Unexpectedly, Milo - Matthew Dicks [90]
“Hello,” Milo answered, instantly wishing he had answered less formally. When the newcomer failed to respond or question his presence in the break room, Milo realized that the man had probably assumed he was just another employee. With a hotel this size, it was unlikely all the employees would know one another.
“What’s that?” the man asked, slamming his locker shut and pointing at the television screen. He looked to be in his mid-thirties, wrapped in thick cords of muscle around his arms and neck. His face lacked any discernible emotion, and his eyes, brown and topped with a mass of bushy eyebrows, seemed to be trapped in a perpetual squint, as if someone were holding a flashlight to his face at all times.
“Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” Milo said, wondering if he should pause the film to respond. He didn’t want to miss too much while conversing with this man, but he worried that pausing the film might invite additional conversation. After waiting a moment for him to respond, Milo added, “It’s a classic.”
The man said nothing.
Milo turned back toward the television and tried to refocus on the film, but, unsure of what the stranger was doing behind him, he found it difficult. No sound of the door opening or closing. No shuffling of footfalls. No scrape of bench against tile floor. Just silence, as if the man were standing directly behind Milo, eyes fixed on the television screen, or on him.
Milo was ready to turn and check on the man’s position again when the overhead lights switched off and the man plopped down on the bench beside him. At this proximity, Milo could smell the aroma of bleach and sweat.
“Is it any good?” the man asked.
“What? The movie?”
“Yeah. The movie. Is it any good?”
“Yeah, it is,” Milo said. “One of my favorites.”
“Cool.”
Assuming that the man was finished speaking, Milo returned his attention to the television. Though he would prefer to watch alone, he couldn’t envision any means of extricating this large man from the break room, so he tried to make the best of an awkward situation. At least the guy had thought to shut off the lights. He had to admit that it made for a much better viewing experience.
The two men had been watching together for about ten minutes (Milo had just begun to forget about the man sitting beside him and get absorbed in the film) when the door to the break room opened again and the lights came on.
It was Lily.
“Hi. How’s the movie?”
“It’s good,” Milo said, turning on the bench to face her. “The same as always, but good.”
“I know this sounds weird, but I just got off my shift and I was wondering, if you’re still watching the movie, would you mind if I joined you?”
“Hey. Pause it,” the man said, pointing at the remote control in Milo’s hand.
“Sorry.” Milo fumbled for the pause button, finally managing to freeze the action on screen.
“I see you met Eugene,” Lily said with a smile.
“We sort of skipped the introductions,” Milo said.
“Hey, don’t start the movie yet. Let me use the can. Okay?”
“No problem,” Milo assured Eugene as he left the room.
Lily waited for the door to close before speaking. “Sorry about Eugene. He works nights and usually goes home right after work. I didn’t think he’d stay and watch.”
“It’s no problem. I don’t mind.”
“So do you mind if I watch? I was going to ask you down in the lobby if you wanted some company, but I didn’t want to sound crazy or make you think that I was coming on to you. You’re married, I know. I saw the ring. But I’ve got to meet my mother at the hair salon around ten, so I thought I might watch the rest of Butch and Sundance with you, if you’re still watching. And if you don’t mind.”
Lily had changed out of her maroon jacket and matching slacks and was now wearing a pink T-shirt, a pair of blue jeans, and sneakers. Her auburn hair was now down, falling over her shoulders, and the makeup that Milo hadn’t noticed before was gone. For the first time, Milo noticed her green eyes