Come Out Tonight 12 страница

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Feel her.

“It probably would be quicker that way, ” Pete agreed. “Yeah. That’s not a bad idea. It’s worth a try, anyway. ”

The woman gasped out a low, whispered word.

“What’d she say? ” Pete asked.

“I didn’t—”

“Doh! ”

“Dough? ” Jeff asked.

They both leaned closer to her and lowered their heads.

“Doh-nn. ”

“Don’t? ” Pete said.

“Don’t what? ” asked Jeff.

“Tuh…Tuh-ch. ”

“Touch? ” Pete asked.

“Don’t touch? ”

“Meeee. ”

Chapter Thirty-four

“We just want to help you, ” Jeff said.

“Don’t…touch. ”

She wasn’t unconscious before, Pete thought. She was wide awake and paying attention. Knows everything we said and did. Now she’s got us figured for a couple of creeps…or perverts.

Burning with shame, he wanted to run away from her.

But he remained by her side.

“We just want to help you, ” Jeff explained. “We want to take you to a hospital. ”

“No. ”

“What do you want us to do? ” Pete asked.

In the silence following his question, he half expected her to answer, “Go to hell. ” Or, “Fuck off. ” Or, “Eat shit and die. ”

When she finally spoke, she said, “Waht. ”

“What? ” Jeff asked.

“Waht-urr. ”

“Water! ” Pete blurted, vastly relieved.

“I’ve got the hose right here. ”

“Dring. ”

“I’ll go get a glass or something, ” Pete said. “Right back. ”

She didn’t respond.

Pete stood up and stepped backward down the slope.

“Everybody stay right where you are, okay? Nobody move. ”

“We’ll be right here, ” Jeff said.

“Don’t do anything. ”

Jeff smirked at him.

Pete whirled around, rushed down to the wall and climbed it. At the top, he looked back. Jeff, kneeling, blocked his view of the woman’s shoulders and head. But he could see the rest of her. She was still on her hands and knees, her body gleaming and dripping.

He hated to leave them.

Hated to miss out on even a few minutes by her side.

Envying Jeff, he sat down on top of the wall, pushed himself off, and dropped. He landed on the hot concrete. Instead of running around the pool, he dived in. The cold shocked him for a moment, then felt good. As he glided below the surface, he realized his trunks had been jerked down around his knees. He pulled them up, then swam to the other side. He almost lost his trunks again when he climbed out. Pulling them up, he ran to the back door of the house. He skidded it open and rushed in.

Though dripping wet, he ran straight across the living room carpet.

By the time he entered the kitchen, his feet were dry but water continued to spill from his trunks and roll down his body.

What’ll I get her? he wondered.

She asked for water, but maybe she’d rather have a Coke or a beer or…

Just get her a glass! We can fill it from the hose.

What about ice cubes?

“Good, ” he muttered.

He grabbed a tumbler down from the cupboard, hurried over to the refrigerator and tugged open the freezer compartment. He reached into the ice-cube container, grabbed a handful of cubes and dumped them into the glass.

Now what? he wondered.

Try the phone?

He stepped over to the wall phone…and stared at it.

If I get through and they send an ambulance, they’ll take her away.

He picked up the handset. Bringing it toward his ear, he heard a dial tone.

She won’t be with us anymore. We might never see her again.

Why should I call? he asked himself.

Because she needs an ambulance, idiot.

Jeff and I are perfectly capable of driving her to the hospital.

She needs an ambulance.

She said no hospital, he reminded himself. She just wants water.

And I want to get back outside.

He hung up the phone.

Then, feeling a sudden rush of guilt, he grabbed it again.

I have to call, he told himself.

He set the glass on the floor to free his right hand, then tapped in 911.

Jeff’s gonna kill me.

The ringing started.

I must be nuts, he told himself, throwing away a chance like this. But it’s the right thing to do. I’ve gotta live with myself.

