Twin Firs, page 14
He walked out of the bathroom soaking wet and somewhat aroused.
“You're dripping all over your carpet!”
He yanked the covers off the bed with a flourish of passion. “It's only water.” The futon tipped as he crawled on top of her, drenching her with eucalyptus scented body wash.
“Criss! You're wet!! Get off! Get off!!”
He laughed and started to tussle with her. Amélie was not amused, she was furious. “Lâche-moi! Get off NOW.” She broke free of his grip and forcefully pushed him off. He tumbled to the floor, landing on his butt.
“What the bloody hell? I was just playing!”
“I wasn't. I don't want your bath soap all over me.” Amélie pulled a pillow to her breasts as she struggled off the futon. “Is that how you wake up your girlfriends? Who taught you manners?”
Anders wasn't accustomed to being disciplined by a lover. It was at that moment he realized Amélie reminded him of his seventh grade social studies teacher who had fueled his early pubescent dreams. Now that he understood why he had pursued this diminutive senior as a lover he was repulsed by the idea. “Amélie, your generation is too stodgy. Maybe if you lived a little you wouldn't feel so old.”
His words stung. When he first seduced her she expressed concerns about the age difference which he brushed aside. Covering herself with a bedsheet in a stranger's apartment, surrounded by mirrors reflecting the ridiculous situation she'd allowed herself to fall into, she felt foolish. She couldn't tolerate any more. In an explosion of French profanity she told Anders exactly what she thought of him and his absurd notions of lovemaking. Because she knew he wouldn't understand anything she was saying she was certain to have the final word.
After Leo rummaged through his fridge and determined just about everything was expired he decided to take Ethan to breakfast in another town where no one knew him. They drove 15 miles to a chain restaurant specializing in watered-down pancakes and questionable syrup. The waiter was cute.
“I envy you,” Leo said. “Teaching is death by a million cuts. It's not so much the kids; it's the administration. Stupid reports, teaching to pass tests instead of educating. Not what I envisioned. Maybe I could come work at the resort.”
Ethan put down his fork. “I may not work there much longer.”
“What? Why not?”
“It is not your fault. It's my fault, but...”
Leo interrupted, “Anytime you say 'but' it cancels what you just said. What did I do?”
“You didn't do anything wrong. I didn't report that you were still there. I'm going to be fired.”
“What?”
Ethan cut his sausage links into equal sizes and lined them up on his plate. “That bracelet they gave you when you got on the train in Portland was an RFID. They know when guests go to restaurants, clubs or shows. Plus your train reservation leaving yesterday. They know you overstayed and that I knew about it.”
Leo was dumbstruck. “They can't fire you because of me.”
Ethan proceeded to eat each bit of sausage in succession. “They consider it company theft.”
“Well shit.”
“It's okay. I guess I was hiding in the woods too long anyway. Maybe it's meant to be. I don't know what my mother will say. I probably won't tell her till after HR lowers the axe on Thursday.”
“What are you going to do?”
Ethan put down his fork and tried to say as nonchalantly as possible “Move to Molale.”
Amélie's Uber driver dropped her at the main entrance to the hospital. She trudged through the double door airlock pulling her roller bag that she'd leave at her hotel later. Another night at Anders' apartment was not going to happen.
She wheeled her bag over the linoleum to the elevator that took her to Caleb's unit. He was playing a game on his phone.
“Mama Amélie! They're not telling me shit. When are they operating?”
“Allo Caleb. I'll find out for you. Did they give you breakfast?”
“No. And I'm starving.”
“It's a good sign that you have an appetite. If they didn't bring you food they'll be taking you to the operating room soon.”
“This is fucked up.”
“It will be alright. I'm here. I'll be here as long as you need me. Ethan will be back at the resort this afternoon taking care of your cat.”
“You can't move to Molale.” Leo reached for the table syrup.
“Why not?”
“There's nothing to do here. What would you do?”
