Chapter 29
We left the restaurant and returned to the beach. It wasn't long before my damp clothes became biting in the December wind. Finding a public restroom I elected to go inside and hopefully use the hand dryer to at least blow some more of the moisture out.
Leaving Emily at the door I ducked inside and took off my shirt. I found one of the hand-drying vents. I turned it on and then stretched my damp shirt out in front of it. It took close to a minute for the air to get hot, but once it did I could feel it working. Slowly the fabric got drier.
The loud whine of the drier motor filled the cavernous cement room. It left me to my own thoughts. Why was I so afraid of falling for Emily? She was non-traditional in her sexual desires, but so what I. Everything else was perfect. We wanted the same thing and got along both in bed and on the streets.
I guessed it was the exclusivity. Though I've had, especially most recently, some wild sexual romps I still wanted that exclusivity in a relationship. It was the line I drew in my head where fun times ended and true love began.
I was being stupid and cowardly I thought. I should just let it go where it goes. Maybe she doesn't even like me like that. Maybe she is just after someone to have a fling with till she gets out of the military herself. Who knows? I resolved to let my feelings take me where they take me.
I felt the fabric and it felt dry enough I could put it back on. It had to have been ten minutes and I felt Emily was getting bored waiting for me.
A little wrinkly I straightened my shirt in the mirror, fixed my hair, then stepped out the door. Immediately my good mood was soured.
Two men in ill-fitting clothes were talking to Emily. She didn't seem to be enjoying the conversation.
"Hey, why don't you follow us home little lady," one of them said with a south-of-the-border accent.
"Why don't you buzz off," Emily replied exasperated.
"Don't get an attitude with us," the other one said reaching out to touch her hair, "we just want to show you a merry Christmas."
I flashed with anger, "don't touch my girl!"
The two turned around to face me. They were maybe a little older than teenagers, but still very small. Neither was even Emily's height. The way I sized them up, I figured I could take both in a fight if it came to that.
"No trouble man," one held his hands up.
"We were just helping her out in case she was lost," the other smirked.