Free Now Wouldn't You Like to Know by Curtis Bennett

out my phone I called her cell.
    “Hello,” her soft voice answered. “I see you have decided to rejoin the rest of the world.”
    “I imagine I have,” I replied stiffly. “Where are you? I am standing outside of your suite but you have yet to answer when I knock.”
    “That’s because I am over at the cafeteria having a coffee. I slept maybe two hours and have been up ever since then.”
    “Okay, I am heading over that way.”
    “See you when you get here.”
    I immediately made my way over to the exit door. It was dark and much colder outside than it would be at this same time in Florida. But again, we were heading north and it was the fall season. Opening the door to the restaurant, I entered it.
    Diana was seated at a table not far from the entrance of the cafeteria. And she wasn’t alone. She had company. Male company. I walked over to where they sat.
    She acknowledged me after a delayed pause. I’m sure it was because I was wearing glasses. I never told her that I wore contacts. I never saw a need or reason to tell her.
    “Hello, Sheldon,” she said as I stopped at her table. “Sheldon, this is Dwight, Dwight this is my friend Sheldon.”
    We shook hands and exchanged mutual greetings. Dwight looked to be in his late thirties and looked like he pumped iron. He was well built, and was actually a younger version of Lee Haney, a renowned bodybuilder and former Mr. Olympia and Mr. Universe. Perhaps Dwight was his son.
    “Dwight was kind enough to help me find my way over here. Have a seat and join us.”
    “Actually, I need your assistance on a certain matter, if I may tear you away for a short while.”
    “Sure,” she said grabbing her purse and rising up from the table.
    “Hey, I hope that I haven’t encroached on anything or anyone,” Dwight said apologetically.
    “No, it’s nothing like that,” I stressed. “I just need her help with something that came up.”
    “It was nice chatting with you Dwight,” she said as she extended her arm to shake his hand.
    “Was a pleasure talking to you Ms. Diana,” he said, giving her an overdose of his dreamy eyes and inviting smile. A wannabe playa, no doubt.
    We took off.
    “What’s up, and why are you wearing glasses?” she asked, struggling to keep up with me.
    “I wear contacts, Diana,” I answered. “While in the process of putting them on I dropped one on the carpeted floor and cannot find it. I need your help in locating it before it dries up.”
    “Sure, I’ll help,” she said as we paused in front of my suite. Swiping the card key, I opened the door and we entered. I immediately asked her to take off her shoes and so did I. Kneeling, I gestured for her to do likewise. Then I pointed to the area where I had dropped the contact lens and then we crawled carefully over to the area and closely scanned every micro-inch of carpet along the way.
    “I know it’s got to be here somewhere,” I insisted as I lowered my head closer to the carpet.
    “Hey, I think I’ve found it,” Diana said, then declared, “Yes, this is it!”
    Picking it up, I leaned back against the bed. Diana joined me at my side, our legs extended on the carpeted floor.
    “Whew, that was a close call,” I said, turning to face her. “Thank you for your assistance.”
    “Hey, what are friends for?” she said gazing across at me.
    “Well, I am going to have to put this back in the solution and let it sterilize again.”
    “How long will it take?”
    “About six hours.”
    “Are we going to get back on the road before then?
    “Naah, I see much better at night when I’m wearing my contacts.”
    “Me too,” she said to my surprise.
    “You wear contacts too, huh,” I said.
    “Ever since I was sixteen,” she answered. “And you?”
    “I’ve been wearing them since I was around twenty years old.”
    “So, what do we do now while we wait for your lens to sterilize?”
    “I’m not sure,” I answered, looking into eyes that appeared more enchanting the more I