We would’ve had to lift her up, he thought. Maybe even carry her. Now we won’t have any excuse to touch her at all. We’ll just have to leave her on the ground and stand around till the ambulance shows up.

One of us will have to wait in front of the house, not even with her. And guess who that’ll be?

The ringing continued.

“Haven’t got all day, ” he muttered.

Another ring.

How many is that?

Four or five?

I’ll give it five more. If nobody’s answered by then…He hung up.

Screw them if they can’t answer the phone.

He crouched and picked up the glass. It felt slippery and cold from the ice cubes inside.

Should I take her some aspirin? he wondered. Bet she’s got a headache.

Might not be such a hot idea, though. Messed up the way she is, the last thing she needs is a blood thinner.

What about Tylenol?

Forget about it, he told himself. Just get out there with the glass and…

What else?

Find her something to wear.

Jeff’ll kill me.

I’d want to kill me.

But what will she think if I don’t come back with a sheet or something to put around her?

This is a no-brainer, he thought, hurrying toward the hallway. I take her out something to wear or I look like a total shit.

But what? he wondered.

It’s gonna get bloody.

An old sheet? An old towel? Something of Mom’s…?

I can’t go looking through Mom’s stuff.

What about my stuff?

Let her wear a pair of my trunks.

He had a dresser drawer full of old swimsuits. They would be too big for her. They wouldn’t stay up.

All the better.

And his swimsuits didn’t come with tops.

Even better.

Just take her out a pair of big, loose trunks…It’ll look like I tried…

He suddenly remembered the swimwear in the guest room. Mom and Dad had collected a variety of suits in different styles and sizes for friends who might drop by the house and want to enjoy the pool.

She doesn’t know about them, he told himself. I could still take her a pair of my trunks.

That’d be a dirty trick.

Besides, Pete had occasionally spent some time inspecting the guest suits. There were a couple of very good ones. Especially the black string bikini that Harriet Hanson always liked to wear when she

came over.

Harriet looked amazing in it.

If our gal looks half as good…

Pete hurried into the guest room, set down the glass of ice cubes and opened the dresser drawer.

In seconds, he found the string bikini.

Holding it up, he looked at the dangling cords and tiny patches of fabric.

What’ll she think…?

I’ll tell her it’s all I have, he thought.

Besides, the less there is to it, the less it’ll be touching the places where she’s hurt.

He shut the drawer. Glass in one hand, bikini in the other, he ran from the guest room and down the hall to the living room. The sliding door was still open. Outside, he used his elbow to shut it. Then he raced alongside the pool, his feet slapping the hot concrete, the ice cubes clinking inside the glass. He took the corners fast. Ahead, he spotted A Moveable Feast on top of the cinder-block wall. He ran to it, set the glass near the book, then stuffed the bikini under the waistband of his trunks and leaped at the wall.

Braced up with stiff arms, the top edge pushing against his waist, Pete held himself steady and looked out at the slope.

No longer on hands and knees, the woman was sitting cross-legged, her head down, her hands folded on her lap. Jeff, standing off to the side, was showering her with a broad, fine spray from the hose.

Nobody was supposed to move.

He felt a moment of anger, then noticed hazy bands of blue and yellow and red light floating in front of the woman, wrapping her in an aura of pure colors.

Pete couldn’t move.

He could only stare at her.

She looked magical.

Supernatural.

My God, he thought.

He gazed at her, struck with awe and wonder.

I’ll never see anything like this again.

With that, though she still sat shrouded in a misty rainbow, the magic vanished. The loss made Pete ache inside.

He knew he would always remember the way she looked and the way it had made him feel for a few miraculous moments. He also knew that he would have to write about it. And that he didn’t stand a chance of getting it right.

How could he possibly make his readers see those vivid rainbow colors? Or the way you could look through them to the woman, the girl, sitting under the spray with her short boy-hair matted down against her scalp and the sunlit water sliding down her body?

Can’t.

