The Broken Sister (Sister #6) (20 page)

The next morning he was gone. He had an early business meeting. He left a note to order something. Charge it to the room.

She showered and dressed. Wearing casual clothes she headed out of the room and through the main lobby. To the left was a large convention center. Later, that’s where Tristan’s conference was located. He’d shown it all to her right after he’d checked them in.

She spotted him, sitting in the elegant restaurant of the hotel. He was sitting in a window seat with a woman, similarly dressed as he in business attire. They were in an intense and serious discussion. Each had tablets they kept glancing at. He happened to look up as Kylie peeked at him through the restaurant door that stared into the hotel foyer. He caught her eye and her entire body paused as if she was caught by the police trying to shoplift. His lips just barely lifted in a little smile and he raised his eyebrows just a fraction of an inch. Something hot felt like it spilled into her bloodstream. Just from the smallest, mildest eye contact imaginable and her entire body was flushing in pleasure.

Her breath caught in her chest as she stood almost statue-like in middle of the busy foyer. He had turned back, tuned into whatever his companion was saying. He nodded and spoke, yet his eyes kept lingering on Kylie. The thrill to have his attention and his interest was like liquor being poured into her gut.

He finally sat back and tilted his head at her. She swore they were having an entire conversation across the lobby and interior of the restaurant. Maybe… maybe she might be falling into…
something
with him too. How else could this crazy connection between them be described? There was nothing casual about it. But neither was anything hard. It was so easy to be with Tristan. To talk with him, smile with him, enjoy him. She didn’t get tired of him. Ever. It was never quite enough time together. Which, for a girl who usually hid from most everyone, was a new experience. Not being sick of another.

The thought sent her wanting to run outside and keep going. She didn’t know how to give her heart over to anyone. She only managed to do it with her mom and sister and Julia because it was required. But to willingly give herself to another? Make herself vulnerable? She didn’t know if she was strong enough to do so.

But then… there he was now, smiling at her, shaking his head slightly in amusement at her. And a big grin broke out over her face as she finally turned, and headed out of the hotel all warm and flustered now from the mildest interaction two people could have. Yet he made her feel… so connected. She hadn’t had a lot of experience being so connected to another.

A long paved walking trail followed along the Columbia River. It had streams of people walking, jogging or meandering it. It went by condos and housing that was city-like yet preppy. The Portland airport was across the river and every kind of plane and jet came in and out on a regular basis, so there was always something to watch. She went back and spent the afternoon lazing at the pool and periodically spied into the giant room where Tristan’s conference was, looking for him. She would often spot him and instead of ignoring her, hurrying her along, he’d do a version of their morning flirting and have both of them smiling at each other across the space and crowds of people. He excused himself once and came out to her, taking her hand and quickly pulling her down a corridor and another before pushing her into a doorway to kiss her until her knees were weak. “You trying to get me fired? How can I concentrate with you prancing around?”

She laughed outright when he mock-scowled. She had walked again along the trail and wore baggy sweats with a coat. It was freezing outside. So… there was no prancing or sexiness. He then leaned his forehead resting on hers and sighed. “I have to get back. I’d invite you… but there are no spouses. Just all managers. It looks like it runs into dinner… so…”

She shook her head. “I’m fine, Tristan. I don’t need a babysitter. Remember? The reclusive me? I’d rather be alone than in there with that crowd. I’ll go get dinner. Just text me and I’ll let you know where I’m at.”

“I know, you’re the lowest maintenance girl I know. But…”

She kissed his mouth quickly, looking up at him. “Go. I’m enjoying being here. It’s a pretty town. The downtown reminds me a lot of Marsdale, except of course the giant river.”

He sighed, glum. “Okay, I’m going. Later. Don’t forget to check your phone. I have no idea what time it’ll be.”

She headed out along the sidewalks as darkness settled over the city. The night was clear, all stars up above. But cold enough her breath made smoke-like in front of her. The main thoroughfare was crowded with people out for the night. Restaurants were bright and hopping. There were regular streetlights and a clean, safe feeling to the downtown. She eventually sat at a restaurant and got a drink, ignoring the food and wishing she could order alcohol. Maybe later they could have some at the room. It was a fun, startling, and grown-up feeling. Traveling on business. Kylie almost pinched herself. Who’d have figured it of her? She answered Tristan’s text when he announced he was done. He found her a half hour later. He sat down with a kiss and tired sigh as he started working at the tie he wore. He got to order a drink and dinner and believed her when she said she’d already had some. He ate with a relish she liked to watch. He enjoyed every bite as if it was a pleasurable gift. He had relaxed by the time he started on his second drink. He went on a long rant about some of the managers were being callous about the welders and fabricators who worked for Tamasy. How the welders and fabricators were the lifeblood of the company and half the corporate suits could learn a thing or two about work ethic from them.

It was nice, she thought, sitting back, listening to him. Being there with him.

“Bored yet?”

“With what?”

He leaned back in his chair. “Waiting around for me. Me in general. Come on, you saw what I do. It’s standing around talking, pretty much. Dull. Not exactly the fun you were having at college before you met me.”

She reached forward to touch her fingers to his. He rarely, oh so rarely, expressed such obvious insecurity with her. “I told you, I completely enjoy my company. I don’t need anyone else. There was tons to see and do, and come on… it’s a free vacation for me. Not many college juniors get that. And you don’t bore me, Tristan. You intimidate me, you make me unsure, unbalanced, un-everything. But dull? Never for a second.”

He sighed. “And the parties?”

She shook her head and said in a quiet voice, “Tristan, I’d much rather have sex with you than anyone else. It was just what I did before I met you. But I’m ready to have met you. I think I’m even kind of ready for a relationship.”

“Boyfriend, you mean?”

She smiled as she dropped her head. “Yeah, maybe.”

