Chapter 30. Chasing Skirts
“I can’t even imagine how simple life would be without women. And how nonexistent.”
– Kody’s Notebook
“This place is way too wild west-y for me. Ready to find my brother and get the hell outta here?” Alma said as she and Kody sat in their room discussing strategy.
He tried to stop his leg from shaking, but the more he tried to control it, the worse it got. He looked up, met by eager eyes. “Yeah. Let’s go.”
They headed outside and began walking the streets, devising a plan. Kody recommended bribing people for information, but he couldn’t come up with much of a lead on where to start, or where to get the money. Alma suggested bars as a good starting point for both, but changed her mind, considering early afternoon wasn’t the best time of day for what she had in mind.
The two continued down the road, discussing where Adelais went, whether Lorena had completely lost it, and if Thomas Dutton would ever make a sequel to Razia’s Shadow. Walking around, Alma recalled how this was her first real trip to Mexico, briefly visiting Lorena with her mother in the past not counting for much.
“You know, Kodykins, if you think about it, this is the closest any of us ever got to getting that road trip vacation we wanted. Told you we should’ve come to Mexico.”
“Just wish we could’ve ended up somewhere else. Before I found Lorena, I got stuck in a pretty nice town, a city. It was peaceful, lots to see and do. No one tried to shoot me. You would’ve liked it.”
“Maybe we can stop by on the way back.” Alma nudged him.
“Tell me you’re not planning another road trip.”
He rubbed the back of his head, moseying down the street alongside her. Though he was still dripping with sweat, the desert heat didn’t seem as bad.
“Not saying I am, but it is a long drive back. Gonna have to make a few stops anyway… so why not?”
Kody mulled it over as they walked. Months since he’d been home or even back in his home country. The thought of seeing his family again, sleeping in his bed, being safe… he grinned. As they continued down the road, they came upon a small festival in the center of town. Several guitars accompanied an assortment of drums as girls in brightly colored dresses danced around to the music. Alma gasped, and he looked over to see her face light up. She looked to him pleadingly.
“Aren’t we supposed to be looking for your brother?” he asked.
“Jake’s fine. Or not. Whatever. He’ll okay for a little bit. I wanna go dance! And you owe me this. I never got to go to the festival you promised me before.” She stared into his eyes, eager and waiting. He smiled. She shook her head, singing, “let’s go already,” doing her best Bender impression.
Kody took Alma by the hand and led her up to the crowd. They watched, catching the scent of grilled chicken as a young man nearby bit into a seasoned empañada. A violin joined the medley of instruments as an older woman began clacking the heels of her shoes against an improvised stage. The woman danced with an older gentleman, taking the stage and putting on a show for the people. Alma grabbed Kody’s arm and dragged him through the crowd, joining in.
They moved to the music, enjoying the atmosphere of the festival in the heat of the sweltering sun. Coated in a sheen of sweat, Alma shined as she danced. After a good fifteen minutes of struggling to keep up, Kody snuck his way out of the crowd, taking a breather and grabbing an empañada while watching Alma dance. Having finished his, he went back to grab more empañadas, coming across a small stand selling trinkets.
Among the various things for sale, a brightly colored floral ribbon caught his eye. He picked it up, along with the food, and returned to wait for Alma. He watched her, much like a lead actress so lost in her craft she’d forgotten she was on a stage, until she finally left the crowd some time later, making her way back to him.
“Those for me?” she asked.
“Yeah.” He nodded, coming out of his daydream-like haze. “Figured you might be hungry. Gotta be by now.”
“Good call.”
She took the empañadas, brushing wild split ends out of her face while she ate. As she scarfed the food down, Kody stepped behind her, pulling her hair back and tying it up with the ribbon he’d bought for her.
“Why, Mr. Lehane, if I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re sweet on me.”
“Like you said—I owed you this.” He stepped back around.
“Thanks.” Alma pressed her greasy, empañada-stained lips against his cheek. “I’m grateful, but don’t get the wrong idea. This was about me getting to have my day—that’s all. I got no use for a provisional boyfriend.”
“Let’s go find your brother.”
Alma nodded. “Break first though. I’m all kinds of sticky.”
