Page 20 of David's Love

“Any is good.”

I bring the glass jars to the table, her eyes hovering over me.

“You look good,” she says.

“So do you,” I reply, reclaiming my seat.

Her eyes don’t leave my face.

“What happened to your skin? Is that natural tan or shimmering foundation?”

She leans closer to check my cheeks.

“It’s tan,” she murmurs.

“Probably,” I say, starting to shove food into my mouth. “We’ve had quite a few sunny days.”

And some horseback riding in New York.

“It looks good on you,” she says, moving her eyes over my face. “Anyway,” she says, falling back into her seat and focusing on her food. “I was thinking that maybe I should get a job.”

I stop chewing, my mouth full, my eyes pinned on her.

“What?”

Our eyes connect.

“Yes. I thought to myself, what better way to spend this time than working? It will allow me to clear my head and think about the future and keep me occupied.”

I chew on my food and swallow fast.

“You took a gap year for a job?”

“No. I’m thinking to get a job.”

“Why? You have money.”

“I do. I won’t work for money.”

“Then why work?”

“As I said before, I’d like to try something different. Gain some real life experience.”

“You make no sense,” I mumble around my food, looking at my plate. “Most people hate their jobs. It’s tiring to go to the same place every day and spend time with the same people, who’re usually miserable because they hate their jobs.”

“That’s a gross generalization. You don’t hate your job.”

“I don’t have a choice. I have to go to work. Speaking of which…” I finish my food, drink the last drop of coffee, and check the time.

“I need to go. I have a long day ahead of me. Do you want me to drop you off someplace?”

She studies me from above the rim of her mug.

“Did you fix your car?”

My mouth falls open.

“Uh… It’s still at my mother’s place. But it should be fixed by now.”

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