ACT 14: Evolutionary process
The afternoon slipped by as the shadows grew longer and the heat began to fade away. I had taken my long shower and ate, while Kat slept in her chair, book still resting on her stomach and breasts becoming a deep tan. I saw nothing of our neighbors and didn't hear them in their apartment. I went over and knocked on the sliding glass door, to see if they wanted a drink, but no one answered.
Sitting out on the beach, I watched as the sun sank down into the water, strange thoughts drifting through my head. The brilliant red-orange-yellow that burned into the ocean, seared onto my brain, until only the grey of the moon, like a great translucent light, reflected off the black water. I walked back to the cottage, content.
Kat was in the kitchen, now wearing a loose tee-shirt, with the thong bikini, standing in front of the blender, hand holding the lid down as it whirled and ground.
"Want to go to the bar on the beach for a bit?" As I passed her, I noticed the black lace tucked under the bikini.
"Not tonight Colins." She opened the blender, pouring the mixture into a tall glass. "I'd like to stay in tonight."
"You can go, if you like." Her scratchy voice still showing signs of being tired.
"Maybe just for a little while." I replied, filling my glass, trying to push Selena out of my thoughts.
Kat set her drink down, and wrapped her arms around my shoulders from behind, squeezing me, her breasts warm against my back.
"I love you." she whispered into my ear.
"Me too." I grabbed her arms and kissed them.
"Now go have fun, and don't be too long." She said, releasing me. "I'm going to read my book, I didn't get much reading done today."
"Slept?" I spun around facing her.
"Yes." She smiled at me. "all day, I needed it."
Walking up the stone steps to the bar, the sounds of drunk conversations and feet stomping the ground rose, thumped through brain. The bar vibrated, you could hear music, but not words to the songs over all the chattering. It was busier than normal. My seat on the corner was open, so I sat myself down and watched the crowd, kind of hoping that Katie would make an appearance, so we could make fun of people.
I spotted Selena at the other end of the bar, leaning over and talking to some men. Her hand was on one of the men's wrists, holding it down. I squinted, looking closer. It was the man that had approached Kat the other night, when she met up with Jackson, he was wearing another white tank top and slacks. A tinge of jealousy shot though me, making my stomach squeezed in on itself.
The man wasn't smiling, his face clenched up and jaw cinched tight. The other bartender just ignored them, walking past, and serving Selena's customers. Selena reached down under the bar and grabbed a black suitcase that was resting next to a sawed-off shotgun, her fingers knowing exactly where to go. My eyes widened. She pulled the case out, still holding his wrist, and placed it on the counter in front of him, shaking her head and speaking firmly at him in Spanish. The man nodded, tugged his arm away from her, then stood up, pulling the suitcase from the bar. The two men sitting on either side of him rose up and followed him as he left the bar, toward the street.
"What can I get you?" The tall bartender asked me, his voice deep and accent thick.
"Whisky." I answered him back, still looking at the shotgun under the counter. "Get much trouble around here?"
"Not usually." He said, turning to look with me. "But she can handle herself."
I returned my eyes to him. He was young, a different bartender than I had seen here previously. I tried to act casual about the whole thing, smiling and nodding at him.
"How old is she anyway?" I mused, looking over at Selena, who was watching the men leave.
The corner of his mouth turned up and he cocked his head to the side, looking me up and down.
"She's nineteen." His words firm.
"Oh, ok." I backed off a little. "Just looks a little young to be a bartender."
"This is Mexico." He said, as he poured my drink.
It was a few moments before Selena noticed me sitting in my seat and her face beamed when she saw me. Her hair was once again pressed down the side of her round face, but still a little frazzled and dress wrinkled. She looked even sexier this way. She strutted over to me, her ass swaying side to side, eyes bright.
"How long have you been here?" She wiped her dress down, trying to take out some of the wrinkles and quickly glancing back where the altercation had just taken place.
"Just arrived." I told her, taking a drink.
"Glad you came. We are busy." She looked around the bar as she spoke. "This is usually a busy night."
"No worries." I told her. "Just stop by when you can."
I watched Selena work, while drinking. She always made it back to fill my whisky before I finished, only to rush off. Her face remained bright and demeanor calm. I couldn't help but think of the other man that she had given the suitcase to. She was different to him, serious and straight forward, unlike how she treated everyone else. Maybe he had done something wrong, or offended her. It worried me that Kat might have chosen him, and possibly hooked up with him. Kat was good at judging character, but after drinking and getting buzzed with our new toy, who knew what might have happened.
"What's with the scowl?" Selena leaned over the bar in front of me. She placed a finger on my forehead and ran it down my face, making it relax.
"Why so serious?" She said, shaking me from my thoughts.
"How did you know?" I looked her in the eyes. "That I was married."
"I see that a lot here." She raised up and poured more whisky in my glass. "Couples doing what you guys are doing."
"Really?" My eyes opened wide, wondering if she knew what we were actually doing.
"Sure, usually older couples, but some younger ones, like you guys, too. I've always wondered if there was something wrong with their relationships and they were trying to fix it." It was a statement that was actually a question, which I brushed off.
Talking about this was difficult, and I didn't expect that type of response from her.
"So...You know what we are doing?" The words stammered out.
"Yes." She returned quickly, with a harsh laugh.
"Have you ever...?" I didn't finish the question.
"No Colins." She finished for me, "I don't get with the tourists," turning around, "Or not usually." she giggled as she returned to her work.
"Wait." I yelled over the crowd. "One more thing."
Selena stopped and flipped around, her dark eyes seemed darker and deeper. She approached the bar, laying her palms down on the wood surface.
"What was up with that guy you were talking to earlier?" My voice now trying to be serious. "Was there trouble?"
Selena's face softened and the smile disappeared, it was almost as if she was looking down at me, concerned for me.
"No trouble Colins." She said quietly. "And it's none of your concern."
"Fair enough!" I replied, raising my eyebrows and looking back down at my drink, patting both hands down on the bar.
The bar never settled down and Selena hustled most of the night, taking the time to come and chat with me whenever she had the chance. Our interaction earlier made me think that she might not want to talk with me, but it didn't seem to bother her, and her behavior never changed; she kept her happy, giggling attitude toward me and everyone else. I wrote it off as a difficult interaction between her and an upset customer.
It was getting late, and I had told Kat that I wouldn't be gone longs. I tried to pay for my drinks when Selena stopped by to fill my glass, but she wouldn't have any of it, telling me that this night was "on her." I said my goodbye's as she passed and told her that I would try and stop by tomorrow.