Ethan sliced his pancakes into even sections. “I could see you more often.”
“Why would you leave the resort? I thought you liked it there. Can't you get another job?”
“Working for a vendor in the tourist shops? No thanks.”
Leo feared if Ethan moved nearby – or moved into his apartment – he'd find out he was a sex worker. “Retail is all there is to do here. Or work as a waiter. You'd be miserable.”
“Don't you want me to move closer?” Ethan searched Leo's eyes for the truth.
Leo looked away. “Yes! Of course! It's just this isn't the best place.” He saturated his pancakes with a flood of syrup.
Ethan watched the artificially flavored goo pooling on Leo's plate. His heart broke. It was obvious now that Leo didn't want a relationship; he just wanted a fling. This was 'the morning after.' Ethan felt stupid he didn't see it coming. He knew. He knew Leo would break his heart. He just hoped and prayed it wouldn't actually happen. But here it was.
“I guess not.” Ethan finished his meal in four bites and pushed his plate away.
He was ready to go home.
Leo started a few conversations about local sites as they drove back to his apartment. Ethan barely spoke. They both felt the tension.
Finally Ethan said something. “I better check on my mother. I'm taking care of Caleb's cat while he's hospitalized so I have to take the train home today. And return the company van.”
Leo asked cautiously. “When do you hear from them about your job?”
“Thursday.”
They pulled into the apartment parking lot. “I'm sorry. You say it's not my fault but I'm equally to blame. I should have called reservations and extended my stay.”
“Don't worry about it.” He just wanted to get away from Leo and all the pain he'd brought upon himself by falling in love.
Leo couldn't understand Ethan's mood swing. Was he upset because Leo didn't want him to move to his little town? Was it because he was blaming Leo for getting fired? Had he discovered something incriminating in the apartment? “Will you let me know what happens?”
Ethan lied. “Sure.”
They parted with a noncommittal peck on the lips.
Ethan knew the relationship was over.
The train from Portland arrived in Mountain Air early. After feeding Caleb's cat and cleaning the litter box Ethan went home. When he opened the front door Tricos bounded off the couch and danced in circles at his feet. “What are you doing here? Where's your dad?” The bathroom medicine cabinet slammed shut.
Ethan called out. “Hello?”
Kip wandered out of the bathroom blowing his nose into a wad of paper towels. “Do you have any allergy meds?”
“Make yourself at home.” Ethan hung his keys on the hook by the door. “Want to borrow my underwear?”
“Boxers? I'm not geriatric.”
“Fuck you. What are you doing in my bathroom?”
Kip sneezed a blast that sprayed phlegm across the room. “Allergies.” He sneezed again and then blew his nose. “I'm dying.”
“Jesus, Kip. Die somewhere else.”
“Can you watch Tricos? I picked up the run tonight so I can see an allergist tomorrow in Seattle.”
Tricos rolled on her back at Ethan's feet. He reached down to rub her belly. “Sure. When are you getting back?”
“Thursday morning.”
“Just in time to say goodbye. What's it like working for a Class I railroad?”
“Sucks.” Kip sneezed again. “Why?”
“I need a job.”
“You'd hate it. Never home. Lotta bullshit. Worse than here.”
Ethan held out hope. “At least they're unionized. I wouldn't just be fired.”
Kip felt a sneeze coming but held it back. “You were fired?”
“I'm gonna be.”
Kip blasted the room with snot. “Oh fuck. I'm sorry. What happened?”
Ethan walked into the kitchen and filled Tricos' bowl. “Did you feed her today? She's acting hungry.”
“She always acts hungry.” Kip blew his nose.
“Because you forget to feed her.”
Kip sneezed again. “Yes I fed her.”
Ethan called from the kitchen, “Seriously? Sneeze in your own house! You might have something contagious.” Tricos bounced passed Ethan and dove into her food bowl.
“I'm not sick.” Kip blew his nose again into a wad of toilet paper from the bathroom. “Why are you being fired?”
