What We Seek

Part 5

Chapter Five

"Hey, Richie, we are close."

I felt the grogginess associated with lots of car sleep slip into my eyes as I opened them. I saw that we were in New York and that it was almost sunset. Eddie was reaching over to wake me up, his hand resting on my thigh. I was slightly peaked by his hand position before he drew it away, opting to talk to me instead.

"I am going to stop in by a hotel first so you can run in, use the bathroom, and change. I don't really care what you look like, but I kind of want to rub it in Myra's face that you are much more attractive to me than she is."

"Wow, Eddie Spaghetti, I didn't know you were so spiteful. I like the sass, little man."

His face showed pink, so I laughed a little. We had reached the hotel's parking, so he sent me in with a new change of clothes and shoes, as well as toothpaste and a hairbrush. I knew he was watching me walk away so I turned and him a wink before I went in.

Maybe that blush will stay with him until I get back. He's so cute. I want to make sure that I look good when I meet the wife, after all, the other woman is supposed to be super hot in Hollywood.

I changed into the clean jeans and flannel Eddie had chosen for me while I slept. I brushed my teeth, letting the sour and acidic taste get replaced with strong mint. My hair wouldn't change no matter how much I brushed it, so I simply left it as it was. I trashed my old clothes. Eddie had given me a pair of his sandals to wear instead, so I slipped those on only to discover my feet were way too big for them. I laughed at him trying to be sweet and generous, but I reminded myself I had my own shoes to wear in the car. I walked back out, thanking the bellhop who had given me directions to the hotel, and got into Eduardo's car.

"How do I look, Eds? Tasteful enough to meet your wife?"

He looked pleased with my appearance, laughing at my wiggling toes in his baby shoes.

"Minus the shoes, you're pretty fucking hot, Richie. I hope she doesn't get jealous of you."

"Woah, now, Eds! I didn't take you to be the nice but flirty type...I might have to remember that for a later date."

We had started on the road again, talking about different options on how to handle things if Myra went crazy. After about fifteen minutes, Eddie turned onto a side street with houses and a park. He pulled into the driveway of a white house with a light blue door. I saw a figure in the window for a second, but the shades were dropped suddenly.

"Alright, Richie, this is it. Remember, we don't tell her right away, we wait until she is done fluttering around me. Do not flirt or joke while she does so, okay? I love you."

"Yes sir, Mr. Kaspbrak. I love you too."

Then I realized that Eddie's mother's evil twin was coming out the door in a huge rush to get to Eddie. She yanked the door out of his hands and pulled him into a hug that basically engulfed him.

"EDDIE! I WAS SO WORRIED! WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR CHEEK!? WHY DIDN'T YOU CALL ME UNTIL TODAY?!"

I slipped out of the car unnoticed. I watched as she kissed him on the lips, my mind reaching to a little jealousy I didn't know it had. She finally turned and saw me, get a classic 'I am Richie and you're a fan who I hate' smile. She didn't look pleased with it, turning to Eddie.

"Who is this, Eddie-bear?"

"This is Richie Tozier, a friend of mine I was with when I was in Derry. His house was broken into while we were in Derry, so he needed a safe place to rest for a while. Is that okay, Myra?"
She looked me over in a way so similar to Eddie's deceased mother used to that I almost cringed. Almost. Instead she walked around to hug me. She talked in a way that was both sweet but unsettling.