ALICE Ch 23

There’s a polite knock at the door.

That will be Alice’s room card.

“Thanks.” She leans over and bumps Faye with her shoulder. “I promise to let you sleep now.”

“OK,” Faye replies, blushing.

Alice goes to the door and opens it, smiling at the hotel girl in the hall.

“Thanks,” she says, taking the card.

The girl wordlessly hesitates, then takes an F1 pass and a marker from her pocket. She holds it up hopefully.

Alice snorts. “Faye, come sign this.”

“What?”

“Come sign this with me. Both drivers is better than one, right?” Alice asks the girl, who nods vigorously. Alice turns and points at the pink FUTA hat on the desk. She snaps her fingers a few times. “Hat.”

“Oh. Right.” Faye grabs it and hurries over.

“There you go.” Alice takes the hat and signs it, then puts it on the girl’s head. She and Faye sign the pass, and the blushing girl leaves looking thrilled.

“Maybe she didn’t want mine,” Faye frets.

“Course she did. You won’t finish last next week.” Alice puts her arm around Faye and gives her a little squeeze, then steps out into the hall and closes the door. This is turning into a long night. She turns with a sigh, which dies in her throat.

Glynda is in the corridor again. Somehow, her expression is even scarier this time.

“What was that?” Glynda asks quietly as Alice approaches.

“A happy fan?”

“Why are you coming out of my daughter’s room a second time?”

“Would you rather I stayed the night?”

Glynda’s nostrils flare.

“Kidding,” Alice says with a laugh. “I’m kidding, Glynda. I was borrowing something.”

“Borrowing what?” Glynda asks without hesitation.

“None of your business.”

Glynda’s eyes narrow. Alice looks down without thinking, and Glynda sees it. She reaches for the robe’s bulging pocket, where the borrowed sleeve is. Alice stops her. A brief struggle ensues, but Alice is able to fight her off.

“Seriously?” she asks, still trying not to laugh.

Glynda glares.

“I did, uh, do some spying on the Woodcock girls though,” Alice says, lowering her voice.

Glynda’s whole bearing changes. She folds her arms, looking curious.

“Oh, really?”

Alice comes in conspiratorially close.

“Yeah,” she says quietly. “I found out that they’re hotter than their poster makes them look. Especially without clothes on. They like to hot tub together. Great sense of humor.” Alice counts on her fingers as Glynda’s expression darkens. “And most importantly, their nickname for you.”

Glynda, mouth tight, raises an eyebrow.

“It’s melon tits,” Alice says.

Glynda does not react.

“They’re probably just jealous,” Alice says, glancing down. “I think they’re great.” She walks past Glynda, twirling her card. “And I don’t know what you’re doing up here, but I hope you aren’t going to bother Faye. She needs to rest,” Alice calls over her shoulder as she heads back to the room the Woodcock sisters are in. She knocks.

There’s a bit of a delay before the door opens. Yet again, the sisters are side by side.

They look amused and slightly wary.

“Nice robe,” one says.

“Thanks,” Alice replies.

They both look a little pink. A second passes.

“Can we help you?” the other one asks.

Alice shrugs. “I just came to say goodnight.” She smiles at them. “Goodnight.”

They blink, and Alice turns away and returns to her room. She even manages not to chuckle until she’s safely inside.