“Remember what I told you about Cissy Hathaway?” Jesse said. “Suit likes older women.”
“Suit and Miriam Fiedler?” Jenn said.
“Suit’s fucking somebody?” Amber said from the doorway.
“Well put,” Jesse said.
“So maybe this Miriam Fiddler or whatever is fucking him so he’ll tell her stuff,” Amber said.
“Maybe,” Jesse said.
“So,” Amber said, “big deal. It happens all the time.”
“You think?” Jesse said.
“How else do you get anything?” Amber said.
“Sometimes women have sex with men because they like them,” Jenn said. “Even sometimes because they love them.”
“Yeah, you bet,” Amber said. “You like him?”
She nodded at Jesse.
“Yes,” Jenn said. “I probably love him.”
“So how come you don’t fuck him?”
“Right now it doesn’t seem like a good idea,” Jenn said.
“So you like him, but you won’t fuck him. And you love him but you’re divorced.”
“That’s about right,” Jenn said.
“You ever fuck some guy to get what you want?” Amber said.
“Yes,” Jenn said.
“See?” Amber said. “No big deal.”
“It is a big deal,” Jenn said. “Because every time you do it you feel weak and worthless.”
“Maybe you do,” Amber said. “Not me.”
“You will,” Jenn said. “It’s cumulative.”
“Huh?”
“The more of it you do,” Jenn said, “the more you feel bad.”
“I like it,” Amber said. “When I’m balling a guy, I’m in charge, you know?”
“Like Esteban,” Jesse said.
Amber didn’t say anything for a moment. Then her eyes filled, and she turned and went through the living room to her bedroom.
“You hurt her feelings,” Jenn said.
“Esteban hurt her feelings,” Jesse said.
“And you reminded her of it.”
“She can’t be lying to herself,” Jesse said. “How is that good for her?”