“Because I'm stupid. Leave me alone today, okay? I got Tricos.”
Kip stood in the middle of the living room. “They can't fire you. Who's going to watch my dog?”
“She spends more time with me than you,” Ethan said. “Maybe she's my dog and you just borrow her to feel good about yourself.”
“Woah. You are in a bitchy mood.”
“Which is why you should leave me the fuck alone.” Ethan bum-rushed Kip out of his house, locked the dead bolt on the front door and collapsed on his couch in despair.
Chapter 18 – The Foaming Bureaucrat
The sound of Fourth of July fireworks echoed off the canyon walls in Mountain Air. Ethan didn't hear any of it. He was sound asleep with the windows shut. His pillow smelled like Leo. He dreamt Leo was sleeping beside him. When he woke in the night he was clutching Tricos.
He released his grip on the dog and she repositioned herself a little further away, pawing at the pillow Leo had slept on. Ethan scolded her and pulled it away. Underneath was a crumpled theater ticket to Moulin Rouge. He held it up to the nightlight and saw handwriting: Je t'aime Ethan.
Leo left him a love note.
It was more than he could bear. He sent a late night text to Kelsey. 'I'm getting fired.'
Wednesday morning passed in a blur. Dreading the meeting on Thursday, heartbroken over Leo, confused by the secretive missive Leo left him under the pillow, facing the daunting task of packing and starting a whole new life again, Ethan sat on the couch doomscrolling on his phone.
Kelsey pushed open his front door that afternoon and was met by Tricos, barking and jumping around in circles. She patted her on the head before sweeping into the room and taking command. “Get bowls!” She dropped a pot of steaming chicken stew on his kitchen table and pulled a 12-pack of craft beer from her shoulder bag. “And glasses!”
“What do we need glasses for?”
“Never drink beer from the can when you're depressed. It's so defeatest.”
Ethan hadn't shaved or bathed. His hair was sticking out in all directions. His breath scorched the earth.
“I'm not depressed.”
Kelsey put her hands on her hips and jutted out her chin. “You look like that muppet on Sesame Street that lives in a trash can. Where are the bowls?”
“Top cabinet left of the sink.”
She took out two Ikea bowls stacked together and a couple of large drinking glasses. Tricos settled on the floor in front of the stove. “What's your dog's name again? Trident?”
“Tricos. She's my neighbor's.”
“You should get a dog. It might help.”
“I don't want a dog. No offense, Tricos. Besides I don't know where I'm going to be living.”
“You can't move. You're my bestie. Eat your stew.” Kelsey poured chunks of stew from the pot into Ethan's bowl, splattering his dirty t-shirt. Ethan was so exhausted he didn't care. “Tell me what Human Resources said exactly.”
“'Come to my office Thursday morning. You're relieved of duty.'”
“That could mean anything!” She delicately scooped bits of stew with a fork into her bowl. “Why do you think you're getting fired?”
“Why else would they call me in like that? I fucked up. Never should have let him use the station bathroom to wash his shirt. I'm not meant to have a boyfriend.”
“I call bullshit. You are so happy with him it makes me jealous. My god, you were groping each other so much during Moulin Rouge I almost stopped the show to kick you out.”
Ethan scowled. “No we weren't.”
Kelsey took a tiny bite of chicken. “Even Anders noticed. He texted me last night, by the way. Said he misses me. I'm helping him unpack when his train gets in tonight.”
“It's not working out with Leo. Neither one of us should have a boyfriend. Look at how Charlie treated you.”
She pointed her fork at him. “Charlie was a dog. Anders is from Knightsbridge and is very old fashioned. He won't cheat on me.”
“You didn't think Charlie would cheat on you.”
“I won't sleep with Anders unless he's really in love with me and then I might have to. I don't want to talk about Charlie. It's completely different with Anders. We're taking it slow and keeping our own apartments.”
