“after she ditched him, or however he experienced it.”
“I know.”
They stared out at the ocean together. It was calm as evening arrived. The water moved gently and the surface of it was almost slick.
Jesse said, “He and I agreed that he’d stay away from Jenn.”
“Does Jenn know?”
“Yes. But I’m not sure she’s trusting the agreement.”
“I’ll stay on him,” Sunny said, “for a while, see if he keeps his end of the bargain.”
“He will,” Jesse said.
“No harm making sure,” Sunny said.
“Thank you,” Jesse said.
“Did Jenn have anything else to say when you told her about the agreement?” Sunny said.
Jesse smiled at the blank ocean.
“She asked if we’d had a fight,” he said.
Sunny shook her head slowly.
“That’s so Jenn,” Sunny said.
Jesse didn’t say anything.
“What a thrill,” Sunny said, “to have two men fighting over her.”
2 6 8
H I G H P R O F I L E
Jesse was quiet.
“I know what you’re like,” Sunny said. “He wouldn’t have had a chance for it to be a fight.”
“He’s an amateur,” Jesse said.
“Sure,” Sunny said. “And you’re not. What’s sad is that she doesn’t know that, and she doesn’t know what you’re like.”
“And you do,” Jesse said.
“Yes,” Sunny said. “I do.”
Jesse nodded. He was motionless where he sat. He didn’t look at Sunny. Nor she at him. They remained fixed on the slow ocean in front of them. A herring gull came in and landed in front of them, and snapped up a piece of empty crab shell. There was no sustenance in it, so the gull put it back and hopped down the beach looking for better. Jesse watched it.
“She knows,” Jesse said.
“And doesn’t care?” Sunny said.
“She cares,” Jesse said.
Sunny continued to look out at the horizon.
“And she also doesn’t know and doesn’t care,” Jesse said.
