Page 6 of Mad Rivals
I can picture her holding up a hand like those models onThe Price Is Rightas she indicates the entire house, its contents, and the business.
“Right. Well, with that in mind, I have a condition.” It’s just as well that I have a condition since their love for me was always conditional as well.
“What is it, pray tell?”
“That you hire Clementine, too,” I blurt. “And that we can stay at the house until we save up enough to get our own place.”
She sighs heavily. “You’ve always been the type to take in strays,” she murmurs.
“Forget it,” I mutter.
“No, no.” She pauses, and then she says, “Fine.”
“I don’t want to hear another word about her,” I warn.
“I will do my very best. It’s just that we trust you to care for what we’ve built, Kennedy. You know our reluctance to hand it over to a stranger.”
“She isn’t a stranger,” I protest. “She’s the best friend I’ve ever had, and you aren’t handing anything over to her.”
“You know how work and money can come between friendships,” she says a bit haughtily, and no, actually I don’t.
I know thatmy parentshad issues with peopletheyused to call friends, but their life isn’t mine, and Clem would never betray me.
“You’ll get to know her, and you will love her,” I say. “I’m so sorry, but it’s the only way I’ll do this.”
“I already said fine once,” she says curtly. “When can we expect you?”
I glance around the meager bedroom. There’s really not a whole lot to pack up to get the fuck out of here.
And I’m not really all that sure my boss will even care if I don’t give him two weeks’ notice. He’ll find someone to fill the position within twenty-four hours.
Same with Clem’s job.
“Tomorrow.”
“Fine. I’ll have Edith make up your room and the guest room down the hall from you.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I say. I almostnevercall her Mom. It’s too soft, but this moment seems to call for it.
“You’re welcome. I just hope your father doesn’t blow a gasket when he hears what I’ve agreed to.”
“He won’t,” I say with confidence. I may not be all that close to either of my parents, but my father at least made attempts to bond with me over the years. He’d take me into the office and introduce me to the staff, or he’d show me what he was working on. He’d train me on the basics of what he does with the idea in mind that someday I’d be doing it.
My mother would sweep in and act like I was a nuisance. She worked with him for years and years until she retired last year to spend more time with her “charity work.”
I’ve never seen that woman lift a damn finger.
Katie next door finally hits her orgasm, and they’ll be quiet for at least a half hour before they start going at it again.
And now that I’m changing my life around, is it really too much to ask for me to find someone to have the same kind of wild nights Katie has? Can I find a Michael of my own? Only…notMichael-Michael. I stay out of it, but I swear I heard someone who wasn’t Katie over there moaning his name a few weekends ago when she was out of town.
Just some wild nights with a stand-up kind of guy.
And a job that, if I’m going to hate it, at least pays well.
And a nice place to live that isn’t my parents’ house.
Is that too much to ask?
