Part 26 (2/2)

I shrugged, as though I'd been asked if I had plans for the weekend. ”I don't know,” I said. ”Never really thought about it.”

”What?” Ronny Neil sneered.

”I don't know why I don't f.u.c.k off,” I explained. ”I'm not in the mood to f.u.c.k off right now, I guess.” I looked over at Chitra. ”You want to take a walk or something?”

The thinnest of smiles appeared on her lips, as though she suddenly understood the game. ”Yes,” she said. The smile was growing. ”I think I'd like that very much.”

I looked over at Ronny Neil. ”See you back at the room.”

Easy as that, we walked away.

We crossed through the registration area, where Sameen gave me a curious glance, and then out to the pool area. We figured, without discussing it, that Ronny Neil wouldn't follow us that way. I stopped to toss out the Sprite and pick up a couple of tall boys from the cooler, because, holy h.e.l.l, I needed a beer. I handed one to Chitra and then opened my own. It didn't taste all that much different from the Sprite when you came down to it, but it was good. I needed a drink. I'd never needed a drink in that manly way before, but I needed one now.

I was calmer than I would have thought, maybe even than I should have been. My heart pounded and my hands still trembled, but I didn't care. The grateful heat emanating from Chitra, her appreciative silence, her relieved and amused smile, were all like the pendulous watch of a hypnotist.

We walked past the pool and back to the cloister of the motel. I had no idea where we were going, and I could tell Chitra had no idea, either. None of the book people were staying in this part of the building. We went up the stairs and walked along the second-story balcony, looking out over the railing, painted white but with rust showing through. We stopped where the floor turned, filling out the boomerang shape of the wing. Here was another pair of vending machines-food and beverage-and a groaning ice machine as well.

Now Chitra was leaning up against a vending machine again, and there I was, just like Ronny Neil, slouching in front of her. Only this time she was smiling. She took my hands.

”You're very clever,” she said.

”That makes one of us. What were you doing behind the bushes with that idiot?”

She laughed, and her caramel-colored skin darkened with a blush. ”He told me that the vending machine had some sort of Indian soft drinks in it. I can't believe I fell for it.”

”Me either. Wow.”

She laughed. ”I know it sounds foolish, but this motel is is owned by Indians, you know. It was possible.” owned by Indians, you know. It was possible.”

”True enough,” I agreed. ”They have that chutney-o-matic in the lobby.”

She was still laughing. ”You can stop making fun of me now.”

”Okay,” I agreed. ”Maybe I will.”

We said nothing for a long time. She held my eyes and we grinned. I knew I ought to kiss her. I knew it. But she was from India. How did they do things there? I might offend her. Maybe kissing was the last thing on her mind, and she was involved in some mysterious Hindu grat.i.tude ritual, and if I tried anything, she'd hate me. I'd be as bad as Ronny Neil.

But then she was no longer holding my hands. She had her hands on my arms, and she was rubbing them back and forth. I took a step forward, and Chitra reached out and put her hands behind my neck and pulled me in for a kiss.

Her lips were soft and warm, and I could feel her breath swirling around in my mouth in little eddies. And then she pulled away again. And smiled.

I had sort of been hoping for something more pa.s.sionate, more bodice ripping. On the other hand, I liked the slow sweetness of it.

”I'm glad you were the one who rescued me,” she said. ”I would have hated to have to kiss Scott that way.”

”I'd have hated that, too. Listen, Chitra. You look really beautiful by the light of that c.o.ke machine. Don't get me wrong. But I'm wondering if we might go somewhere else a little more, you know, private.”

”Are you trying to get me to go back to your room?” she asked.

I let out a nervous laugh that even I thought sounded dorky. ”So we can see Ronny Neil again? It wasn't really what I had in mind. Frankly, I was thinking of anyplace with chairs. We could call a cab, get a drink or something. Just so long as we get away from here.”

”Do you want to go get a hamburger?”

”No,” I said. ”I really don't.”

”Me either. I'll stop teasing you. You know, it's amazing how you don't notice the things all around you. You don't imagine possibilities, even when those possibilities are right in front of your face.”

I stared at her. It sounded too d.a.m.n much like something Melford would say. ”Chitra, I really like you, but I have no idea what you are talking about.”

Her big eyes, dark and wide, locked on mine. ”What I'm talking about is that rooms at this motel only cost thirty-nine dollars per night.”

I felt as though I'd been kicked in the stomach by the most pleasant foot on earth. I was scared, even terrified. I wanted to say no, to put on the brakes, but that was another form of cowardice, and I knew it.

”Really?” I said.

”I'm quite sure. There's a big sign out front with the price.”

”That's not what I meant.”

”I know what you meant. I'd like to get a room with you. I don't know what will happen in it, but I think I can trust you. I just want to get away from everyone and everything for a while, to talk in private, to have our own s.p.a.ce. I know a motel room is suggestive, but I can trust that nothing will happen that I am not ready for. Can't I?”

”Of course you can,” I told her, strangely relieved that I might not have to lose my virginity just yet. ”You know,” I said, ”if they find out, they'll fire you.”

”I don't want to come back. Not if you're not going to be here anymore.”

This time the foot in the stomach was not quite so pleasant. I hadn't told anyone about not planning on coming back, not even Melford. ”How did you know that?”

”Come on. I saw you getting out of your friend Melford's car tonight. It's clear you're not even trying to sell anymore.”

”That's pretty complicated,” I said.

”You don't have to explain anything to me.”

”I want to, but I can't right now.”

”Is everything okay? I mean, he's not getting you involved in anything dangerous or reckless, is he?”

I didn't want to lie to her directly, so I approached it obliquely. ”Melford's a complicated guy.”

”I notice you haven't answered me. I still think there's something strange about him.”

”There's nothing that's not strange about him. But my not selling isn't really his doing. It's mine. I don't want to do this anymore. The money is good, but it's not worth it.”

”I know what you mean. I made so much money last weekend that I hardly even noticed how miserable I was. But this weekend it feels more like a forced march. I was looking forward to seeing you again this weekend, and if you're not going to be here, I think I would be miserable.”

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