Nor could he possibly do justice to her radiance, her damaged beauty, her innocence and strength.

He wanted to make his readers ache for her the way he ached for her.

He wanted them to fall in love with her.

And to be spellbound by the image of such a glorious wounded survivor sitting naked inside a rainbow all her own.

Can’t.

But I can try, he thought.

I should make some notes while it’s all still fresh in my mind.

Not that I’ll ever forget any of it.

Make notes anyway, he told himself.

“What’re you doing up there? ” Jeff called.

“Nothing, ” Pete said.

He climbed over the top, lowered himself to the ground on the other side, then reached up for the glass of ice cubes.

Chapter Thirty-five

On his way up the slope, Pete pulled the bikini out of his trunks.

“Whatcha got there? ” Jeff asked.

“Something for her to wear. ”

She didn’t look up.

Jeff snarled at him, but said, “Good idea, ” in a way that almost sounded as if he meant it. He turned the hose away as Pete approached the woman.

“It’s a swimming suit, ” Pete told her. “It’s clean and everything. We keep some extras around for visitors. ”

She didn’t respond. She just kept her head down, maybe staring at her folded hands, maybe at her ankle or the stem of a weed on the ground in front of her crossed legs. Maybe looking at nothing.

“You want to wear it, don’t you? ”

“Wah…ter, ” she said.

“I’ve got that, too. I’ve got ice, anyway. ” To Jeff, he said, “Shoot some in here. ”

“I almost gave her some in the mouth, ” Jeff said. “Scared she might choke on it, though. Comes out pretty hard. ” He swung the spray over and flooded the glass.

“You’re not kidding, ” Pete said. As the glass overflowed, he pulled it away.

Jeff twisted the nozzle and shut off the water.

Without the hiss and splatter of the spray, the morning seemed strangely quiet.

“Did you find out anything while I was gone? ” Pete asked.

“Like what? ”

“Like anything? ”

“Found out she doesn’t talk much. ”

“What about her name? ”

“Haven’t got a clue. ”

Pete sank to a crouch just in front of her. She didn’t look up. “My name’s Pete, ” he said. “This other guy is my friend, Jeff. We found you unconscious back here a few minutes ago. We figure somebody must’ve…well, that you were the victim of a crime. Anyway, we’re behind my house. My parents are away for the weekend, but Jeff and I are going to take care of you. Okay? ”

She didn’t respond.

“What’s your name? ” Pete asked.

After a few seconds, her head moved a bit from side to side.

“Your name? ” Pete asked.

Another shake, but this time it was accompanied by a moan.

Pete frowned over at Jeff and asked, “What did she say? ”

“Said it hurts to shake her head. ”

“Very funny.

“I don’t think she knows her name, ” Jeff said. “Or doesn’t want to tell us. ”

“Can you remember your name? ” Pete asked her.

“Water. ”

“Maybe that’s her name, ” Jeff suggested.

“I doubt it. ”

“Ever hear of John Waters? ”

“Yeah, but…”

“We can call her Water. ”

“Water, ” she said again.

Pete reached out with the glass and held it under her face. “Here you go, ” he said.

Slowly, she lifted a hand. She took hold of the glass, but almost dropped it. Letting out a soft whimper, she jerked up her other hand and caught it. Some water sloshed out. The ice cubes clinked like wind chimes struck by a gust.

She raised the glass toward her mouth, then stopped without taking a drink.

She can’t take a drink, Pete realized. Not slumped over like that.

“Want some help? ” he asked.

Moaning, she raised her head and straightened her back. Her eyes met Pete’s.

The whites were bloodshot, but the irises were pale blue. He thought he could see pain in them. And wariness.

Her eyes lowered. She watched the glass as she lifted it with both hands toward her lips.

Swollen, cracked, bloody lips.

As she drank, she shut her eyes. She tipped the glass higher. Water suddenly spilled from its edges and ran down her chin, but she continued to swallow. The dribbles rolled down her neck, trickled down the center of her chest.

