Part 11 (1/2)
”I didn't? How come?”
”You already know that.”
He took a long pull on his drink, studying me. ” 'Sfunny, you don't look any different from a hundred other guys off the street.”
”If I did, I wouldn't survive long. People notice when you're different.”
”h.e.l.l, you don't have to tell me that.””You always been big?”
”Ma said I weighed thirteen pounds when I was born. d.a.m.n near killed her. You wanna drink?”
”No, thanks.”
Again the long study. ”You eat anything?”
”Not eat.”
”So that stuff's true, that you only drink-”
”Yeah, that part's true.”
”What about Bobbi? Doesn't that hurt her?”
”If it did, I'd stop seeing her. Why not ask her yourself?”
”Nan, I couldn't do that.”
”If you're worried, just look at her, she's healthy.”
He looked. She was in a corner talking and laughing with a white-haired man with a beard. ”She's not under some kind of spell or something?”
I made an effort to match his serious face. ”None.”
He digested this. ”Okay. I just wanted to make sure about a few things.”
”On the other hand, I could be lying.”
His head went back and forth in a slight wobble, his version of laughter. ”h.e.l.l, kid, you ain't no liar.”
Bobbi introduced me to some names and faces, and a couple of the voices that went with them were familiar because I'd heard them on the radio. We made the rounds, and then it was my turn to do some steering.
”What gives?” she asked when I took a determined grip on her arm.
”You'll find out.”
The only unoccupied place was the bathroom, not the most romantic setting, but it was private.
”Alone at last,” I sighed.
”At least until the next customer comes-there's a lot of booze flowing out there.”
”Too bad. I wanted to see you for a minute without an audience.””Oh, so what do you think?” Hands on hips, she did a slow turn. She was in her best color, which was no color; something white and clinging, probably silk.
I shrugged. ”It's all right, but the hem's too long.”
She made a playful swat at my stomach. ”Stinker, it's perfect and you know it.”
”Only because you're in it.” Then we took up where we left off when I first came in.
After a few minutes she came up for air. ”Say, you did miss me.”
”Very much,” I muttered, nosing around in her hair. Her head tilted back and my lips brushed against the large vein of her throat. I ran my tongue over the two small wounds there, taking in the slight salt taste of her skin and feeling the strong pulse beneath.
Then the d.a.m.n phone rang and made us both jump because it was so close.
”h.e.l.l, what's that doing in here?” I complained.
”Better in here than the bedroom. h.e.l.lo?”
It was someone from the radio station working late. They hashed out a minor scheduling problem and hung up.
”Why the long face?” she asked.
I curled my upper lip back and made a mock growling sound.
”Oh,” she said with vast understanding, and cuddled back into my arms.
”When can you get rid of your friends?” I lisped.
”As soon as the booze runs out, which shouldn't be too long with that crowd. Why wait? You can nibble on me in here.”
”That's like going straight to the dessert and skipping the rest of the banquet. I want us to take some time and enjoy everything.”
This disconcerted her a bit, and a blush fanned over her cheeks. ”Dammit, sometimes I feel like a schoolgirl with you.”
”Isn't it great?”
On this occasion, Bobbi proved to be a terrible hostess and ran out of drinkable alcohol before the guests had run out of party enthusiasm. But her guests were resourceful: one of the girls suggested removing to a nearby bar that she thought was still open and led an exodus for it. Bobbi and I promised to be along and somehow forgot about it the moment the last person was gone.Her white dress was certainly beautiful, but since I'd arrived, the major thought on my mind had been how to get it of)' her. The fastenings were located on the left side instead of in the back, but she slipped away before my inquisitive fingers could accomplish anything.
”Help me search the place,” she said from the kitchen.
”For what?”
”In case someone got left behind. That happened to me once, and it's d.a.m.ned embarra.s.sing.”
We searched the place and then later, much later, in a sleepy voice she said, ”Welcome home.”
”Thanks.”
”I mean it. Move in with me.”