“Yes?”
“Isn’t the mall closed now?”
“Yes.”
“So you’re off duty?”
“I got off about fifteen minutes ago.”
And I got off about two minutes ago, I thought to myself, and grinned.
“You obviously can’t go home either, so what are you about to do?”
“The food court in the mall is closed as well so I was just going to get something from the hotel restaurant and then chill out in the security office.”
I don’t know what came over me but I wanted to know more about Victor. More than that, I wanted to fuck him.
“Victor, I haven’t eaten either but the restaurant is crowded. I was down there earlier. Why don’t you come up to my room and we can order room service.”
“Uh, uh, sure,” he said hastily. “That would be nice but…are you sure?”
“Absolutely. I’m in Room 1218. Give me about ten minutes and come on up.”
“Um, okay.”
We hung up and I put my clothes back on, replaced the towel in the bathroom, and made the bed. I was refreshing my makeup when a knock came at the door.
“Come in, Victor,” I said after opening the door and stepping aside. He looked like the cat that had just swallowed the canary. “I guess the last thing you expected was for me to invite you up.”
“Yes, that was definitely the last thing I expected, but I appreciate it. I’m not too keen about hanging out with the other security guards when we’re not working and I hate eating alone.”
“Me, too,” I said. “Have a seat and I’ll get the room service menu out.”
He eyed the bed but decided to sit at the desk chair instead. “So have you called your man to let him know you’re stranded and won’t be home?”
I laughed. His fishing around for information wasn’t exactly subtle.
“I don’t have a man. I’m always working.” I sat on the edge of the bed, about two feet from where he was sitting. “What about you? Have you called your woman?”
“I got divorced a few months ago,” he replied. “She wasn’t the one, after all.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” I glanced over the menu.
“It’s for the best. The only thing I regret is not being able to see my kids every day.”
“How many and how old?” I asked, thinking, “Baggage time.”
“I have two girls, ages three and seven.”
“That’s cool.” I handed him the menu. “I already know what I want.”
“What’s that?”
I started to say “the dick” but instead said, “I’m going for the chicken noodle soup and turkey club on wheat.”
“Sounds good. I’ll take the same.”
“I’ll call it in,” I said. “Hey, want to share a dessert? Something like the key lime pie? I know I can’t eat the whole thing.”