With her arms up, there was nothing in the way of Pete’s view. Ashamed of himself but excited, he stared at her breasts.

What if she catches me?

I’ll be okay as long as she’s drinking.

Quickly, he slid his gaze down her front and stared between her legs.

He ached.

She started to lower the glass, so Pete jerked his eyes up to her face.

Jeff let out a laugh.

Pete scowled at him. “What? ”

“Nothing, ” Jeff said.

The woman’s left hand fell away from the glass and dropped across her thigh. Her right hand, holding the glass, settled on her knee. The water was gone. A few shrunken pebbles of ice remained at the bottom of the glass.

“More water? ” Pete asked.

She looked at him. “Huh-uh. ”

e showed her the bikini. “Do you want this on? ”

Her head moved slightly up and down.

“I don’t think she’s in any shape to put it on herself, ” Jeff said.

“Do you want us to help you? ” Pete asked her.

“Blee…”

“I think that’s a ‘please, ’” Jeff interpreted.

“Yuh, ” she said.

We have to put it on her!

“She’d better stand up first, ” Jeff said.

“Can you stand up? ” Pete asked her.

“I…” She shook her head a bit.

“Is anything broken? ” he asked her.

“How would she know? ”

“She might know if she has a broken leg or something. ”

“What makes you think so? She doesn’t even know her name. ”

Looking Pete in the eyes, she said, “Chair. ”

“She wants a chair? ” Jeff asked.

“Me, ” she said. “Chair. Chairee. ”

“Is that’s your name? ” Pete asked.

She nodded and winced.

“What’s her name? ” Jeff asked.

“Cherry, I guess. ”

“Wow, ” Jeff said. “Cool name. ”

She groaned.

“Do you think any of your bones are broken? ” Pete asked her.

“Ah…” She lowered her head.

“She moved around enough to sit up, ” Jeff pointed out. “I’m pretty sure she hasn’t got a broken leg or arm. ”

“Do you want us to lift you, Cherry? ”

“Yuh. ”

Jeff stepped over to her side and squatted down. “You take one arm, ” he said, “and I’ll take the other. ”

“Okay. ”

Pete stuffed the bikini under his waistband, then crawled to her left side, turned around and crouched. He studied her upper arm, looking for a good place to grip it.

There was no good place. Wherever he might take hold, he would encounter bruising or raw, red wounds.

“Be careful where you grab her, ” he told Jeff.

“Sure thing. ”

Turning toward her, Pete slipped his right hand under her armpit. It went in from behind. Her armpit felt moist and hot and snug. He eased his thumb down against an abrasion on the outer side of her arm.

“How’s that? ” he asked.

She nodded.

He cupped his left hand under her elbow. She didn’t flinch or cry out, so he supposed it must be okay.

“How you doing, Jeff? ” he asked.

“Got her. ”

They waited while she uncrossed her legs, brought up her knees and planted her feet against the ground.

“Ready? ” Pete asked her.

“Yuh. ”

“Ready, Jeff? ”

“All set. ”

“Okay, up. ”

Pete and Jeff stood, lifting her. She stiffened and whimpered. On her feet, though unsteady, she seemed to be bearing most of her own weight. Pete relaxed his hold.

She flinched. “Don’ leggo! ”

“I won’t. I won’t. It’s all right. We won’t let you fall. ”

“It’ll be all right, ” Jeff told her. In a louder voice, he said, “Let’s get her off this hillside before we do anything else. ”

“Right. ”

Bracing her up between them, they made their way down the slope. They stopped on level ground in front of the cinder-block wall.

“Maybe this’d be a good place to put the swimsuit on, ” Pete told her. “Can you stand on your own? ”

“Ah…try. ”

As they loosened their hold, Cherry raised her arms, leaned forward and put her hands against the wall like a fugitive waiting to be frisked by the police.

Pete pulled the bikini out of his trunks.

