"I'm being nice," he says, giving the back of Neil's hand a quick pinch as he pulls into the parking lot. "Don't go challenging that."

The actual transaction takes no more than five minutes, the clerk looking a combination of contemptuous and bored the way desk clerks at every motel like this seem to do, barely even looking at him as he hands the key over. The room itself is small, old, and slightly musty, but when he flicks on the light it seems clean enough.

He doesn't wait or pause, or glance at Neil. He collapses onto one of the two double beds and lets out a long breath. Everything feels like it's hitting him at once, continually.

Though, at least now he's not alone.

"Fuck."