my eyes and peer into the tinted windows. There it is, my caddy crammed with all my stuff on the front passenger seat, my stretched out bra and plain blue panties are folded on top. How humiliating, this can’t be happening to me. I feel heat rise up my neck and cheeks and even my ears flush. The sight of my crumpled towel still balled up curbs some of the embarrassment; at least he didn’t see all my dirty stuff too.
With my eyes close I pull the handle. Praying the door is unlocked and an alarm doesn’t go off. A breath leaves me in a whoosh with I hear a small click as the door opens. Snatching my underwear first, I shove them into my pockets.
Mike is out of the golf cart talking with Ares when I return, slightly out of breath from rushing. What have they been talking about?
I pull my lips up, forcing a smile as I approach. Ares pauses his quiet conversation, gazing at me. I bite my lip, pleading with him with my eyes not to tell Mike my mom isn’t here.
“I was just telling Mr. Harris that your mother was lying down, since she hasn’t been feeling well.”
I nod my head a little too vigorously, turning my eyes to Mike. “I think she has a touch of the flu.” I’m so grateful Ares didn’t tell the truth. “I’m going to check to make sure she’s still sleeping and put this stuff away.” I lift my full arms up. “Did you need something Mike? I can leave a note for when she wakes up.”
His lips twist and Mike shakes his head. “Naw, just haven’t really seen her since ya’ll came in.” Mike makes his way back over to the golf cart, giving me one more long look before pushing the button and driving away. He doesn’t head to the bathhouse like I expected, but back toward the front of the camp. Did he see Ares come in and was checking on me?
Shuffling my bundle, I sort through my caddy for my keys. Tucked half under my conditioner, I pull them free. Ares steps up behind me holding the screen door open, I don’t have any real reason to let him in, but I don’t want to. I peek over my shoulder, wondering what he’ll think.
“I guess you’re coming in,” I mutter under my breath. Ares doesn’t reply as I swing the door open, my keys still dangling from it. I step up and the camper shifts, his weight on the stair enough to make it bounce. He couldn’t get any closer unless he was carrying me. Thankfully, the air unit is churning along and the temperature has dropped several degrees since I left for my shower. I walk over to the long cabinet that holds our hamper and drop my towel in before closing it back up tight. I haven’t looked at him. I don’t want to see his face just yet. I’ll just let it sink in for a few seconds how very different we are.
Next, I place my caddy under the sink in the tiny bathroom, as I start to close the accordion style door, I stop. I still need to put my clean underwear on. The bathroom would offer more privacy, but it’s so damn small in there I get closterphobic just thinking about it.
Over my shoulder I call, “I’ll be out in just a second.” I don’t want him coming to look for me, not like I could go anywhere, but I want to warn him anyway.
Fully dressed, I slide the curtain to my room back to find Ares sitting in the middle of my tiny threadbare couch, which is as hard as a rock. Most of the cushions are flat and the steel frame of the pullout bed underneath pokes out in all the wrong places. We haven’t even used the bed in years because mom always preferred the couch.
His arms are spread out wide, reaching from end to end. He looks completely at ease. Most people would stay standing, or if they did sit, they’d be perched on the edge. Ares is acting like it’s a luxury sofa. Like he doesn’t even notice the difference.
I jerk my head down, avoiding eye contact. I don’t want him to see the relief on my face. “You’re working tonight?” His soft question breaks the silence.
I pull out one of the rickety chairs from the small wooden dinette. “Yes.” I squint to see the