“Do you think you can put it on yourself? ” he asked.

“Nuh. ”

“Okay. Well. ” As Pete stared at the bikini, Jeff came over to him.

“Here, ” Jeff said, and took the pants. He stepped in close behind Cherry, knelt down, and used both hands to spread the thin elastic waistband. “Can you lift a foot? ” he asked.

She raised her left foot off the ground.

Leaning so close to her that his forehead almost touched her rear end, Jeff slipped the pants around her upraised foot. “Now the other. ”

A moment later, they were around both her ankles. Keeping the sides of the waistband pulled away from her, Jeff lifted the pants. As the skimpy black seat slid up her buttocks, he eased the elastic in against her hips. “Wanta keep it loose, ” he muttered. Then, as if afraid she might misunderstand, he added, “Pull it up too much, it might hurt. You know, your wounds. ”

He shuffled backward on his knees, then stood up. With a nod toward the bikini top in Pete’s hands, he said, “Want me to take care of that for you? ”

“That’s all right, ” Pete said.

With Jeff watching, he tied the two neck strings together. Then he stepped up to Cherry’s side. “I think I have to get under there, ” he said. He ducked beneath Cherry’s arm. As he came up slowly between her and the wall, his bare shoulder brushed against her breast. The feel of it shocked him with delight and embarrassment. “Sorry, ” he murmured. Though the touch had lasted only a moment, he could still feel it as he straightened up and faced her.

Her eyes were inches from his.

He tried to smile. “This is kind of awkward, ” he said. With both hands, he slipped the loop over her head and eased it down behind her neck. “There, ” he whispered.

Bending his knees slightly, he saw that the limp black patches draped the tops of her breasts. The remaining two strings dangled toward her waist. He crouched lower, took one string in each hand, and raised them to the sides of her ribcage.

“Jeff, ” he said. “Can you get these? ”

“No problem. ” He stepped behind Cherry and took the strings from Pete. “Tie ’em? ” he asked.

“Yeah. ”

As Jeff drew them backward, the bikini top closed in too high—slightly above her nipples. “Hold it, ” Pete said.

Jeff stopped pulling. “Problem? ” he asked.

“Not really. ”

Pete crouched slightly lower, reached up with both hands and hooked his fingertips underneath the bikini. He felt Cherry’s breasts against the backs of his fingers. They were hot and slippery, her nipples stiff. He pushed upward gently against them as he drew the bikini downward. It came down easily past the bottoms of her breasts.

“Okay, ” Pete said. “You can tie ’em now. ”

To protect the long, curving cut beneath her left breast, Pete kept his fingertips under the bikini while Jeff tied the knot behind her back.

“Got it, ” Jeff said.

Pete pulled his fingers out. Then he straightened up and looked Cherry in the eyes. Blushing furiously, he said, “It’s a little loose so it won’t hurt you. ”

“Good, ” she whispered. “Thanks. ”

Thank you, Pete thought. But he said, “You’re welcome. ”

“Yeah, ” said Jeff.

Pete smiled at her. “Well, ” he said. “Guess that’s it. ” Then he ducked and sidestepped, passing underneath her arm, this time missing her breast. “That takes care of that, ” he said.

He wished he could do it all over again.

Chapter Thirty-six

“Now what? ” Jeff asked.

“Take her to a hospital, I guess, ” Pete said.

“How? ”

“Drive her. ”

“In the ’vette? ”

“The Mercedes. Mom and Dad took the ’vette to Palm—”

“No, ” Cherry said.

They both looked at her.

She stood just as before, leaning forward slightly, her arms up, her hands on the wall. “No…No hah…hospital. ”

“You’ve gotta go to a hospital, ” Pete said.

“No she doesn’t, ” Jeff said.

