“I have to go anyway, got things to do. Don’t get into any trouble. If Slick comes by and pul s a knife, don’t be a hero, you run, then you cal me.” He waited a beat to see if this sank in. I nodded, somewhat curious at what things he had to do. I didn’t ask because I probably didn’t want to know.
“I’l pick you up when you’re done,” he finished.
I had no choice about accepting the ride. Lee told me to stick with Eddie, or someone, and I was scared enough to comply. Since the idea of cal ing Duke or Tex to come and get me at three o’clock in the morning didn’t appeal, nor did asking a favor of one of Lee’s boys, I was stuck. I’d have to carry through my plan to avoid Eddie some other time.
Then Eddie said, “You’re spendin’ the night with me.” It wasn’t a question.
I decided to treat it as one. Needless to say that some other time to avoid Eddie included not spending the night with him.
“I’d rather go home.”
“No offense, but my bed’s more comfortable.”
“I meant alone.”
He grinned as if what I said was amusing, leaned down and touched his lips to mine.
Then he walked away.
I sighed, watched him go and I had to admit, I enjoyed the show
Guess I was spending the night with Eddie.
“Not your f**kin’ boyfriend, right?” Smithie yel ed at me.
Wonderful.
The night started out good, busy but quiet. No bachelor parties, no brawls, no men with knives.
This luck didn’t last long.
“Jet!”
I was at the waitress station when I whirled at my name to see Indy, Al y and two men, one slim, the other Hispanic, standing behind me.
“I f**king love that outfit,” Al y said, her eyes huge and approving.
“I do too,” the slim man said. “Can I borrow it? It would be divine with ‘She Works Hard for the Money’, don’t you think?” He turned to Indy but he didn’t wait for an answer and glanced around, “No… wait… is there a gift shop here that sel s those tops?”
This must be Indy’s neighbor, Tod, and Tod’s partner, Stevie.
“I borrowed your shoes,” I said to him, “Thank you. I stil have them, I’l get them back to you tomorrow.”
“Keep ‘em,” he said, waving his hand. “The dress they went with ripped. Irreparable. It was traumatic. I loved that dress. The shoes are just an ugly memory now.”
“But…” I stammered, sort of in shock at his generosity,
“those are great shoes.”
He shrugged.
“Just think of me as the shoe fairy.” Then he acted like he was bonking me on the head with an imaginary magic wand, “Make your own good memories in those shoes.” I gaped for a second, and then he winked at me. I couldn’t help it, so I smiled at him and then turned to Indy.
She did belated introductions and I asked, “What are you doing here?”
“Came to see your other life. You don’t mind, do you?” Indy answered.
I shook my head and, for some reason, I didn’t. It was way too late in the day, my secret was out and nearly everyone had seen my Smithie’s uniform anyway.