He grumbled, “How much longer am I going to have to beg for you to let me be your boyfriend?”

She put her hand out and stood up. “I already call you that. Let’s go use our hotel room.”

He nodded and threw some money out to cover the bill the waitress had left. They started down the street. An inner-city park was just outside the hotel. It had a large clock tower in the center and old trees provided a canopy over it. Little plaques commemorated Lewis & Clark’s expedition that passed through Vancouver in 1805.

As they were passing, there were dark spots in the lighting and a transient came up to them. He pushed a rusty grocery-cart piled high with miscellaneous stuff.  “Excuse me. Can you spare some change?”

Tristan pulled her closer even though he was already holding her hand. But she pushed off him and spun towards the man. He was older, with a graying beard and half bald. She reached into her pocket. “Here.” She pushed a twenty dollar bill towards him. It was all she had left of the thirty she’d shoved in her pocket to go to dinner.

“Thank you, ma’am.” He reached for it, with his gloves with holes in the fingers.

On impulse, she shrugged out of her coat. “You look cold. Here.”

He took it. Luckily she wore an oversized one that was unisex and black. He smiled at her, his teeth half missing and showing signs of either terrible hygiene or drug use. “It fits!” he exclaimed. It was like she’d given him a car.

“It does. You look good in it,” she said, smiling back.

He gave her a nod. “Most people don’t take a moment. You know, because I’m…”

“Remember most people are just scared. They don’t mean to be assholes.”

The man laughed. “Assholes! You’re a funny girl. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” She smiled at his smile. The entire time, Tristan stood stoic behind her. She felt him step toward her when the man had leaned in to take the money. But he didn’t interfere. The man started to shuffle off. She turned and found Tristan scowling at her.

“What?”

“Would you have done that if I wasn’t standing here?”

“Done what?”

“Given him all your money. He’ll probably go buy drugs or drink himself stupid, all on your dime.” The disdain was thick in Tristan’s tone.

She shrugged, her face puzzled in response. “I don’t know, I won’t ever know. Maybe he’ll take it and buy himself a decent meal and a hot cup of coffee.”

“More likely not. Why waste your money?”

She shook her head. “He needed it far more than I did, Tristan. Obviously. I have warm bed tonight and any kind of food I want, right?”

Tristan shrugged out of his coat. “And freezing your own ass off now,” he grumbled as he held it out to her. She refused it, crossing her arms over her chest, ignoring the goosebumps quickly rising as she strove to prove her point.

“Why do you care so much? It was my money. My coat. I don’t expect you to reimburse me or something.”

“I care because what if the whole thing was to mug you? You constantly talk to random strangers in the dark of city-streets. I don’t get it. It’s like you don’t know what can happen. Girls get attacked, Kylie. They get raped. Sometimes it’s like you don’t get what basic safety precautions are.”

“I know!” She suddenly whipped around to screech at him, then more calmly she said, “I know girls get raped.”

“But you don’t seem to get it can happen to you. You walk all around Marsdale at all hours of the night. I don’t understand your total and complete comfort in middle of city streets in the dead of night. And I think even if I wasn’t here you’d have done just what you did. What if one time these, these…these…”

“These what, Tristan? People? This man? This down on his luck and homeless man might rob me? And get what? My cell phone at the most. But even if he did, I think I figure, they really need it a lot more than I do. I just don’t think most are looking to hurt me. I think they are just people like you or I. You don’t know his story. Or what’s wrong. Maybe it’s drugs. Or he’s a drunk. Or a war veteran who can’t assimilate. Or maybe his entire family was killed one night and the grief drove him to the streets. I honestly don’t know. But to assume he’s a piece of shit looking to rob me? I just don’t think like that. And I don’t let fear stop me. It bugs you, not me, to walk in the city. I love cities. I love this one, and I love Marsdale. I don’t think I’ll ever move back to Calliston. It’s so nice there. So perfect and pristine in its small-town front. But me? I’m none of that. I like the dark and the secrets of the city. The bright spots and people and excitement. I won’t start fearing a homeless man asking for a little bit of kindness.”

“Or a handout.”

She sighed. “Or a handout. Whatever, he’s far worse off than you or I. I don’t get the disdain people feel for the homeless or runaways. I just don’t get it. You never know how they got there or why. And mental illness is rampant in the homeless population. Something they can’t help. I have sympathy, Tristan, not stupidity.”

He dropped his head. “Social services, right?”

“What?”

“Your major?”

“Yes.”

“This is what you’re going to do, isn’t it? Work with homeless or runaways or something.”

“I don’t know, but a little compassion and understanding and even just a conversation sometimes goes a lot farther than turning your back and nose up at someone in need.”

He shook his head. “You’re not going to stop, are you? You really don’t get scared out here at night. Here. Marsdale. You don’t mind it.”

“No. I don’t. I’m sorry if it bothers you, but it doesn’t me.”

“I just… I don’t want anything to ever happen to you.”

“But don’t you see, Tristan? Things can happen anywhere. You can’t control it. And I refuse to quit having a little bit of kindness towards another.”

He stepped forward and his arms wrapped around her. “I swear to God, you frustrate me, annoy me, and purposely drive me crazy…” He leaned back, his jaw locked, then shook his head. “And teach me, amaze me, educate me, and make me ashamed I’m not like you.”

“Funny. I often feel that same way about
you
.”

He shifted so his arm stayed around her but they could walk. “Let’s go before you catch cold or decide to save the entire homeless population of the city.”

Just before they drifted off to sleep, they were wrapped together, facing the sliding door of their hotel room. They’d left the drapes open so they could look out over the lights of the bridge and distant Oregon coastline. It was quiet, just the hum of distant traffic and the occasion boom and toot of cargo ships coming up and down the Columbia River.