Page 39 of Under His Sheets
“It was my uncle’s. He bought it in nineteen ninety-six? Felip and our cousin Jose turned it down when he was ready to give it up, but I didn’t need anything fancy. And I love putting the top down.”
I used the flashlight on my phone to look at the tapes he had. “Holy shit, Jeff Buckley? My idol.Gracewas the first album I bought when I started my vinyl collection. We have a great record store in Grass Valley. Clocktower Records. As soon as I had enough money from my first job, I bought a portable turntable, you know the kind in the suitcase? And I boughtGrace.”
I popped in the cassette and it started at the beginning of “Lover You Should Have Come Over.” I couldn’t help myself. I started to sway and then I was singing, and it came straight from the heart. What was this life, driving through Castelldefelswith the most wonderful man, in the funkiest old car, with my favorite singer coming through a decent set of speakers? I wondered if we’d ever get to drive along the beach with the top down, my hair blowing in my face as I sang at the top of my lungs. At this very moment, I wanted that more than anything.
We finally got to the problem in the road and reality was there to suck the wind out of my daydreaming.
“A protest,” I said as I turned off the music. “Is it?—”
“Anti-independencia. And pro-independence on the other side of the road.” He followed the directions of the traffic cop, which took us around several blocks before we could get anywhere near the bar. Once Alonso found a spot to park, he turned off the engine.
“I want you to go inside,” he said quietly. “I need to call my commanding officer. If I can come in, I will. If he says for me to keep my distance, I will text you and I will wait outside for you. I want to take you home.”
His words, while spoken seriously, gave me a thrill. He probably meant he would take me home as a precaution, but I wanted him tocome homewith me.
“All right. But when you come in…am I supposed to, like,know youknow you?”
Alonso scrubbed at his stubble and I saw the cracks…he was tired. Did he sleep? When he was on an assignment such as this, did he get down time? I knew he’d had some sleep Saturday night, but that was not enough. And where was he staying?
“Keep your phone handy. I will text you.”
“Okay. With instructions?”
He nodded. A smile teased the corners of his lips but then he took my hands. “Randall, no matter what my commander says, whatever my cover is to be, I need you to know…how we are, how we have been when we are alone, this is real for me. It’s not work. I don’t go undercover often, and after this assignment…I’m not likely to volunteer for anything like this again. It’s been too close. I don’t like pretending. I’m not an actor. I do my job, and sometimes that means doing things I don’t like or don’t want to do, things that aren’t me.” He exhaled and frowned. “I don’t know how to say this other than I don’t want you to think that I am not being true with you.”
And the thrill was back.
“Oh, baby. I appreciate that very much. I’ll trust you.”
“Please,” he said, his voice breathy. “Because I don’t know what will happen.”
I pressed my palm to his cheek. “It’ll be okay,” I said, though I didn’t know if I should be trying to reassure him. “I’ll go inside and let you do what you need to.” I ran my thumb over his lip and blew out a breath. I could do this. I could be brave for Alonso.
Or maybe I’d only been acting brave, and really this would prove to be too much.
TEN
Friday5:46 PM City Center, Castelldefels, Catalonia, Spain
The group was all gathered at a high-top table and had already had a few drinks, judging by the noise level. I made my way straight to Lara and gave her a hug.
“Where’s Alonso?” she asked in my ear.
“In the car. Making a call.” I kissed her on the cheek before stepping away.
“You okay?” she asked me, wrinkling her nose.
Are you kidding?“I’m great. You need a refill?” She said no as Camille called me over to the French Foreign Legion’s end of the table.
“We got your Segura for you,” she said, and I tripped over a jacket on the floor.My Segura. I liked the sound of that.
I gave them each kisses and took a chair on the end next to Camille. I was getting natural finally with this whole cheek-kissing greeting business.
“I worried you weren’t coming,” Josette said, leaning close to talk over the noise. “Are you okay? I heard about the scene in the atrium. Can you believe it?”
My pocket buzzed and I pulled out my phone.
I’m coming in. Play along.
