One Step to You (The Rome Novels #1)(6)
Babi looked at him in disgust. “You really are a filthy beast.”
“You’re right. What I need is a nice hot shower because I’m all sticky. And that’s your fault. I’m going to find a bathroom, and then I’ll be right back. Don’t go away, all right?”
The music of Anthrax filled the living room, and many of the guests had stopped talking.
Roberta, worried, stopped in the doorway, gazing out appalled at her devastated living room.
“Excuse me, where’s the bathroom?”
Roberta pointed Step to it. “That way.”
Step thanked her and continued in the direction she’d pointed him.
Next Brandelli went over to Roberta. “Where’s the telephone?”
“That way.” Roberta pointed in a different direction, the opposite way from the bathroom. She felt like a cop trying to direct traffic, trying to manage the terrible outburst of chaos that was unfolding in her own living room. Unfortunately, she lacked the authority to write them tickets and kick them all out.
A few people, either smarter or more cowardly than the others, came over, planting kisses on her cheek. “Ciao, Roberta, happy birthday. We’re so sorry, but we’re going to have to leave, okay?”
“That way.” By now in a bit of a fugue state, Roberta pointed to the front door of the apartment. If it hadn’t been her home, in fact, Roberta would gladly have fled through the door herself.
Step entered the bathroom and pulled open the pebbled-glass door to the shower. He took off his T-shirt and started to rinse off with the shower spray.
Just then, Babi walked in, slamming the door behind her.
“So you just can’t resist. You’re compelled to follow me everywhere I go.”
“Do you mind having a word with your friends?” Babi asked. “They’re destroying my girlfriend’s apartment, and you started the whole thing—”
“Me? You were the one who threw a Coke in my face, weren’t you?”
“Okay, I was wrong to throw it.”
“Yeah, I know that you were wrong.”
Step took the shower spray in hand. “It’s too late now. The damage is done. This is all your fault. You should have kept your cool, and above all, you should have kept a handle on your hot temper…Sometimes the best thing in these cases is an ice-cold shower!”
And with those words, he turned on the spray and drenched her.
“You idiot!” Babi twisted and struggled, trying to avoid the water, but Step managed to grab her hand before she could run out of the room and made sure she got wet all over. “Let go of me!”
“Trust me, a shower does you a world of good. It can clear your mind. It improves your circulation, you get more blood to your brain, and that helps a person understand that they need to act nice to others…that they need to be nice and drink a glass of Coca-Cola, not throw it in someone’s face.”
Schello entered at that very moment.
“Come on, Step. Let’s go. Some guy called the police.”
“How do you know?”
“I caught the guy on the telephone. I heard him with my own ears.”
Step turned off the shower and let go of Babi’s hand. Babi, her hair hanging forward, drenched to the bone, said, “I hate you…”
Step looked at her with a smile. “Come on, no you don’t…I know you don’t. Anyway, you should dry off, otherwise you’ll catch your death.”
Babi lifted the long, wet hair that draped over her face. She uncovered her eyes. They were angry and determined.
Step acted afraid. “Uh-oh, pretend I didn’t say it. I understand, you wanted to take a shower with me, and now you’re mad because you had to take one alone. Maybe we can do it some other time.”
Step took a towel and gave it to Babi, who threw it at him.
Step laughed. “What manners…you’re never nice to me!”
“Fuck off.”
“What vulgar words you use! How could that be, a nice young woman like you spouting things like that? Remember that, the next time we take a shower together, I’m going to have to wash your mouth out with soap. Understood?”
He wrung out his T-shirt and tied it around his waist. Then he left the bathroom.
Babi watched him go. On his still-wet back, a few drops of water slid around sinews and bundles of muscles, taut and clearly delineated. Babi picked up a bottle of shampoo that she found on the floor within reach and hurled it after him.
Hearing the noise, Step ducked instinctively. Babi hadn’t managed to hit him, even though his broad shoulders presented an easy target.
Step bent down to pick up the plastic bottle bearing the image of a pretty blond girl with long, lustrous hair. “Hey, now I understand why you’re so mad. I forgot to shampoo your hair. I’ll be right back, okay?”
“Get out of here! Don’t you dare…” Babi quickly yanked the glass door, shutting herself in the shower.
Step looked at her small hands, pressed against the glass. “Here!” He tossed her the shampoo over the top of the shower stall. Then, with a shameless laugh, he walked out of the bathroom.
*
At the sound of the word police, there was a stampede for the door in the living room while Roberta sat sobbing in a corner.
Bunny, with the strange clanking sound of silver, went out at a dead run, a little heavier than usual. Behind him came Pollo, silent as he ran because what he had in his pockets might have made less noise but it held a lot more value. The Sicilian was next through the door, followed by Step and Schello. They galloped down the steps quickly, making the railing shake where they placed their full weight on it as they jumped down the last clusters of steps.