Ethan didn't want to hear about Anders or the details of Kelsey's whirlwind romance. “Maybe I should tell them I screwed up and offer to pay for Leo's extra days.”
“You will do no such thing. Blame it on Leo. It's not your responsibility to report a guest who doesn't pay.”
“Actually it is. I saw his name on the Overdue List.”
“They don't know that!” Kelsey pushed her bowl aside and leaned across the table. “You totally can get out of this. Go to the meeting. Just pretend you don't know what it's about. Let them bring it up and be totally surprised.”
“But I'm not.”
“Pretend you are. I'll show you. Take a deep breath when they accuse you of hiding Leo and then let it out with a big 'Wow! I had no idea!'”
Tricos jumped up and barked in agreement.
“Tricos, sit!” Ethan snapped his fingers at the dog. “Sit! I don't know Kelz, but isn't that a little fake?”
Kelsey was mildly insulted. “You're only saying that because you know it's a lie. The secret to acting is believing what you're saying, and then everybody else will. It's called The Method. We've been using it forever. It's how everybody does it.”
“What is the method?”
She stabbed a piece of chicken in Ethan's bowl. “Never mind. It's too complicated to explain - you have to study. Just go in there and pretend you don't know what it's about and then be surprised when they're bringing it up. Then deny everything.” She pulled the chicken off the fork with her bared teeth, protecting her lip gloss from smudging.
“Maybe it's meant to be. I'm getting bored working at Twin Firs.”
“They're not going to fire you. And so what if they did? You could work at one of the shops or at one of the theaters. They're subcontractors. The resort can't stop them from hiring you.”
Ethan groaned. “I can't think of myself as a salesman or a waiter.”
“Why would you?” Kelsey rolled her eyes. “Why don't you think of yourself as a person?”
“Do you think of yourself as an actor?”
She crossed her arms. “Well I am one.”
“Who would you be if you weren't an actor?”
“I've always been an actor. You're comparing apples and oranges. You've had other jobs before haven't you?”
Ethan had a flashback to his previous career and shuddered. “I don't know what I'll do. I'm not going back to being a veterinarian.”
“You were a vet? You're kidding.”
He poured a can of beer slowly into his glass. “My mother wanted me to be a doctor like her. I thought being a vet would be better.”
“Wait: Your mother's a doctor? The waitress at the restaurant? What else have you been keeping from me?”
“I don't keep anything from you. You just don't ask.” He took a swig and wiped the foam from his mustache.
Kelsey looked down her nose at him. “Right. Because it would be normal to ask a railroad guy if he used to be a veterinarian. What about astronaut? Did you used to be an astronaut?”
“Point taken.” He took another drink. “I was an ambassador.”
She gave up on the conversation and put her bowl in the sink. “Right.”
He turned around in his chair to continue. “No. Seriously I was.”
“Really?”
“In eighth grade. Field trip to the United Nations. Our teacher gave us little Ambassador badges. I represented Quebec because my mother had cussed out the principal in French a few months earlier. The one Black kid in class represented Kenya even though he was from Rochester.”
She played with his hair. “Ethan honey, you can't leave. I'd be heartbroken.”
“Stop messing with my hair.”
“I'm trying to get the knots out.”
“Har, har.”
Ethan's phone pinged with a text. It was from Leo. He read it and gasped.
Kelsey grabbed the phone out of his hand and read the text out loud. “'I'm in love with you.' That doesn't sound like he's breaking up with you.”
“I'm coming over on one condition,” Stef announced as she walked into Leo's apartment. “You're not going to talk about Ethan non-stop while we eat.”
Ryan followed with bags of Chinese take-out. “Stef, leave him alone. He's in love.”
“We all know he's in love.”
Leo closed the door behind them. “I don't know. Ethan was acting all strange when he said goodbye yesterday. Like he couldn't wait to leave.”
Ryan laid out the white cardboard boxes on the coffee table. “Maybe he's afraid to show you how much he'll miss you. Maybe he's not good at saying goodbye.”
