The Maine Events, Rodney Riesel [best books to read in your 20s TXT] 📗

likes, so now I guess I can add jealousy to his list ofcharacter flaws.” Allen glanced over at his pal. “Oh, that's right, you're notinterested in what I'm doing over here. You just relax. I know playing, eating,and taking dumps is hard work.”

Chapter Seventeen

Allen finished up his writing for the day around six o'clockFriday evening. There were only about five shots of tequila left in the bottle.He thought about making himself one more drink.

“I guess the booze ain't gonna make it till next Saturday,Frankie. I don't know what I was thinking. Two bottles of booze rarely lasts metwo weeks. I've always been an over achiever.”

Allen closed his laptop, leaned back in his chair, claspedhis fingers behind his head, and gazed out over the water. He quietly countedthe watercraft. Three sailboats and four motorboats. The water had calmedconsiderably since morning. There were now more clouds in the sky. They weremore gray than white. He couldn't see if anyone was on the beach from where hesat, but he doubted there were—the tide had been rising for the past fourhours. There probably wasn't much left of the beach at this point.

For a late lunch Allen and Frankie had eaten bolognasandwiches and Doritos. Frankie ate two whole sandwiches, bread and all, so hewas probably all set for the night, Allen, on the other hand, was gettinghungry again.

Allen picked up the bag of Doritos he's been munching on androlled down the open end. He got up, crossed the room, and tossed the bag onthe countertop.

“I think I'm gonna jump in the shower, Frankie,” Allen said.

Allen dropped his shorts and pulled his T-shirt over hishead.

“I'm going to walk down to Stones Throw for dinner. You canstay in tonight, and lick your own balls, or whatever you want to do.”

Allen kicked the clothes he'd just removed into a pile ofdirty clothes he'd been building since the day he arrived. He had no plans todo laundry while he was in Maine. He'd pack the dirty clothes into one bag, andthe clean ones into another, and then do his laundry at home.

After showering and shaving, Allen put on a pair of tancargo shorts, a black T-shirt, and slipped his feet into his flip-flops. Hepulled open the door, and stood there for a second gauging the temperature, andwondering if he should bring a long-sleeved shirt to slip on. He eyed the whitecotton button-up he'd tossed over the chair the night before.

Better safe than sorry, he thought, and snatched upthe shirt.

On his way out the door, Allen turned and gave his dog astern warning. “No parties,” he said. “And keep your paws off that bottle oftequila.” He stepped outside and closed the door behind him.

Allen passed Crystal on his way down the stairs.

“Crystal,” Allen said, nodding.

“Good evening. Allen,” Crystal responded. “How's everythinggoing?”

“Very good.”

“Enjoying your stay?”

“It's been very eventful.”

“If you need anything, I'm—”

“Right next door?”

“Yep.”

“You have a wonderful night, Crystal.”

“Crystal said, “You too,” and continued up the stairs.

Allen got to the bottom and pulled open the door.

“Hey, Donnie.”

“Hey yourself, Blue Eyes.”

“All alone tonight?”

“All alone.”

“What happened to your … um, date?”

“I dated him. He dated me. I ordered him an Uber.”

“Wham, bam, thank you man.”

“Exactly.”

“I'm walking up to Stones Throw to grab something to eat, ifyou want to tag along.”

“I was just sitting here wondering what I was going to eat.Let me grab a sweater.”

Donnie leapt out of his chair and disappeared into his room,leaving his door open. Three minutes later, Allen decided to sit down in one ofDonnie's two chairs. Five minutes after that Allen dropped his head back andloudly sighed.

“Donnie, what the hell are ya doing in there?” Allen finallyshouted, after fifteen minutes. “They stop serving food at ten.”

“Hold your horses!” Donnie hollered back. “I'm trying tomake myself look moderately presentable. You have any idea how hard that is atmy age?”

“Uh, yeah. Aren't we about the same age? It took me twominutes to get ready.”

Donnie appeared at the door. He had changed his clothes, andhis hair now contained more product than if he had gotten his head stuck in adeep fryer. His blue jeans were as dark as they were skinny. They were cuffed,slightly revealing Donnie's bare ankles. He had on bright white leathersneakers. A tight gray T-shirt with horizontal stripes accentuated his cutphysique. Over his corded arm hung a cream-colored cardigan.

“Too gay?” Donnie asked, jokingly.

Allen laughed. “I don't think so,” he replied. “Do I looktoo straight?”

“Yes,” said Donnie. “Too straight, and a little toohomeless. Did you even comb your hair?”

“I ran my fingers through it.”

“You ran your fingers through it,” Donnie grumbled. Heclosed his door behind him. “And to answer your question, I'm forty-eight yearsold.”

“Really? I would not have guessed that.”

“I'll take that as a compliment,” Donnie said, on their wayacross the parking lot. “I work very hard at staying in shape. Not that Evanever noticed, or God forbid, paid me a compliment.”

Allen studied Donnie's temple and the side of his head asthe man spoke. “You don't have any crow's feet at all,” he observed.

“I owe that to Dr. Emmit Sparks,” Donnie explained. “He didmy eyes, and removed a small bump on the bridge of my nose.”

Allen's eyes went to Donnie's nose. “Huh.”

“Dr. Emmit could probably do something about that littlesecond chin thing you got going on there.”

“What?” Allen's fingertips shot to the skin under his chin.“What's wrong with my chin?”

“Well, I just noticed it's a little saggy—not bad, but whenyou look down it creates a slight second chin.”

Allen rubbed his neck.

“A little lipo and a stretch, and you'd look forty again,”said Donnie.

“I'm thirty-seven.”

“Oh, my.”

It took Allen and Donnie almost twenty minutes to make themile-long hike from the Sunrise Motel to Stones Throw. By the time theyarrived, Donnie was walking a little funny and wishing he hadn't decided towear his new sneakers for the first time.

“I can literally feel two blisters on my right foot, and oneon my left foot,” Donnie complained.

“Maybe you should have had Dr. Emmit narrow your feet,” saidAllen.

“I do not have wide feet!”

“I'm just saying, a little lipo around