A Tale of Two Carnies

30 - An Unpleasant Intrusion

We had spent most of that day with the rental agent and closing the deal on the trailer. While in the area, I made a dry run to the office of my new employer to make sure I knew how to get there Monday morning. I also drove us around the town to familiarize ourselves with the location of grocery stores and other outlets. By the time we returned to the Dancing Bear, the sun had gone down.

After walking into our room, and as soon as I closed the door, Cozbi embraced me. "Thank you for being so patient with me. I hope you don't hate me."

"Hate you? I could never hate you, Cozbi. You're my little carnie princess."

She kissed my cheek. With a twinkle in her eye, she said, "Let's celebrate our new trailer!" She pulled open a dresser drawer where she kept her clothes.

Technically, it wasn't our trailer. It was my trailer, but I let it slide. "What do you have in mind?"

"I'm not completely broke. I do have a little money. Enough to buy us dinner downstairs. My treat?" She spun around to face me holding one of her carnival gypsy dresses to her chest. "You once told me you liked seeing me in this one."

I did. The fiery red number showed a lot of cleavage and hugged her curves. Except in her current emaciated state, she no longer had curves. "Maybe you should save that one for a different occasion. If you wear that here, it will draw a lot of unwanted attention."

She grew more thoughtful. "Yeah, you're right." She folded the dress and put it back into the drawer. "My pile of dirty laundry is adding up. I'm running out of things."

"Tomorrow is Saturday. Raya will take care of our laundry."

She looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "Raya?"

"Trevor and Jill's daughter. You'll meet her. She's a precocious middle schooler who will no doubt want to charge me double for adding your things."

Cozbi pulled a V-neck sweater from the drawer. "I can wear this with my jeans."

"Yeah, go with that." The ivory color accented her raven hair, dark eyes, and olive complexion.

My selection of dressier clothes was also running low. I chose a pullover charcoal-colored shirt.

We walked downstairs to the dining room which was filling up. Cozbi led the way and picked a table in the corner. I held her chair for her like a proper gentleman. She smiled and thanked me.

When the server asked what we wanted to drink, I really could've used a beer. Since Cozbi was still underage I didn't want her to feel left out. I went with a ginger ale. Cozbi stuck with water.

Jill happened to walk by and saw us. She smiled and approached. "The two of you make a nice couple."

Yeah, if only. Obviously, she still assumed we were together. We both thanked her.

"Are you staying for the dance? The country band we hired for tonight is a local favorite."

I exchanged glances with Cozbi and said, "We're not sure. If we do, don't worry. I know not to order alcohol."

She winked at me and walked away.

Focusing on Cozbi, I asked, "What do you think? You want to stay for the entertainment?"

She shook her head. "I told you I want to sketch the people while sitting on the landing outside our room."

In a way, I was happy about her decision. Staying for the dance would be too much like a romantic date instead of two friends having dinner, and I was trying to deaden my unrequited feelings.