I try not to stare at her breasts spilling out of her leather bodice like rising yeast dough, but it’s next to impossible. And River seems to feel the same way.
“Then we’ll take the last room.” He seems to be speaking to her breasts, but what did I expect? He’s a man, after all, no matter how perfect he is. He casually pulls out his wallet without taking his eyes off her ample bosom.
“A double room? Isn’t she a little young for you?” The black-haired woman nods at me and blows her chewing gum into a bubble.
“My sister. She’s eighteen, but she looks younger.” River lies as easily as Arizona when she’s hiding a party from Dad.
Bang!The gum bursts in the receptionist’s face. She sucks it back in and happily continues chewing. “I’m Mariah, by the way. I’m off work in an hour. There’s a little bar across the road.” She looks at me like I’m some mutated Staphylococcus. “Under twenty-one not admitted.” She stretches, and the leather of her bodice creaks as if it might burst under the weight of her breasts.
River’s eyes widen. “Sounds good.” He grins as if someone had given him the key to paradise. In this moment, he doesn’t seem at all like someone who hates himself or wants to jump.
I feel a nasty stab in my chest, but I should be happy that he wants to unload his testosterone elsewhere. Last night, it was so explosive in the tent that I was afraid it might catch fire. With a strange feeling in my stomach, I turn from them before Mariah tries to speak to me and my silence embarrasses me. Strangely enough, it’s much easier to be around people with River by my side. Just like it used to be in middle school with Arizona. The thought of my sister briefly overshadows everything that happened today, but I push it away. I don’t want to think about anything from Cottage Grove.
After some banter about Jack Daniel’s and other types of whiskey, River pays the young woman in advance, and I follow him toward the double room with mixed feelings.
Once River unlocks and opens the door, the first thing I see is the lumpy double bed. It stands against the wall, taking up almost the entire room as if it wanted to send us a message. There are dark-colored nightstands with tiny lamps on both sides, plus a table and two chairs. A naked light bulb dangles from the ceiling.
“Tourist rip-off,” River says sullenly, hitting the light bulb so that it swings back and forth. He brought his sports bag with him, and all I have is my newspaper. I place it neatly on one of the bedside tables and sit on the edge of the bed.
“And?” River falls onto the bed and spreads his arms and legs out like a starfish.
I had my phone turned off all day long, so now I turn it on. Thirteen percent left.
I need a charging cable!I type for River, not replying to his question. He doesn’t have to ask my permission if he wants to meet Mariah.
He reads my words. “I’d say take mine, but it doesn’t fit your phone. We can buy one for you tomorrow. So, did you think about your Big Five?”
I look intently at my fingernails, which have a black crust of dirt underneath. Not good for my wounds. Okay, he didn’t mean Mariah.
River gets up, rummages in his bag, and then puts a pad and pencil on the bed where I’m sitting. “Since your cell phone is almost dead, use this. Do you want to shower first, or should I?”
I point at him. I have to look at the messages I received from Dad first.
“Okay. You might as well think about your Big Five.” He raises his finger in warning like a teacher calling his students to order.
Do you also have a list of your Big Five?I write on the pad.
“Nice handwriting, Tucks.” He winks at me. “Sure, I have a list.”
And what’s on it?
“I won’t say. Not yet.”
Do you have a family?
“Unfortunately. You?”
My dad. And Arizona and Jamesville.
“The finger-on-map principle is merciless, isn’t it?” He laughs.
We call him James.
“I would have called him Ville.”
Why do you hate yourself? I would like to ask him, but he hasn’t asked about my silence yet, and I find it too personal. I’d better not ask about June, either.How long have you been folding origami?I write instead.
“Long time.”
