Reuben started talking, and Evan focused on his mouth, attempting to read his lips.It wasn’t as easy as everyone thought.Something about a job.He peered around for Mercedes who signed, “He’s asking what you do for work.”
“I work for a road construction company.I use skid steers, wheel loaders, and compactors.Occasionally, I drive the dump truck if we need to get rid of lots of debris.”Could the man understand him?
Reuben’s face stiffened.“You can drive?I thought you couldn’t hear.”
Mercedes, who had strolled over and interpreted the conversation, closed her eyes for a second at the man’s ignorant comment.Nothing Evan hadn’t heard before.
“I’m Deaf not blind.We’re capable of driving.”
“But heavy machinery?Isn’t that dangerous if you can’t hear?”
Evan took a deep breath in, then let it out slowly.“Actually, it’s easier for me.I don’t get distracted by all the construction noise, and I don’t have to wear ear protection.”
Reuben narrowed his eyes and nodded.Tasha, the worker Mercedes didn’t like, sauntered over and cocked her hip, a flirty look on her face.“All that hard labor.I bet that’s where you get your muscles from.I saw the pictures Mercedes had of the two of you in Boston a few weeks ago.I have to say, you don’t look deaf.”
Sadly, that wasn’t the first time someone had said that to him, and some people actually thought it was a compliment.Well, you don’t lookstupid, but looks can be deceiving.He gave a low chuckle when Mercedes interpreted that sentence asHe gets that a lot.
Over the next hour, Mercedes tried her best to interpret everything everyone said, but there were too many conversations going on at once.Many of the guests were talking over each other, like what they had to say was more important than anything else.It didn’t help that much of the conversation was too high brow for him or about college level education.He’d barely finished high school.Not that he’d share that fact with any of these charming people.
He found himself watching two of the men have a debate about some sort of technology they used and which was better.Honestly, he couldn’t figure it out, but he nodded every once in a while if they looked at him.Where was Mercedes?
His search found her in the kitchen with Gracie, maybe.He couldn’t remember.The woman’s eyebrows were doing some sort of dance on her forehead as she grinned at his roommate.Something about bed.Oh, in bed.Was she asking if Mercedes had slept with him?
Instead of the blush he expected from her, she scowled and her lips tightened.Her hands signed a sharpno, then she didn’t sign any of the rest of her reply.He definitely saw the wordstupidcome from her lips, though.She thought he was too stupid to sleep with.It was true in her case, but it sucker punched him that she’d actually say that.
Pushing to his feet, he signed in the direction of his roommate.I’m going out.He didn’t feel the need to provide any more detail.Being at the party hadn’t been his idea.He didn’t feel even the tiniest bit bad, until he saw the hurt expression on her face as he left.Too bad.It hurt that all her snooty friends thought she was too good for him.Okay, he hadn’t seen anyone say that, but they could have and he wouldn’t even have known.Few of them had attempted to include him in their conversations.Some didn’t even look his way as they talked.They were probably all talking about him now.
He wandered down the street and ended up at the ball field.Had it only been a few days ago that Mercedes and Carli had cheered his team to victory?Mercedes had come to so many of his games and had been a constant support for him.All she’d wanted tonight was for him to be there in case she needed a friend.Yeah, what a turd friend, walking out in the middle of her party.She’d tried her hardest to interpret as much as she could, but it had been impossible to do that and still make the rounds of people there.
If she could be his cheerleader at most of his games, the least he could do was be there for her.He about-faced and headed home.
Mercedes watched as Evan stomped out the door.What had prompted that?He’d been sitting next to Huntley and Wardell, but it was unlikely he’d been involved in their conversation.Those two had discussions that some college professors couldn’t understand.Because they worked in the college library, they used the opportunity to brush up on any information they could find.It made them deadly dull but also self-important, like they knew more than anyone else.Perhaps they did, but it wasn’t useful information in her mind.
“Where’d your honey get off to in such a rush?”Tasha sauntered over.“I saw him sign something to you.I should learn that signing stuff so I can talk to him more.”
“He had to take care of something for his sister,” she lied.“He’ll be back soon.”She hoped.His scowl hadn’t seem friendly.
“He is hot.But you still have separate bedrooms.Why is that?”
Mercedes had anticipated this question, though she wasn’t sure how Tasha knew unless she’d been snooping.“The closets in the apartment are fairly small, and his clothes get super dirty from work.It’s best to keep them in a different room until he washes them.”
Tasha nodded, then dove into a conversation about a new young professor in the biology department.“I wonder if I can get him to teach me all about anatomy and physiology.”
“You should ask him.Excuse me.I need to talk to Saundra about next week’s schedule.”
She already knew the schedule but needed to get away from the annoying woman.It was bad enough she had to spend forty hours a week with her.The last thing she wanted was to hang with her in their free time.Unfortunately, she couldn’t invite the others and exclude Tasha without some serious backlash.
It was almost thirty minutes before Evan came back in.Mercedes had been standing so she could either see or hear the door.As soon as he walked in, he made a beeline to his room.She followed and caught the door before it closed.
Are you okay?What happened?
I’m fine.He shrugged.I’m sorry.I needed some air.
Stepping closer, she reached for his arm.Please come out for a bit longer.I need you here so they’ll get the hint and leave.
How about I give them all the boot?Is that a big enough hint?
It could be.She eased in even closer and slid her hands up his chest to his shoulders.Or we could pretend we have better things to do.
