go back to the beginning(go to 1)
You rebel!Just remember …
actions have consequences(go to 58)
go back(go to 37)
The pipes groan as the joint comes undone, and—oh no.One thing Pa taught me?Pipes groan for a reason.And that reason is pressure.
Water spits out, free of the pipe, covering me in seconds.I cough and splutter against it, tightening the fitting as fast as I can, my fingers slipping in the water.
Damn it!
A deep voice calls through the door.Finally, after it feels like I’ve been covered in a metric ton of water, I screw the joint back in place.There’s still a trickle of water leaking from the pipe, but it’ll hold.For now.
I crumple against the floor.
The door bursts open.I almost don’t want to look, but I can’t help myself.
Lucky leans in the doorframe, curious.“How is the tour going?”
I smile up at him.“Could be better.I think there’s a small leak in the bathroom.”
Bryan appears, incensed.“If you leave now, I’ll keep this from the owners, but don’t let me see you here again.”
“Come on.We’d better get out of here.”Lucky offers me his hand.
I take it, the warmth of his hand a sharp contrast to my cold everything.
“This will be a fun walk home,” I say, taking in the soaked condition of my clothes.Guess I should have thought of that before I got handsy with the sink.
We stand in the tiny bathroom, damp and dripping, and I’m caught between wanting him to make the first move and running from it.It would be easy to take a leap, if I hadn’t already left my bravado sitting with my dignity on a bathroom floor.
“My place is closer,” he says.“If you want.”
Oh, I want.I want a lot of things, and maybe that’s the problem.
It’s a sweet gesture, but I’ve already embarrassed myself enough today.“You don’t want to sayI told you so?”
Lucky reaches out and tucks a damp piece of hair behind my ear.“How would that help?”
I close my eyes.He’s a good man.
“I should go, but thank you for today.For … all of it.”
“Make it up to me.Take me to dinner tonight.”
It pulls a laugh from me.Why not?“I hope you like takeout then because that’s all I can offer.”
“Love, as long as you’re there, I’m happy.”He kisses my cheek.
“It’s a date then.”The first of many.
* * *
I guess it worked out after all.
that’s it?I want more(go to 59)