Alma chuckled as she wiped the sweat off her forehead. Kody led the way as they returned to the inn. They made their way into their sauna of a room, Kody flinging his shirt aside the minute he passed through the door. He dropped himself onto the bed, Alma following suit closely after, tossing her shirt off and collapsing next to him.
“How have you made it this long with this heat? It’s freakin’ ridiculous,” Alma asked.
“Dunno. Mostly keep myself busy and try not to think about it.”
Kody rolled his head to the side, catching sight of Alma. His eyes followed the trail of curves down her sweaty body to the hem of skirt and slowly back up.
“Thinking of ways to take our minds off the heat?” she teased him.
“Don’t think that’ll help with the heat.”
“Don’t think the heat is what you’re worried about.” She slid her hand along his pants until she felt his bulge. “Might need to rethink your privileges. Seems to me I’m the one getting shafted here. Or should be, anyway.” She chuckled as she gave a gentle squeeze. The strawberry brunette leaned toward him, her breath hot on his cheek. She drew his face close with her free hand, her tongue inviting itself past his lips. Returning the gesture, he slid his arm along her waistline, well aware of its next destination.
“Good boy,” she whispered as she undid his pants.
Their lips apart, he broke free of her for only a moment. He mustered the only thing he could think of as he pulled away. “Uh, maybe you should shower first.”
She stared at him, cocking an eyebrow. “Seriously?”
Kody rolled onto his back, resting his hand on hers for a moment before reluctantly plucking Alma’s hand from his crotch. She sat up for a moment, looking down at herself, and then to him. She shrugged, and headed to the bathroom. On her way over, she dropped her skirt before disappearing behind the door.
“Damn…” Kody stepped outside the room, slowly pacing back and forth in the hallway. He eventually found himself in the lobby, seated with his head laid on the back of the chair taking deep breaths. “I dunno how much longer I can keep this up,” he muttered to himself.
“Hey man, you got a couple a rooms? I’m thinkin’ three-ish. Got me, a fine chickarita, and two weird-ass dudes who apparently like burnin’ themselves.”
Kody lifted his head, convinced he recognized a voice he knew couldn’t be there. Turning around, he saw a brownish fella with a boyish man beard.
“G?” he exclaimed.
“Kod-man? Huh, that didn’t take long.”
Kody stood as Geroge walked around the chair to greet him, the two exchanging a solid bromance hug. Geroge took a step back, waving away Kody’s sweaty stench as he took a close look at the boy.
“G, how’re you—” Kody noticed G eyeing him suspiciously. “Don’t recognize me? It has been a while. Got ju—st a bit of muscle now.”
“Uh, no. That ain’t it.”
Geroge leaned in and brushed off the side of Kody’s face, knocking off pieces of greasy empañada lips. Geroge cocked an eyebrow, causing Kody to pull back.
“Dude, I’m not sayin’ you’re a whore, but uh…I don’t really know how to finish that.” Geroge cast a glance over his shoulder. “Incoming!”
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He pulled Kody close, cleaning off his face and spinning him around in time to see a man walk into the inn sporting a nasty burn on his face. Behind him came Cris, followed by someone who looked remarkably like Glenn. Geroge patted Kody on the back, reminding his boy to breathe.
“Where the hell did he go?” the man he assumed to be Jake asked.
“Over here, man,” Geroge responded.
They all turned. Glenn, sporting a similar burn, adjusted his scratched-up glasses while Cris paused, wide-eyed, before running up and snatching Kody away from Geroge. She held him close, squeezing him until air was no longer a commodity of his lungs. Kody hesitantly returned the embrace, inhaling the light scent of cherry that seemed to surround her. He let go as Cris pulled herself away long enough to look him over, refusing to take her eyes off him.
Seeing past Cris’s shoulder, Kody couldn’t prevent the stupefied expression that must’ve covered his face as he made eye contact with Glenn. The stoic philosopher said nothing, nodding and shifting his focus to a door opening nearby. Alma came into the lobby, still adjusting her skirt as she walked.
“All right, Kodykins, no more bullshit. I’m all showered off so let’s get this thing—” Alma looked up, seeing everyone—Cris—standing in the lobby. She sighed as she rubbed her forehead. “Karma’d,” she muttered to herself as she wandered back into her room, slamming the door.