Page 213 of The Last Good Man

Imove my eyes tothe driver, who watches me with unwavering interest.

“Go,” I say, gesturing at the road. “I’m hungry.”

Without a word, he steers the car away, and we roll toward my home.

40

MELODY

Later in the evening

Clad in my favorite pajamas, I wolf down delicious food while staring at the address on the napkin.

Chewing, I ponder.

I need a PI. As tempted as I am to rent a car and run surveillance, I need more than a physical address. I need to know a lot more about his life.

My phone rings, and I glance at the time before sliding my fingers across the screen.

“Hey,” I murmur, still chewing.

I need a good PI.

The thought keeps spinning in my head.

“Hi. Have you confirmed with Melissa?” Alice says, pulling me back to reality.

I fold the napkin and lean back into my pillow, stretching my legs.

“Melissa? Why?”

“You forgot about our meeting.”

“Meeting? Oh, shit. Is that time already?”

“Yes. Next Friday. Hello?”

“Oh, fuck. Did you talk toher?”

“I just did, and she asked me about you. I wasn’t sure whether you were coming or not, so I didn’t know what to tell her.”

“I don’t want to come.”

A few seconds pass.

“It’s going to be fun.”

“Not with the husbands there, it won’t.”

“We have all been single at some point before.”

“Emphasis on before.”

She laughs at the other end of the line.

“Trust me. We’ll all envy you,”sheargues, but we both know it’s not true.

“No, you won’t. And I’m sure there won’t be a meetup next year.”

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