Page 66 of Collin: Episodes 7-9
“Upstairs, the attic. That’s where Alice will sleep.”
“And you?”
“I’m with you, sir. And you are not sleeping here, not with an allergy.”
Mr. Reevesworth nodded. “I’ll do the hallway and work my way up the stairs.”
Collin went back to the tub.
He was drenched in sweat by the time he’d gotten through the worst of the bathroom and finished with the refrigerator. He eyed the kitchen floors, not sure if they would survive a thorough mopping. The linoleum was so worn away he could see the particle board in some places. He did the best he dared with paper towels and cleaning spray. There was so much dust everywhere. He went down and checked the air system. The filter was completely covered beyond recognition. He should have bought a new one.
But he was in luck. The pack of filters he’d bought last year still had two left, meaning no one had changed them since he had done it last. He popped in a new one and turned on the house system. That would start to help clear out the cleaning smells and kicked-up pollution.
The front door flew open as Collin finished putting the unused filter away in the hall closet.
“Collin!” Alice sprinted down the hall, reaching Collin in a flying tackle before the front door had even swung closed. “You’re here!”
“Careful, I’m dirty!”
“Oh, you are. And you’re wearing things! Like a hazmat suit.”
Collin pushed her back and pulled off the goggles. “I’m supposed to be careful with my eyes for a little longer.”
Alice leaned forward on her toes and peered up into his face. “Hmm. They look okay, a little irritated, but like old irritated. Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be careful. Tea tree oil is not supposed to get into your peepers.”
Collin grinned. “I absolutely do not recommend. Do you have luggage?”
“It’s in the living room. Which looks really good, by the way. How long have you been here?”
“Couple of hours. Mr. Reevesworth is helping me. I should introduce you.”
“I’m here, Collin.” Mr. Reevesworth was descending the stairs.
“Uh, sir, this is Alice. Alice, this is my sir, I mean, my Mr. Reevesworth.”
Alice’s smile widened. “Oh! Oh… So that’s how it is. No wonder Mom flipped her shit.”
Collin flushed. “Alice!”
Alice leaned into Collin’s shoulder and poked his cheek. “Don’t worry, brother dear. I wasn’t born yesterday. Do you have a safe word?”
“Alice!” Collin went to slap a hand over his sister’s mouth but had to stop. Gloves, dirty! “You can’t just say things like that!”
“Hmm…so my sister can know about my proclivities but not yours?” Mr. Reevesworth smirked.
Collin dropped his hands. “Linda is…not my little sister.”
“Collin, bro”—Alice hugged him around the waist and shook him—“you bought me my first set of condoms before Mom was willing to admit I might want sex. Since when do we not talk about this stuff?”
“Okay, fine. You want details, have details. I’m having wild kinky sex with three men.”
“Ohhhh, go you, Collin. I told you you were attractive!”
Collin rolled his eyes and shook his head. “You’re shameless.”
“If I was shameless, I’d ask for a list of kinks and how they felt.” Alice giggled. “But you need your partner’s consent to talk about that stuff, well, most of the time. Anyway, good to meet you, Mr. Reevesworth. Normally, I wouldn’t call Collin’s boyfriends by their last names, but you’re like…twice my age, so, I’ll call you what you like, within reason.”
“Mr. Reevesworth is fine. Thank you for asking. You seem remarkably informed.”
