He drifted out the door like a handful of black feathers cast on a winter’s breeze.
Chapter 27
Trix came in. “I got the concierge to call the police. But the police beat Bob up, too.”
I was drinking. I have two drinking faces, I’ve been told. The Social Drinking face, and the I Need to Drink Until the Front of My Brain Dies face.
“What’s wrong?”
“We have an appointment with the Roanokes tomorrow at eleven.”
“How did that happen?”
“My client was here. He told me things.”
“He arranged it? Jesus.”
“Yeah.”
“You okay?”
I summoned a smile from somewhere. “Sure.”
“You want to come to bed?”
No. I wanted to get really fucking drunk and then stab myself repeatedly.
“Nah. We’re out of condoms. Forgot to buy any.”
She sat on the arm of my chair. “What makes you think we need any?”
“Not without condoms, Trix.”
“True. I don’t know where you’ve been. But not what I meant.” She rubbed her palm over the back of my hand. “I have hands. You have hands. You and me: it doesn’t always have to be about vanilla humping, Mike.”
“I like vanilla humping.”
“Come here. I’m going to rewire your vanilla little brain with my bare hands.”
Chapter 28
In the middle of the night, I said, “You said you were my girl. To Bob. You said he shouldn’t talk like that to his buddies’ girls.”
“I did.”
“Are you my girl?”
“Do you want me to be?”
“Do you want to be?”
“Why would you want me to be your girl?”
“Because you’re smarter than I am. Because you see things I don’t. Because you make me feel good just by looking at me. Because you fit right in my arms.”
“Are you going to start singing?”
“And because sometimes I want to strangle you.”
“That can be hot.”
“I’m going to strangle you right now.”
“You can’t lift your arms.”
“…shit.”
“I’ve never been monogamous in my life, Mike.”
“I know.”
“I can’t do it.”
“I’m not asking you to.”
“But you want me to be your girl.”
“If you want to be.”
“I like girls, too.”
“I don’t want to watch or anything.”
“I thought two girls was every man’s dream.”
“You’re my dream.”
“I don’t believe you said that.”
“I’m never going to admit I did, so get over it.”
She laughed, low in her throat.
