9. Río #2
“Oh my! Thank you so much!” The one in black jumps up and kisses my cheek. She doesn’t stop there, and peppers my face with more kisses, ending with my mouth. Around me, I hear people gathering.
“Ladies,” Hayden walks up to us and clasps my hand. People swirl behind her.
See, Hayden? I didn’t do anything and a group is surrounding me.
She pitches her voice lower. “We need to leave. Now.”
“Lead the way.” I pat myself on the back for being so agreeable. My babysitter, however, is finding it difficult to scoot out. Especially when a piercing “Untamed Coaster!” ricochets throughout the eatery.
My babysitter tugs me toward a side door and I take a couple of steps before three ladies block my exit and break my connection with Hayden. Shit. I’m gonna have to stop this before things spiral.
“Hello, everyone!” I do a three-sixty. “How are you all doing?”
Various forms of great and awesome bounce around me. A chick wearing a crop top over tight jeans puts her head on my shoulder. “Te amo,” she says.
“Sorry. I don’t speak Spanish, but you’re pretty hot.”
Someone translates for her and long eyelashes bat up at me. “Want to fuck?”
No translation needed. Usually I would be down for such blatant seduction, but not today. My mind’s firmly set on spending more time with my interesting babysitter. Who is standing by the door, hands on her cheeks.
My eyes widen, and I give her the universal “Need Help Here” signal. She comes up to the group around me. I’m ready to point out that I didn’t invite them. More like her need for an Instagram photo did. This isn’t the right time, though.
“Río!” All eyes swing to the strawberry blonde wielding the camera. “We have to make our next press appointment. Sorry, folks.”
Words are spoken in Spanish, presumably translating what Hayden said. The brazen chick leans close to my ear. “Later, alright.” She slips something into my pocket, probably her key.
“See you then,” I reply to her. I have no intention of taking her up on her offer, but I’ve learned the best way to divert attention is to be agreeable.
“Everyone, gather around Río! Let me take a photo for Untamed Coaster’s social media.” Looks like Hayden has another idea.
We all return to the Instagram wall, where Hayden snaps several photos. Even the restaurant’s owners get into the act. After a while, I’m waving goodbye to my new friends, happy to have escaped with only the key and down two tickets at Will Call.
I fall into step next to my babysitter. “I forgot how well-known you are.”
“Easy to do,” I reply.
“That came out wrong. I know you’re a member of UC. It’s just you’re more of a regular guy to me.”
Her words worm their way into my heart. I’m many things to many people, but “regular” isn’t an adjective I hear often. It bounces around in my mind for a minute. I sort of like it.
“If by ‘regular,’ you mean someone you could see going to the grocery store or the movies with, I’ll take it.”
“Do you?”
I turn my head, and look at her. “I haven’t been to a proper grocery store in years,” I admit. “Not due to fame, though. More like I hate shopping. I have gone into the movies. They can be a great escape.”
“Nice to know, sort of regular guy.”
I hug her to my side. “Accepted.”
She disengages from me and we enjoy the quiet streets of Barcelona in this area. After walking for a while, we come upon an open plaza, surrounded by hotels and restaurants. People are eating and drinking and having a good time. “What I wouldn’t do for a Gold Rush right now.”
“You’ve mentioned this several times. Exactly what is a Gold Rush?”
“Only the best drink ever invented. It’s pretty simple with bourbon, lemon juice, and—wait for it—honey.”
She works out what I’ve told her. “So it’s lighter fluid with some sugar.”
I toss my head back and laugh. “No, smartass. It’s delicious. I can order you one so you can try it.”
“And finish it for me if I don’t? No, thank you.”
Damn. My babysitter’s smart as well as snarky.
A busker sets up over to one side, putting out plastic pails and retrieving drumsticks from his back pocket. “Hey, this guy’s probably pretty good. Let’s go check him out.”
She looks around the crowd. “I don’t think we should.”
The busker starts tapping out a beat, and I’m entranced. It’s always great watching other performers, especially on the drums. While I also play guitar, the keyboards, and can sing, the drums always have been my first love. This guy sounds like he’s the real deal.
“Why not? He’s probably as good as the drummer from centuries ago surrounded by the villagers.” I lean into her ear. “Afraid you’ll drag me off to some corner and have your wicked way with me?”
“Río! I take it back! There’s nothing regular about you.”
Despite her protests, she grabs my offered hand and follows me to the outskirts of the drummer’s circle. His beat is catchy, and the way he throws his entire body into his performance is rad. I, like everyone else around him, bounce to the beat.
Some of the people start dancing. I remain bouncing in place, admiring the busker’s talent on the buckets. His head swings in time with his beat. I look at Hayden, who’s studying me.
I mouth, “What?”
“Want to join him?”
I shake my head. This is his time to shine.
She returns her attention to the busker.
I nod toward the others who are dancing and tip my chin in invitation.
Hayden worries her bottom lip, then begins bouncing to the beat.
Soon, she’s full-on dancing. I divide my attention between the drummer and my babysitter, undecided as to who is having more fun.
Something tells me letting loose like this isn’t her usual MO.
The next thing I know, she strips off her cardigan and tosses it at me. Guess she’s not cold anymore. Newly freed, she joins a group of ladies and dances with abandon, all the while keeping perfect time with the busker.
When my attention is turned to the drummer, two large guys rush the ladies. I swing around and catch limbs and bodies flying through the air. One of the women laughs and smacks a guy on the shoulder. Guess they’re all friends.
Hayden, though, is on her knees. Oh shit. I rush over to her, my hand landing on her elbow. “Are you alright?”
“Yeah. I think so. Just got the breath knocked out of me.”
“Here, let me help you up.”
I bring her back to standing, and run my finger over her body to confirm she’s not hurt. While the rest of her appears relatively unscathed, her dress now sports a large tear, which I point out.
“Oh no!” She pulls up the bottom of her dress, exposing her shapely legs. Which would look very nice wrapped around my waist. “This isn’t fixable.”
Remembering what Nese said in the store, I recognize finances are tight for her. Still, her dress is kinda ruined. I pass her the cardigan, which she puts on, but it doesn’t cover the rip. She needs a new dress. Pronto.
Her money issues don’t have to prevent me from getting her the dress. But I need to do one thing before we leave. “Wait here.” I hightail it over to the busker’s empty hat and put one-hundred American dollars into it. I hope he uses it well. With a nod to the street performer, I return to Hayden.
“Come on, we have to get you fixed up.”
She takes a few steps. “I have other clothes at the hotel. Sorry to cut your time in Barcelona short.”
“We’re not going all the way back to the hotel.”
We retrace our path to the shop Nese took us to. “This isn’t the hotel.”
“Ding! Ding! Give the babysitter a prize.” I open the door and practically have to shove her through it. A salesclerk rushes over to me. “There was a dress left in the dressing room before. It was white and gold, with a halter top.”
“Oh yes.” She walks toward the racks and pulls it out. “This one?”
Hayden’s face lights up, then she looks down to the ground. “No.” She lowers her head. “I can’t afford it.”
My finger tugs her chin upward. “I can.”