Love Is Deaf, Not Blind

I stagger out of Chris’ car and have to catch myself on the fence.

“Hey you alright?” Chris calls from across the black pick-up truck.

“Yeah. Just a little unsteady.”

“Come on you should get some sleep.” He leads me through the door and gestures for me to take a seat on the black futon. He disappears and returns with a large glass of water. “You don’t drink very often do you?”

“Not really.”

He laughs lightly, “Drink this.” He leaves me alone on the couch. I’d only taken a few sips before he returns with a blanket and pillow.

“So umm I have to be up early. Do you need anything else?”

I shake my head and wish that I hadn’t, “Maybe a bucket?”

“Oh” He hurries off returning with a yellow bucket that has whites written on the side. “The bathroom is through that door.” He points to a door on the other side of the room.

“Thank you Chris.”

He smiles, “I’ll see you in the morning.” He hesitates to leave for a moment but walks off through the hall my eyes following him out of view.

*****

I woke to the smell of bacon cooking, my stomach turning and my head pounding. I open my eyes and remember that I’m on a cook at the bartender Chris’.

I grab the bucket from the floor next to my head and throw up bile. I hated throwing up because even the sight and sound of someone else throwing up made me. I continue to dry wrench into the bucket, struggle to gather my breath. I place the bucket on the ground and run to the wear Chris had pointed out the toilet. I’m relieved to find that it’s a bathroom. I splash cold water one my face still struggle not to gag again.

“Hey Jason are you alright?” Chris call through the half closed door.

“Fine. I’m alright thanks.” I take a few more deep breath, rinse my mouth with water straight from the tap and head back out.

“You sure you’re alright?” I moved by the worry on his face as it pokes around the corner of the door

“I’m fine. Just stupid drinking too much.”

“I shouldn’t have served you so many but I did really want you to leave before I had a chance to get your number.” He give me a flirty smile. “I made Bacon and egg sandwiches best hang over recover I know.”

“You should have just asked,” I give him a flirty smile back.

“Come eat you bacon.” His voice is light and playful.

I walk over to where my spew bucket sits on the floor and place in on the ground in the shower before taking a seat at the table.

“Coffee?” Chris asks turning about with a drip pot of coffee and a couple of mugs.

“Sure thanks.” He pour coffee into my cup.

“Milk? Sugur?”

“Nah, Black will do thanks again.” I smile.

He place a bacon sandwich in front of me, the toast is thick and crispy looking.

“Sorry there isn’t any eggs, I’m allergic.” Chris tells me as he takes a seat across from me.

“I don’t like eggs anyway,” I smile at him. I can’t help but stare into his eyes, the blue was so intense, sort of like the blue eyes of a new born baby.

“What?” He asks snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Your have gorgeous eyes.”

Chris actually blushes, “I like your eyes. They aren’t contacts right?

“No, there my real eyes.”

“They’re so dark. When I first saw them I thought they were black.”

“A lot of people do. Especially when I’m with my twin sister, her eyes are dark brown. With our dark hair and tan skin it’s what people expect.”

“They’re blue not green right?”

I nod, “I like your eyes better. They are dark but also very bright.”

“That doesn’t make sense,” He teases.

“I know sorry. A lot of what I say won’t.”

“I don’t mind, I think it’s cute.”

We eat our sandwiches and I’m surprised to find the food has a calming effect on my stomach, and talk about our siblings. I learn that Chris is the youngest male of 9, he has 1 younger sister and 7 older brothers.

“Wow, I have only have two sister, no brothers. My twin and my baby sister Katie, well she’s 3 turning 4 in a few months. Katie’s been staying with my Dad and his trophy wife in China for the last month.”

“Do you see your dad?”

“Yeah but not very often he works away a lot.”

“My dad left when Mom was pregnant with my little sister. I haven’t seen him since.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. He was a loser. He ran off with another girl.”

We talk for hours, about our families, about relationships (other peoples not our own), about hobbies and goals for the future until Chris finally ends it.

“I have to start getting ready for work. You’re welcome to take a shower down here. I’ll drive you back to your car.”

I know I have to go home and face the music for being out all night, but I really wish now didn’t have to end. I head into the bathroom and realized I’d left my sick bucket in the shower. I turn the shower on and let it run into the bucket for a while before I get into the shower.

I wonder while I’m in the shower just how much trouble I’ll be in. I also wonder if I’ll be able to escape my unenviable grounding to meet up with Chris.

****

We sit in Chris truck outside Pegasus neither of us wanting to say goodbye. It’s only when Chris has mintues to get to work does he lean in and his me, his lips are soft and warm against mine. I kiss him back, the same I don’t want to leave kiss.

Chris pulls away and get out of the truck, I follow. He plants his full lips on mine once more and as he pulls away he whispers, “Please call me.”

“I will.”

He flashes a smile at me as he hurries towards the door. I stand on the sidewalk staring at the building before I finally decided to head home. My car is in the same spot I left it in the night before and as I drive away I glace back through my rear view mirror at Pegasus.

I listening to my favourite’s playlist, I sing along to Disney songs. I do a roundabout trip home driving to Columbus before heading home to Smithville. It takes me only an hour more but it’s an hour I delay the scene with my mom.

I pull up in the drive not parking in the Garage, I sort of hope I can sneak in but when I see Mom March through the front door her hands on her hips I know it’s in possible.