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XENIA
The thunderstorm washesaway my shame over the past. I can only feel Hobo’s touch. All evening, I replay our time together—his hands on my body, his mouth intertwined with mine, the way he laughed.
I wake up refreshed the next day. Opening my eyes, I breathe in a world where Hobo exists. Though I don’t expect to see him today, I can’t stop smiling. My life just received its much-needed jolt of energy.
Saying goodbye to Rose the Cat, I leave for the shop. Rather than take the quickest route, I open the SUV’s windows and loop around McMurdo Valley. I soak in the late summer scents and admire the town stuck between homey and modern. After enjoying the long route, I arrive at my destination.
I do my morning prep work before taking a cup of coffee out to the front sidewalk and sitting in a chair. Most days, I stare out at the road, begging for someone to appear and take pity on my ignored business. Today, I enjoy the quiet and inhale the powerful scent of a land embracing summer’s last month.
This is what Hobo does. He’s simply enjoying the way the wind moves against his skin or watching the clouds float overhead.
Back in Vegas, I feared being alone with my thoughts. With Hobo living in my head, I’m happy to enjoy time with myself.
When the morning gets too hot, I hide inside and read one of those books I always pretended to be interested in when people asked.
Customers drop into the shop from time to time. Hobo’s club brothers order sandwiches and sodas. I make small talk, wanting to understand his life. When Tomcat stops by for sandwiches, I recall how he would let Kourtney stay at his house when she was on her period.
I wish someone had swept up the two kids and raised them right. Those crazies never could have left scars on Hobo’s heart. Now, he distrusts even the kindest gestures.
Of course, these days, he’s a member of a powerful group. No doubt people lie to get close to them. Is that what he thought I was doing?
“We have parties on Fridays,” Tomcat tells me as he lingers at the counter. Standing near the door, Dice frowns at his club brother. “You ought to join us and meet the crew. Any friend of Hobo is friends with the club.”
Dice’s expression implies Tomcat is messing with me. I still smile and ask if Hobo attends those parties. Tomcat nods while Dice shakes his head.
“These parties are every Friday?”
Tomcat’s soft smile and dark blue eyes warm immediately as he nods. I act as if maybe I’ll come to one.
Why shouldn’t I go? I’ve never attended a biker party before. Though I’d rather sit quietly with Hobo than do whatever happens at these parties, I can’t help thinking I need to embrace every experience.
That’s why I stop for dinner at a local Mexican restaurant. Eating alone in public always felt like a loser move. How many times did I avoid doing something because I feared standing on my own? Was eating at home alone any better than enjoying a restaurant by myself?
As I order my meal, I feel Hobo with me. I even picture him across the small table. No way would he accept our location under a TV playing sports. He’d want something with more room, but I got stuck in a corner since I’m alone.
Hearing Hobo’s voice in my head, I ask to be moved. The place isn’t currently busy. I shouldn’t be shoved in a corner just in case they need a table later. After I ask for a different table, the waitress gives me a pissy look and the manager considers refusing. Feeling them making assumptions about the pathetic woman eating alone, I stand up and reach for my purse.
Like I would in the same situation, the staff bows to the paying customer. Besides, I probably look like the kind of Karen who’ll throw a fit and leave terrible reviews. No, not a Karen.A Kendra.
The nasty witch left a negative review for XYZ Coffee. On the same day, a bunch of other women did the same. I recognized the name June, who is Irina’s sister-in-law.
Their lies don’t bother me. The shop won’t be open much longer. Even if I planned to stay in business for the full lease, I wouldn’t care what those women had to say. I only hear Hobo in my head, and he likes my food.
Or maybe he just likes me. Either way, I enjoy my meal alone while reading a book and thinking about where my wild man might be tonight.
I arrive home to find Velma and Francis on the back porch. I wave at them, hoping to skip chitchat. Of course, Francis assumes otherwise. Why wouldn’t he? After our date, I said I had fun. However, I very specifically didn’t hit him up for a second date, hoping he’d take the hint.
Instead, Francis follows me to the tiny house, where I kneel to see Rose the Cat better inside the dog igloo.