“She’s hurt really bad. ”

She took a step toward the wall. Shoving at it, she stood up straight. She lowered her arms to her sides, then stood there motionless with her head down. After a few seconds, she lifted her head. Very slowly, she began to turn around. She looked so unsteady that Pete raised his hands, ready to catch her if she should start to fall. But she stayed up and continued to turn ever so slowly until she was facing him. Then she said, “I’m…fine. ”

A single, quick laugh burst out of Jeff. Then he said, “Sorry. Not funny. ”

Pete frowned at him. To Cherry, he said, “You’re not fine. You’re a wreck. ”

“She is standing, ” Jeff pointed out.

“Yeah. And she looks like she’s up for a role in Beach of the Living Dead. ”

“Not…dead, ” she said.

Maybe she is, Pete suddenly thought.

Yeah, right.

But something in his face must’ve betrayed his sudden concern because Cherry said, “I’m…not…dead. ”

He forced himself to laugh. “I know. Jeez. Of course you’re not. ”

Grinning, Jeff said, “Ain’t no such thing as the living dead, dude. ”

“I know that. ”

“Besides, Cherry’s breathing. She’s got a heartbeat. And she’s warm. ”

She turned her head slightly toward Jeff and said, “Thanks. ”

“She’s also beautiful and brave. ”

She groaned.

“Well, you are. ”

“But you’re really banged up, ” Pete told her. “You might have some sort of serious damage that needs to be fixed. You know? Maybe you’ve got internal bleeding or something. Maybe you need an operation. ”

“No, ” she said.

“How do you know? ”

“She doesn’t want to go to a hospital, ” Jeff said. “So why don’t we leave it at that? ”

“We’re responsible for her. ”

“Are not. We’re not even adults—and she is. She can make her own decisions. If she wants to stay away from the hospital, we’ve got no right to force her. I mean, who knows? Maybe she’s got very good reasons. ”

“What’s a good reason? ”

“Hospital’s gonna cost her a fortune, ” Jeff said. “Maybe she’s got no medical insurance. ”

“Even if she doesn’t—”

“Or how about this? Maybe getting medical care’s against her religion. You know? She might be like a Christian Scientist. Some people, they’d rather die than go against their faith. ”

Cherry looked into Pete’s eyes and nodded.

“You won’t go to a hospital because of your religion? ” Pete asked.

She nodded more strongly, but it seemed to hurt her. With a grimace, she stopped.

“Okay, ” Pete said. “No hospital. But what do you want us to do? Should we phone someone for you? Take you someplace? We’ll do whatever you want. ”

“In…the house. ”

“You want to go inside my house? ”

“Yuh. ”

“Okay, ” Pete said. He almost smiled, but held it back. “That’d be fine. ”

Fine? he thought. Fine?

This is so damn great!

Take it easy, he told himself. She’s been through all kinds of hell. I’ve got no right to feel happy about any of this.

“I think we can forget about going over the wall, ” he said. “We’ll have to go around. ”

“Kind of far, ” Jeff said.

“She can’t climb over this. ”

“Try, ” she said.

“No. You’re wrecked up enough as it is. ”

“More than enough, ” added Jeff. To Pete, he said, “What about getting out a ladder? ”

“She can hardly stand up; we don’t want her trying to climb a ladder. ”

“Then I guess we’ll have to hang on to her arms and hobble around to the front of the house. ”

“We can’t walk three across, ” Pete explained, avoiding the word abreast. “It’s too narrow back here. ”

“Well, maybe just one of us can hold her. ”

“I’m…fine, ” Cherry said. “Walk alone. ”

“It’s a long way, ” Jeff said.

“I’ll…make it. ”

“You sure? ” Pete asked.

“Try, ” she said.

“I’ll go first. ” Jeff turned away, took a couple of steps alongside the cinder-block wall, then stopped and looked around. “This way, ” he said.

Slowly, Cherry began to turn toward him.

