Othello Station Read Online Free Page B

don’t have an answer for her.
    “You wanna take a walk, maybe?”
    “Around here? Now?”
    She shrugs.
    “Hell no.”
    She cuts a glance to the left. “Then what do you want?”
    “I want you to come back with me. To the hotel. To my room.” Ah, there it is. The truth. I was right. It was my dick, being all bossy. That’s why I’m here.
    Her bottom lip juts out as she releases it from her teeth and her eyes widen.
    “Too forward for you?”
    “A little.” She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and crosses her arms. “A lot.”
    “Well, would you be interested? It’s been a long day and I don’t know what else to tell you. That’s what I want.”
    She snorts and mumbles beneath her breath, but I hear her. “It’s been a long year.”
    “So, is that a maybe?”
    She looks to the store clerk. “I don’t think…”
    “It’s okay.” I pivot, turning for the exit. “I get it.”
    “I just need my job. And going back to your room kind of guarantees I’d lose it, so…”
    “You’re off the clock.”
    The store clerk fiddles with her magazine. The pages rustle, but her gaze is on us the entire time. “Maybe. I don’t know.”
    I assume I’m making progress, here. I move toward her and retrieve my phone. “What’s your number?”
    “Not a good idea.”
    “Fine. Take mine. If you decide not to call, no hard feelings.” I take a business card from my wallet instead and hand it over. “You know where to find me.” She accepts it reluctantly. Silence bounces between us. I nod and walk toward the exit. I’m not sure what to make of her, what to make of this whole thing. But it’s worth the try. If she doesn’t bite, I can always call Samantha. I can always call someone. There will always be an always.
    I walk out of the shop and into the night, shoving my earbuds back in my ears. I crank up the volume as loud as it will go, until Death Cab for Cutie’s “Black Sun” wraps itself around me and takes me away.

THREE
     
    The clock reads 1:20 am. This is officially the longest night in history. I stare up at the ceiling. I gave up on counting sheep and creating constellations. My sweaty running clothes stick to me as I rest on top of the cool bed sheets. Maybe I should shower again. Maybe I need more music.
    I suddenly remember the vitamins.
    My body flies from the bed. I unzip my bag and rifle through the little black case that holds all of my supplements. I don’t know how I forgot to take them today. I take them every day. Religiously. I dig through the case and scoop up the bottles, lining them up one by one on the bedside table. B Complex, lots of Vitamin D, fish oil, and a little krill oil, too. I only brought the basics. At least some of my bases are covered. I whip out my food journal next and jot down what I ate for the day. Not nearly enough kale. Definitely need to make up for that tomorrow.
    I close the journal, already missing my bike. I should’ve just brought it with me. I’m about to reach for my portable blood pressure cuff, but there’s a timid knock at the door. My watch tells me it’s late, and there are no new text messages on my phone. When I answer, I’m met with dark brown eyes I recognize, but short, dirty blonde hair I don’t. It’s cut into a sharp bob, and a dark grey fedora tops the style. A brown, folksy vest covers a loose, cream blouse. It’s paired with dark navy skinny jeans and a pair of green Chucks beat to all hell. This chick looks like she hails straight from Ballard. Either that, or I just fell into some hipster time warp.
    “You’re here,” I say with surprise. This girl actually came to see me.
    “Can I come in?”
    I shake myself from the haze and move aside. “Sure, of course.”
    She ducks her head and slips past me into the hotel room, like a covert spy. “Wow.” She eyes my vitamin set-up as she tugs off her hat and wig. “Are you a doctor or something?”
    “Do I look like a doctor?”
    “Not really. Health