Curiosity 03

Joel woke up with a pounding hangover. He’d only managed about four hours of sleep after getting home. The night before, he’d gone to a club, downed too many beers, and ended up having sex in the back room with Ariel—the mutant hermaphrodite who also happened to be his boss. “Shit, how did things escalate so fast?” he muttered to himself, rummaging through his medicine cabinet for painkillers. “This is gonna be awkward as hell when I see her today.” A little later, Joel arrived at the gift shop just as Ariel was unlocking the door. She wore tight shorts, ankle boots with a slight heel, and a white top that clung to her ample chest while showing off her toned stomach. “Hey Joel. How’s the hangover treating you?” she asked casually. “Not as well as it’s treating you, apparently,” Joel replied, noticing how alert and refreshed she looked. “Eric had a high alcohol tolerance, so I bounce back quick,” she said. “Drink some water—it’ll help.” “Good call. I’ll do that.” Joel stepped inside, then hesitated. “Hey… about what happened last night, in the back of the club—” Ariel pressed a finger to his lips, cutting him off. “Shh. Let’s keep that outside of work, or you’ll be distracted all day. We can talk later if you want,” she added with a wink. Joel nodded. Probably for the best. He slapped his cheeks lightly, changed into his work clothes, and started restocking the shelves. The morning passed without incident until just after noon. The shop’s bell chimed as a beautiful woman pushed a stroller inside. Ariel, who had been arranging bowls on a shelf, froze the moment she saw her. Even from a glance, Joel could tell Ariel was uneasy—no, terrified. “Well, what a coincidence,” the woman murmured with a wry smile as she approached the counter. “Didn’t expect to find you working here.” “Y-Yeah… I’ve been here a while now,” Ariel replied, her usual confidence gone. “Martha… you look… good.” “Thanks. I’ve got a much better job than waitressing now. And, as you can see—” She gestured to the stroller. “—I’m a mother.” She crossed her arms, deliberately accentuating her cleavage. Ariel tried to look away, but her gaze flicked downward for just a second. She clicked her tongue in annoyance. “Seriously? Now?” “Sorry! You know how it is. The ‘Eric’ part of me. It’s practically instinctive at this point.” Martha scoffed, her irritation plain. “Oh, spare me. It’s always the same excuse. ‘It’s just Eric.’ ‘That’s how Eric is.’ ‘Eric has no filter.’ Well, newsflash, Ariel—Eric’s gone. It’s just you now. Or are you gonna keep hiding behind him every time you screw up? Every time there are consequences?” Her grip tightened on the stroller, where a baby girl slept peacefully, her hair a pale, almost gray shade. Ariel’s throat went dry. “Martha, I…” She faltered, eyes locked on the child. “D-Did I…?” “I don’t care if you’re the father,” Martha said bluntly. “I’m with Chris now—remember him? He’s actually here for me. Unlike you, who just stares and blames some imaginary part of yourself.” The words hit Ariel like a punch to the chest. She stood silent as Martha paid for her items at Joel’s register and left without another glance. The bell jingled again, the sound lingering in the quiet shop. Joel cautiously approached Ariel, who still gripped the shelf like she might collapse. “You okay?” She let out a slow, heavy breath. “She’s right,” Ariel murmured, staring down at her four hands as her fingers curled into fists. “I need to stop blaming Eric.” Joel studied her for a moment before resting a hand on her shoulder. “Acknowledging it is the first step, right?” Ariel gave a bitter laugh. “Yeah. Guess I’ve been avoiding taking responsibility for my own shit.” “…Hey, was she the waitress from the club you mentioned last night?” Joel asked. Ariel nodded. “…And the baby?” he ventured, hesitant. Ariel lowered her head. “…I don’t know. And I think I’d rather not find out.” Joel offered a small smile before returning to work, leaving her to her thoughts. The rest of the afternoon passed in near silence. Ariel was lost in her head, and Joel didn’t want to intrude. He handled the customers and the register, giving her space. An hour before closing, Ariel finally approached him. “Hey, mind closing up tonight? I think I need to turn in early. Got a lot to process, and I’m not feeling great.” “No problem, I’ve got it. It’s usually dead around this time anyway,” Joel said. “Thanks. Really.” She sighed. “Sorry for bailing when we were supposed to talk about last night, but… I’m not in the right headspace.” “Don’t worry about it. I get it.” Ariel slipped on her four-sleeved jacket and left quickly. Joel watched the door, wondering what she must be going through. Part of him wanted to follow her, but maybe right now, she needed to be alone.