Strong Enough

“A Russian person.”

I frowned. “Ellen, what the hell? Is this another one of your friends from circus school?”

“I told you, it’s not circus school. It’s aerial arts class. And anyway, no, he’s not from there. He was a customer whose bag was stolen while he was sitting at the bar tonight.”

“His bag?”

“Like his carry-on bag. He’d literally just gotten off the plane from Moscow a few hours earlier. And the friend who was supposed to pick him up at the airport didn’t show.”

“How’d he end up at the bar?”

“He got in a cab and told the driver to take him someplace downtown. The driver brought him here. It was fate!”

I ignored that. Ellen was always droning on about fate and stars and mystical crap. “And then his bag was stolen?”

“Yes. Right under everyone’s noses while he was sitting at the bar. And no one saw a thing.”

“Yeah, those guys are good. Probably saw him get out of a cab with a bag and pegged him as a tourist. Easy mark. You call the police?”

“Yes. They came and made a report, but they don’t think they’ll find it. And the poor guy was so nice about it. But now he’s stranded here with nothing because someone at my bar stole everything he had. I feel responsible! I have to help him!”

I rolled my eyes. Ellen never saw a stray puppy or wounded bird or kitten up a tree she didn’t want to rescue. She’d been like that all her life. I didn’t fault her for having a big heart, but she had so much going on and so many roommates, somehow I always ended up with random animals at my house until she figured out where to take them.

“First of all, El, it’s not your fault. It could have happened anywhere.”

“But it didn’t. It happened right here.”

I ignored her stubborn tone. “Second, why is he your responsibility? Where’s his friend?”

“He doesn’t know.”

“Can’t he call him?”

“His phone is dead.”

“So charge it.” For fuck’s sake. My sister was thirty. Why did it feel like I was talking to a first grader?

“He forgot his charger in Moscow. And I can’t find one here.”

“Oh, Jesus.” I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache coming on.

“Please, Derek. It’s only for one night. And you have an extra bedroom and bathroom at your house.”

“What about your house?”

“Come on, I’ve got three roommates. And one of them has her brother visiting, so he’s taking up the couch. You live all alone in that nice big house.”

It probably wasn’t a dig at me, but it sort of felt like one.

“I bet that extra bedroom is all made up already, isn’t it?” Ellen went on. “Clean sheets on the bed, no dust on the furniture, no throw pillows out of place. I bet even the bathroom is sparkling clean and has big, fluffy towels all folded up and ready to go.”

“You know, making fun of me isn’t the best way to get what you want.”

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry. But it’s true, right?”

“It’s true,” I admitted through clenched teeth.

“Then can you please come get him and take him home for the night? Just one night, I promise.”