Page 14 of Merciless Monster

“No! With who?”

“Dante.”

I notice a quick reaction in Gina’s eyes. It’s so subtle, I nearly missed it. I wonder what that’s all about.

“Dante? Really? Do tell.”

“Let’s just say that he liberated me from any feelings I may have for Sam. I’m thoroughly flushed.”

“You bad girl!” she laughs. “How was he?”

“A lady never tells.”

“Oh, please. Come on. Spill it.”

“Incredible.”

“I must say, when I encouraged you to have a fling, I didn’t expect it to be with someone like Dante.”

“What do you mean? Why not Dante?”

“I don’t know. He’s thirty-seven. I thought you’d go for someone younger, I suppose.”

“Are you kidding? Dante has the body of a twenty-something-year-old. He’s gorgeous! And what a lover! Oh, my word. I’ve never felt that way with anyone.”

“Yeah, the Italian men know their way around the lady parts. What did you guys talk about?”

“Talking wasn’t the aim of the game. You were right. I needed a good shag, and that’s what I got.”

“Tra-la-la-la-la…”

“Cute. Now, where are the honeymoon pictures?”

I don’t want to talk too much about my night with Dante. It was special, even though it was brief. It’s something I’ll treasure and think back on when I’m feeling particularly disappointed by men in general.

The afternoon spent with Gina gives me hope for the future. I’m sure that someday I’ll find the kind of happiness she shares with Jeff. If not, I’ll always have Erice.

* * *

“Are you feeling okay? I’ve seen healthier looking corpses.”

“Geez, thanks, Gina. That's so sweet of you to say.”

“I’m serious. You’re not looking like your usual healthy self. Are you okay?”

“No. I feel awful. You’d think that working in a pharmacy would offer me a little extra defense against the common stomach flu.”

“You’d better go home before you infect all of us. George will have a shitfit if there’s a breakout of the runs. Here, take some of this and go home. I’ll cover for you.”

“You’re a lifesaver, Gina. Thanks. I’d hug you, but…”

“No thanks. Just take it and go, you carrier,” she grins.

“I’ll call you later.”

“Feel better.”

I head straight for bed when I get home. I feel awful. I don’t even bother getting out of my work clothes, but I simply flop onto the bed and close my eyes.

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