“Wait, ” Pete said. Blushing again, he stepped in front of her. “If you want, I’ll be happy to carry you. I mean, you know, like piggyback? Why don’t we try that? Unless you’d rather not. ”

“That’s a really good idea, ” Jeff pointed out. “I’d carry you myself, Cherry, but as you can see I’m a pintsized shrimp. ”

Meeting Pete’s eyes, she said, “Uh-kay. ”

“Great. ” He hitched up his drooping trunks, turned away from her, then squatted so low that his rear end almost touched the ground.

Jeff turned around to watch.

Pete heard Cherry stagger up behind him. Her hands lowered onto his shoulders. When her open legs slid against his sides, he reached back with both hands and clutched her under the thighs. Lifting, he straightened his legs.

My God, she’s heavy!

Or I’m just weak.

Riding him up, Cherry went rigid and let out a whimper.

“You all right? ” Pete asked.

“Fine. ” She spoke the word in a high voice that sounded like a hurt little girl.

“Do you want me to put you down? ”

“No, ” she said.

I’m gonna lose her if…!

With a small jump, Pete tugged at her thighs and raised her higher onto his back.

She yelped.

“I’m sorry, ” he said.

“Uh. Okay. ” She let go of his shoulders and held on to the top of his head.

“You okay? ” he asked.

“Yuh. ”

“Here we go. ”

He started walking quickly alongside the wall. Jeff, several strides ahead, walked sideways and backward so he could keep his eyes on them.

This is so cool, Pete thought.

She seemed awfully heavy for someone so slender, but he liked carrying her. He liked clinging to the bottoms of her thighs. He liked having her legs on both sides of him. Her groin, tight against his back, felt hot through the thin fabric of her pants. Higher, she was bare and slippery. Her breasts, on both sides of Pete’s head, bounced and swayed inside her loose bikini top. Sometimes, when he jostled her, they swung and patted his ears.

He carried her to the end of the wall, around the corner, then along a strip of level ground between the wall and a drainage ditch.

As they approached the front corner, Jeff asked, “How’s it going? ”

“Okay, ” Pete answered, just as a breast bumped softly against his ear.

Jeff grinned. “Looks like the job has its perks. ”

“Up yours, ” Pete said. Short of breath, he added, “How about…opening the gate? ”

“Gotcha. ” He stepped around the corner.

By the time Pete arrived with Cherry on his back, Jeff was standing inside the pool area, holding the gate open for them.

“Thanks, ” Pete said. He stopped in front of Jeff. “Give me a hand? ”

“You’re about to lose something, huh? ”

“Pull ’em up? ”

“I don’t know, man. ”

“Just do it. Please? ”

Laughing softly, Jeff ducked and reached for Pete’s drooping trunks. He gave them a quick lift by the waistband.

“Thanks, ” Pete said. “Now can you get the back door? ”

“Righto. ” Jeff hurried ahead, slid it open, then stepped out of the way.

Pete entered, carrying Cherry. After walking over the ground and the concrete, the soft carpet of the living room felt wonderful under his bare feet.

Jeff slid the door shut. “Gonna put her down? ” he asked.

“Where? ” Pete asked.

“How should I know? ”

“I was asking Cherry. ”

“Uh, ” she said. “Bath…room. ”

“Good idea. ”

Though no more gates or doors stood in the way, Jeff hurried ahead of them.

Cherry started to slip.

Pete jumped and hoisted her higher. She whimpered a little but didn’t cry out. “Sorry, ” he said, and hurried across the living room. At the foyer, he turned right and carried her down the hallway.

Jeff was already waiting just outside the guest bathroom. He’d turned the light on.

Pete lurched through the doorway. The moment he felt the tile floor under his feet, he stopped and crouched low. He released his hold on Cherry’s legs. She slid off his back.

Though haggard and aching and breathless, Pete suddenly felt nearly weightless. He stood up straight, groaning. Where he’d been feeling the slick heat of Cherry’s skin, he now felt cool air.

He felt vast relief to be free of the burden.

But he missed it, too.

I’ll probably never do anything like that again.

She patted him gently on the back. “Thanks, ” she said.

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