitely be there. Smile - you’re going home today!

You reacted to the message with a little emoji heart, but you felt unexpectedly sad at the idea of this perfect bubble of peace bursting. It was already close to five.

You thought up and discarded about a dozen different ways of waking Kyle so you didn’t leave him without a word, but he looked so peaceful that you couldn’t bring yourself to follow through on any of them. Instead, you cuddled close to him and enjoyed the pre-dawn quiet.

At a quarter to six, you pulled on your shoes, kissed Kyle’s cheek, and crept silently from the room. You pulled the pillows and blankets from the couch and placed them in the laundry room, then went to the back office. You had just enough time to delete the night’s security footage before Denise came through the front door.

“Hey,” she greeted with a friendly smile. You didn’t work together often, but Denise had always been a considerate coworker. “I’m so sorry about yesterday. I couldn’t even get onto the street without sliding…”

“No apologies necessary,” you insisted. “The weather was bad here, and you’ve got a longer drive than I do! I’m glad you were safe.”

“Not as glad as you are to get out of here, I bet!” Denise busied herself signing into the main computer at the front desk. “Just the one guest still?”

You explained how Kyle had checked in a day early but been unable to leave because of the previous day’s weather. When Denise pointed out that he would probably leave that day, you were a little sad at the idea, but had to agree. Without the icy road conditions keeping him there, he had no real reason to stay.

When you got home, you managed a quick shower before collapsing into your bed for almost twelve full hours. Even with the naps you had taken, that had still been the longest shift of your life. If you were lucky, it would be the longest one you ever had to work.

Thomas had called you a few hours before your Christmas Eve shift, anxiously checking whether you were still okay to cover the front desk overnight. “I know you’re probably still tired. If you can make it through tonight, I promise you’ll have the next two days off. If not, I guess I could come in…”

You had snorted and told Thomas that he was being ridiculous. He had a five year-old child. There was no cause for him to miss Christmas at home, especially when he had put in for the vacation days almost a full year ago. He had sounded relieved and thanked you profusely until you reminded him that you had to get ready.

You arrived to an empty hotel. Denise reported that Kyle had checked out a little after eight that morning. You wished her a pleasant Christmas Eve and resigned yourself to a quiet shift.

It was pointless and you knew it, but you couldn’t help but look around after Denise had left for the night. There was some part of you harboring hope that Kyle had left a note or something when he left, but there was nothing at the front desk or in his room. Mark had already done his job - Kyle’s room was completely stripped of the sheets you had cuddled on. The sight of the clean, sterile room made you a little sad, and you spent the rest of the night comforting yourself with cookies, cocoa, and holiday movies.

But not White Christmas. That movie held a precious place in your mind now, already a treasured memory despite happening only a day ago.

Twelve hours passed remarkably quickly. It helped that a totally empty hotel meant that you spent most of the shift reorganizing the front desk, tidying up your work email, and scrolling on your phone.

Denise appeared again just before six on Christmas morning. She wished you all manner of pleasantries as you did the same to her, reporting that there had been no new reservations or guests overnight.

“Maybe Thomas will agree to close over the holidays next year,” you concluded conspiratorially. “Pretty sure we’re losing money.”

“Of course we are,” Denise agreed, glancing at her watch. “But you’re losing time right now. Your shift ended two minutes ago. Enjoy your days off!”

You thanked her as you signed out of the computer, then went to the office to retrieve your coat.

“Good morning!” you heard her greet someone chipperly. “Oh - back so soon?”

Your heart froze for a moment before pounding like you had gotten a hit of adrenaline. Just before you left the office, you paused to compose yourself.

“Yeah,” a familiar voice agreed. “I’m looking for-”

You nearly fell out of the office door as you realized that it was, indeed, Kyle. His eyes widened when he saw you and you were worried for half a moment that he was less than thrilled. But then his smile spread wide and sincere over his handsome face.

“Good, you’re still here!” he said. “I was worried I would miss you. There’s traffic on Christmas morning, of all the stupid-”

You were grinning just listening to him rant. Kyle cut himself off with an embarrassed duck of his head, handing you a foil-wrapped plate instead. “This is for you.”

