Merle

As soon as I heard him say that someone was looking for me, I thought of Leo. He was my ex before I left to come here and I wasn’t going to say that I was running from him, but I was certainly happy to put some distance in between us. He was the type that didn’t want to let things go. I was one of those things apparently.

The initial shock wore off and then I was able to see that Charlie was not too happy about it either. He made sure to say that it was a man looking for me and I didn’t want to tell him who I thought it was because then that look would get longer.

“Okay, well I guess I got to go down there. It’s not like this place is a quick run for anyone that I know so it must be important.”

I wanted to leave it ambiguous and I hoped that I was instead of just seeming suspicious. I didn’t want him to ask too many questions, but Charlie wanted to know who it was.

“I don’t know Charlie. Did they leave a name?”

He gave me this dirty look and I didn’t know what to say to him. I didn’t want to tell him that I thought it was my ex, not when what was happening between us seemed so fragile because of the newness of it all.

“Nope, just wanted to see you and said that he had come from a long way and was in a rush.”

I didn’t know why someone would come all the way up to Nome in the first place, let alone why they would be in a rush. It wasn’t the sort of place one goes in a hurry.

“Well I need to get dressed. Can you give me a ride? If you have something that you need to do, I can walk over.”

“I’m not going to let you walk over Merle. You still aren’t used to the temperature here.”

“No, I’m not. Thank you. Sorry that we aren’t on our way to getting some gold and making some money.”

“That was the last thing on my mind.”

I shouldn’t have asked, knew I shouldn’t have, but I did anyway because I am hard headed like that.

“What was on your mind then Charlie?”

“Being inside of you again Merle. That’s what I’m thinking about.”

A shiver went through me and I swear if I would have checked, I would have been wet. I was programmed now to respond to the slightest hint from him and when it was so clear and in my face, the reaction was a lot stronger.

“We don’t have to go right now. I mean, what can be the rush that is that important? They can’t go anywhere till morning anyways.”

“I think we better go or there is going to be someone knocking on my door soon looking for you. They know that you work for me.”

“That will make it easier…”

I stopped because I really wasn’t thinking things through. I was so worried about getting him back inside of me and above me, that I wasn’t thinking about what was going to happen if Leo came here and saw Charlie. I didn’t want to think about how that would have turned out. Maybe I did need to walk over. I suggested it, but Charlie was adamant that he was going to help me, even though I had a feeling that he didn’t want to. He was acting strange as I got dressed and the sexual banter was gone between us.

“So you really don’t know who it is that would come all the way up here to see you? You weren’t expecting anyone?”

I shook my head that I wasn’t and I wanted to ask him to drop it. Whoever it was that was there obviously had something important to say, though if it was Leo, I don’t know what he would have to say. I thought we had said it all when we broke up and he got mad and I let him scream at me for a while to get it all out.

“No I wasn’t expecting anyone. I was just supposed to be here the summer to make tuition and then I was going to go back home and start the semester. It was last minute to finally get the green light to come up here, so I didn’t tell too many people that I was coming here to begin with. I really don’t know who it could be, not really.”

I was going to leave it at that and I went outside to wait for him to grab the keys. I didn’t want to lie to him, but I wasn’t able to answer his questions, no matter how legitimate they were. I had a lot going on and I didn’t want him to be mad at me if it was Leo and I told him that it was someone else. I also didn’t want to mention Leo if it wasn’t him. I just wanted to shut my mouth until we got there.

The ride was silent and I would have done anything to get him to talk to me like he had before. I had thought that it may be awkward after us having sex and I was worried about that, I hadn’t figured that an unknown visitor way up here was going to be what made it weird between us.

He stopped in front of Molly’s and I looked for a car with out of state license plates, but all I saw was a rental car which told me nothing. My anticipation was high as I got out of the car and made my way towards the store and restaurant in front of me.