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“Sometimes, it can look a little cluttered. But… I’m willing to get to know the person under them.”
Long answer but sure. If Angela does have a wild side, she hides it really well.
I’m pretty much angry when I leave work. I text Freddy to see if it’s cool for me to swing by. Within ten seconds, he ‘loves’ the message but says nothing. Since I don’t own one of those expensive iPhones, I assume he’s okay with me stopping by.
I have my mom’s car and decide to park it in the twenty-four-hour Walmart parking lot across from Dartmouth Motel. I tie my hair up in a bun and put on a Boston Red Sox cap from my work bag to give myself an out-of-towner look. I then head across the road to the Dartmouth.
I rap at his door with the two by two knock we’d agree as mine. Two knocks, a pause, and then two more knocks. He swings open the door.
“So you’re taking Angela out?” I step inside.
“Wow. Word got around to you that fast?”
I toss my work/spend-the-night bag on the desk with the baseball cap and shake my hair out. I meet Freddy’s blue, crystallized eyes, and they try their best to warm up my blood.
“I didn’t know you were interested in Angela.”
“I’m not. Trust me. Don’t forget I’m playing a role here for a bit.”
“Freddy, I know I’m young, but that doesn’t mean I’m dumb.”
“Sadie, your father is extremely persistent. I’ll shut him up by going on one date with Angela. It’s not going to turn into—”
“She’s pretty, and she has a decent body, so why wouldn’t you want to—”
“As crazy as this may be to believe, I don’t desire to date multiple women simultaneously. You got to believe me. I had one woman for ten years, and now she’s wrecking every part of my life she can get her hands on. Why would I want one? But, at the same time, one date with Angela will hush your father up. I’m already having a great time with his daughter, so I’ll have to say yes if he asks me to do anything. It’ll also normalize my identity as an unattached man in this town. I already think Evan…you know him?”
“Evan with the crazy goats?”
“Yes.”
“What about him? He actually tipped me thirty dollars for two beers earlier.”
Freddy’s eyes grow dark. He scratches his head and scowls. “Hmmm.”
“He’s kind of creepy.”
With an edge to his voice, Freddy pulls me by my hips and asks, “What did he do to you?”
I shake my head. “Nothing. He just has roaming eyes. He makes me uncomfortable, but he’s never done anything to me.”
Freddy searches my eyes and eases up on me. It’s about fucking time he gets a little jealous or possessive over me. Trust me, I don’t desire a possessive man, but seeing Freddy dissatisfied with what I tell him reveals he does care about me and wants no harm to come my way.
“Fuck him. Let me know if he ever tries to, and I’ll immediately put him in his place. Now where did you park?”
“Walmart, of course. Mom thinks I’m staying at Emily’s.”
Freddy nods. “Have you thought of buying your own car?”
“I need a few more months at “Nightingale’s.” Hopefully, by Halloween.”
He stares at me as if there’s more he wants to say. Instead, he smirks and gives me a light nod. I wonder if he sometimes pities me, my father, or Hillpike. I’m sure it’s all in my head. Freddy knows ‘struggle’ and doesn’t strike me as one to judge. Perhaps it’s my own self-confidence.
“I’m going to head to the shower if that’s okay.”
He smiles and opens the bathroom door for me. I don’t want to take this odd chivalry for charity, but I can’t help thinking about it.
There’s quite a bit on my mind as I shower. I can’t pretend I didn’t agree with Freddy’s terms in our “relationship.” Sexually aroused at the time, I would have agreed to anything he suggested. I should be happy he didn’t remind me of our agreement. Maybe what Flora said about him having feelings for me is true. I wouldn’t dare tell him about my visit there. I don’t think he’d have much of an opinion except wanting to know why. And the why is too close to all my true feelings for him.
