Chapter 24

It was all very covert and unsettling. I didn’t get it. What was Larry doing? Were Max’s friends sort of laughing at me? My clothes? That Max touched me or I touched him so often? What was going on?

Even more unsettling was every time I went to the restroom at the cafe. Junior would follow me into the bathroom and wash his hands while I did my business and cleaned up. He never said a word, but left after I did.

“What’s going on with Junior?” I asked Max.

He looked at me and shrugged. “What do you mean?”

“He follows me into the john,” I said. “Doesn’t talk, just hangs around. Then leaves when I do. Is he trying to scope me out or something?”

Max looked off toward where Lorraine and Junior were talking. Again he shrugged. “Maybe he thinks you shouldn’t be alone in the bathroom,” he finally said.