You glanced from the him to the plate in your hands, and back again. “I- I’m sorry?”

“Do you have a minute?” he asked, instead of explaining.

Denise not-so-subtly shoved you out from behind the desk. “The breakfast area should be perfect for a conversation. It’s empty at the moment.”

Kyle smiled gratefully at her and you gave her a knowing look. Conversations in the empty breakfast area were completely audible from the front desk, something you had both taken full advantage of in the past. Denise gave you a saucy wink and shooed you after Kyle.

When you met up with Kyle, he was already sitting down at one of the tables. You sat across from him and pulled the foil from the plate, unable to stand your own curiosity any longer. To your astonishment, it was a plate of what seemed to be homemade breakfast food.

Fried eggs, a thick piece of French toast, a small container of syrup, and a neat little container of fresh-cut fruit were arranged on the plate, with a fork and knife tucked in along with them.

“And you let me cook you breakfast,” was all you could think to say.

Kyle laughed, eyes dancing. “Happy you’re so confident in my cooking abilities, but I didn’t make this. My mum did.”

That… didn’t explain as much as you had hoped it would. “I’m sorry?”

“I told her about you,” he continued, cutting himself off with wide eyes when you gaped. “Not anything… like that. I told her about how you had to work a triple shift because I was here. Reckon I talked about you too much, because she told me I had to bring you breakfast to thank you for taking care of me. She got up early to make all of it.”

“Your mother told you to bring me breakfast because I had to work a long shift..?” you asked slowly, feeling as if you were missing something in the explanation. “Some random person?”

Kyle shrugged, looking a little sheepish. “She probably knows something is up. I don’t talk about anyone the way I talked about you. She told me to invite you to Christmas dinner if you want to come. It’s at three.”

“She really doesn’t have to-” you started uncomfortably.

He interrupted before you could continue, “She wants to. I do, too. I really liked spending the day together. I… Well, I had planned on coming by anyway since I was stupid enough not to ask for your number before I checked out.”

“You didn’t have much of a choice,” you countered. “You were asleep when I left the room.”

You heard Denise gasp from behind the front desk and did your best to ignore her.

“Not that asleep,” Kyle said with a snort. “In my mind, it would be better to let you go. You never said anything about wanting to see me again, so I thought it would be pushy of me to ask for more. I’m still worried, honestly, so if you don’t want to see me again, tell me to shove off and I’ll leave you alone.”

You stared down at the delicious-smelling breakfast as if it were inherently fascinating. “I hoped you had left a note or something. I even went to your room last night to search. Just in case.”

The admission made your cheeks heat, but you managed a glance up at Kyle. He looked regretful. “I wish I’d thought to write one. I’m sorry, sweetheart.”

“You brought me breakfast,” you reminded him, opening the container of warm syrup and drizzling it over the French toast. “That’s probably better than a note.”

Hope looked good on him, you reflected. “If you think that’s good, wait until dinner.”

“Now who’s confident in your cooking abilities?”

He snorted. “I can make a few things, but I’m best at providing the company.”

“Good,” you said, patting Kyle’s hand. “Then you can provide me company while I eat breakfast. Then I’m going to sleep for a few hours and head to your house. Dinner’s at three, right?”

Kyle laughed and nodded, flipping his hand to capture your fingers in his. Breakfast got a little messy since you were eating one-handed, but it was a trade-off you were willing to make.

---

Author's Note - There's a marked lack of Gaz fics and I wanted to help fix that. This was supposed to be smutty, but then it was 7,000 words and super fluffy, so I left it alone.

Anyway, thanks for reading!

#call of duty fic #call of duty modern warfare fic #kyle gaz garrick #kyle garrick #reader #reader insert #reader insert fanfic #reader insert fanfiction #kyle gaz garrick x reader #kyle gaz garrick x you #gn!reader #gaz x reader #gaz x you #reader insert fic #no use of y/n #fluff #holiday #winter weather

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