The sight of Officer Farrah only made Rex feel worse. He hopped on one foot, waving his arms for balance. "Give me a minute, will ya?" He held onto the counter, gingerly touching down with the other leg. The pain in his knee made him wince.
"Just landed on it wrong," he told Viv. Tentatively balancing on both feet, he assured them, "No need for an ambulance. Viv can drive me home. Sutton will do some magic with heat and ice and I'll be right as rain."
Viv turned to Farrah. "We were looking for an employee. And when no one came Rex wondered why, so he hopped over the counter to see if he could find someone."
Officer Farrah eyed Rex up and down. Then she turned to Viv. "What are you two doing at a Fluff and Fold? Not exactly your scene. Plus I thought for sure every home at the Desert Tortoise included individual laundry rooms."
"Of course," Rex said. "But Viv has an oversized comforter that requires an oversized washer and dryer."
"Oh, she does?” Officer Farrah's lips turned up at the corners.
"Why does she think that's amusing?" He looked at Viv for an explanation.
Viv scowled and shot a dart eye toward Farrah. "If I'm not mistaken, Officer Farrah here thinks we're having sex under that comforter, and it surprises her because we're so old."
"I didn't say that," objected Farrah.
"Oh, you didn't have to. That smirk explained everything."
"I still don't get it," objected Rex. "Adults have sex. It's a perfectly good way to spend their free time. Why would you be surprised?" He addressed Farrah, a hurt sound in his voice.
Maybe it was his surprise or the tone in his voice, but this time both women burst out laughing. "Get a load of him." Farrah directed her thumb toward Rex. "That's Fluff and Fold humor," she explained, "pun intended."
"I almost feel sorry for the poor guy," teased Viv. "Except I haven't forgotten your remark." She stared down Farrah. "That was very ageist of you, Officer Farrah. It's not entirely out of the question that two people in their prime would consider conjugal bliss."
"That's a good one. Conjugal bliss. Geez. What are we, Victorians?" Rex now grinned, completely forgetting the ache in his knee.
"Okay, that's enough nonsense. You're here because of the oversized machines. You were looking for help. But that still doesn't explain why you were behind the counter, clearly reserved for employees only."
Rex bounced tentatively on his leg with the good knee. "I can explain. But not before I get some ice. Do you mind?” He pointed toward the restroom. "I saw an ice machine back there." When neither Susan nor Viv offered to get the ice for him, he shrugged. "Okay, I'll get it myself."
"You do that, Redondo," Farrah said.
As he hobbled away she called after him, "And while you're procuring that ice, I'll find out from your girlfriend why you're really here."
Despite the pain, Rex felt a jolt of delight. My girlfriend. From her lips to God's ears.