“Hey, babe,wanna ride?” Monkey #1 asks.
“No. I’mgood.”
“I bet you’regood,” says monkey #2.
I sneer andkeep walking.
“What’s thematter, you don’t like us? What are you, a lesbian?” laughs monkey#2.
“Well, I wasn’tuntil you two came along. Now, I’m pretty sure that’s the directionI’ll be heading from now on.” I sneer.
The car peelsaway.
In therestaurant, Jason is sitting at a window table that overlooks thewater. When I approach, he stands up and hugs me. “Hey, hottie,have a seat,” he says, pointing to the chair on the other side ofthe table.
Sitting down, Ilook at him. A part of me wants to share the gory details of what Isaw in front of my apartment, but instead, I push the images to theback of my mind. Plus, there’s a strain on Jason’s face I haven’tseen before. He’s twenty-seven, the same as me, but right now, helooks a lot older. There are fine worry lines at the corners of hiseyes and his brows are furrowed. Usually, he looks energized andfull of piss and vinegar. That is not the case right now.
“What’s up, myfriend? Did bimbo of the week break your heart?” I say,sarcastically.
“I wish it wasthat simple; I could handle that. Unfortunately, my current stateof inner conflict has nothing to do with bad decisions and theopposite sex.”
Now I’minterested. As cool of a guy that Jason is, he’s as shallow as apuddle when it comes to anything else besides conqueringfemales.
“Ok, I’mlistening. Spit it out.”
“I decided togo to Europe in three weeks. There’s this really cool opportunityto co-manage a B&B with this British chick I met here. Shelives just outside of London. I’ve saved some cash, and I think itwould be fun to go someplace I’ve never been and see whathappens.”
“Wow. You’re inlove. That’s it, isn’t it? I can’t believe it. You didn’t even tellme you were seeing someone.” A part of me feels a bit hurt that hekept something so important from me, while the other part of me ishappy to be distracted.
“It just kindof happened. We met when she was working at Whole Foods on Cambie.I went in to buy something, and we started talking. Pretty soon, Iwas finding myself with a daily addiction for carob bars and hempsnacks.”
“You’rehilarious, and predictable.” I laugh.
The truth is, Ifeel happy for him, but scared too. He’s my only friend. All I doevery day is go to work and then home. If it wasn’t for the phonecalls and odd outings with him, I’d go out of my mind, especiallywhen I start thinking about my family.
“Well, I thinkthat’s great.” I lie.
“It is, and itisn’t. My father is one breath away from disowning me. He had hisretirement planned; all he needed was for me to take over thecompany. He knows my heart isn’t in P.I. work, but he doesn’t care.He thinks he knows what’s best for me, and I can’t changethat.”
“That’sshitty.”
“Tell me aboutit,” he says, shrugging.
“So, what’s theanswer?”
“I made him adeal. If I can train someone to fill my spot, it won’t leave himhigh and dry when I take off.”
“Good idea. Doyou have anyone in mind?”
“Yep,” he sayssmiling.
“What? Why areyou looking at me like that?”
“Oh, come on,Jules. Why don’t you just try it? You’ll make a shit load of cash,and you’ll be able to tell that punk ass boss of yours to shoveit.”
“Gee, Jason.You speak so poetically. Ever think about writing greetingcards?”
“I’m serious,Jules. While I’m away, you can use my apartment and my truck. Don’tyou want to move out of that shithole you live in? Look at whatjust happened, it’s a dangerous place.”
He’s right, itis. But what he doesn’t know is that I grew up in the same shitty,druggie infested shitholes that I’m living in now. Even though Ihate it, it’s what I know. Jason lives in a posh apartment onGranville Island. I’d be out of my element there. Though, it wouldbe nice not to have to barricade the front door every night. Not tomention, the weather is getting colder and having a truck to drivewould beat the shit out of taking the bus everywhere.
“Jason, I knowas much about P.I. work as you do about women’s emotions. I’d belost.”
“It’s easy. Allyou have to do is drive around in my truck and follow people.”
“I have a gradeten education. I probably couldn’t even get certified.”
“There is nocertification, Jules. Just show up and get paid. You’ll be anatural at it. Look at how much time you spend watching all thedruggies out your window. At least this way, you’ll be making goodmoney. All I’m asking is that you think about it?”
“And all I’masking is that you shut up so we can order. I’m starving.”
ChapterThree
After dinner,we say goodbye and I promise Jason I’ll think about his offer. Onthe ride home, I avoid Hastings Street and zig zag around backroadsto get to the underground parking. Once back in my apartment, Idrop my coat on the floor, kick off my boots and immediately headto the window. The cops have blocked off one lane on Hastings. Isee a white van with cop lights on it and a half a dozen men inuniforms standing around a something covered in a white sheet—thebody. So much for wishful thinking. Emotionally drained, I lie onmy bed, breathing in deeply and trying to relax. And finally, Idrift to sleep.
* * *
Abby grabs myhand. Her small fingers are cold and clammy. She looks up at me,“It’s okay, Jules. We’re together and you always said that nothingbad could ever happen to us
