Faithful Shadow Read Online Free PDF Page A

condoms, chocolate bars, and Pez. Stew opened the first Pez dispenser and went to town, one rectangular candy piece after the other, flipping them into his mouth like a pro. He and Marco walked over to the grand fireplace dead center in the lobby and took a seat, waiting impatiently for Gretchen, the bitchiest manager in the park, to finish up with the fireman. Stew hated women like Gretchen. The kind that dress up nice, stand straight, follow the rules because it’s their job. But he could see the person behind those eyes, the woman she wanted to be, but wouldn’t unleash. Gretchen was only twenty-five, three years older than he was. But until she learned how to kick back and let loose, she’d remain a bitch in his eyes.
    “What’s the deal with Kelly?” Marco asked, thinking back to how nice she looked in her uniform and how much nicer she’d look skinny-dipping in the hot-pots. “Wish she’d come with, man.”
    “Give it up, she’s Richard’s chick and that boy is hella cool.” Stew saw Gretchen and the fireman heading down the hall toward the rooms. “Okay, let’s go.”
    Stew and Marco rushed across the wide open lobby to the front desk. Rowena looked up as Marco bumped into the counter, knocking a jar of pins onto her book. She picked them up and cocked an eyebrow.
    “Hey, what are you and Janice doing tonight?” Stew asked.
    “Janice and I are heading out to join you guys at the hot-pots. That’s still on, isn’t it?” Rowena lowered her head, letting her thick glasses slide down her nose a bit. She called this her “questioning glance.”
    “Janice is coming?” Marco clasped his hands together. “You’re damn straight we’re still on.”
    “Easy boy.” Rowena raised an eyebrow. “You’re not going to bug the hell out of us, are you?”
    “No, promise.” Marco raised his hand in a Boy Scout promise of three fingers.
    “Okay, we’ll see you there then.” Rowena smiled, returning to her book as they walked off.
    “You’re going tonight too?” Doug asked, walking up from behind her as he always did.
    Rowena had often thought that for such a fat man he sure was silent on his feet. “Yeah, Janice and I are heading out after work.” Rowena didn’t want to go on, but she knew Doug wasn’t going to leave her alone. “So, you’re going to the hot-pots?”
    “Well, I’m not getting in or nothing. I’ll just hang out and drink some beers.” Doug could tell she was losing interest, sad to see her turning back to her book. He knew he couldn’t compete with the guys here when it came to physical appearance and he wasn’t rich. But he did have one thing that was in short supply. “If you want, I could give you a ride out there. I’d be happy to do it.” Doug hated his piece of shit car beyond belief, but he loved it now for perhaps the first time since it had been given to him by his father.
    “I really appreciate the offer, but I have a truck. Janice and I are riding out together.” Rowena never looked up from her book.
    “Oh. That’s cool.” Doug took a subconscious step back, sensing the tension. He lingered a moment longer, watching her read her book without looking up to acknowledge his presence. He wanted so badly to reach out and move a strand of hair from her vision, just a small touch. “Well, I’ll see you there then.”
    “Cool.”
    Doug nodded and crossed the lobby to the restaurant’s entrance, standing just inside the door. Work had become more of a joke really, just standing there in the restaurant’s entrance like some kind of guard, only he was guarding an empty restaurant. They’d only had three guests in the restaurant for breakfast and that was one more than they had yesterday. Doug wondered how many guests were left. Yesterday he’d overheard Rowena speaking with Gretchen, telling her they had six more cancellations and three early checkouts. As far as he could tell, the entire first floor was vacant, probably the second floor as well. Didn’t