Page 114 of One Bad Idea
"Yeah, because youwerehassling me."
"I was not," he said.
Ignoring his objection, I said, "Andyou tried to have me arrested."
"What, you're gonna holdthatover my head?"
I gave a bitter laugh. "Why wouldn't I?"
"Because you stole my truck. Remember?"
As if I could forget.
And now, I was regretting calling him back at all. "Look," I said, "if you were just calling to complain about Jaden, I don't want to hear it, okay?"
"But the guy's off his rocker."
I considered everything that Jaden had done to keep me out of jailandto keep Stuart off my ass. "He is not," I said yet again. "And besides, it seems to me, you made out pretty good with the whole truck thing, so just drop it, alright?"
"I don't believe this," Stuart muttered. "You're sticking up for him?"
Was I?
Yes. I guess I was.
But in this case, it was totally justified.
I sighed. "He was just trying to avoid trouble."
Sounding more peeved than ever, Stuart said, "Trouble for who?"
My heart gave an embarrassing little flutter as the answer hit home.Me. That's who.
After all, Jaden had received no benefit to himself.
I was silent for a long moment before saying, "Well, maybe he didn't want to see me arrested." I hesitated. "You know, because I'm his assistant."
This was only half true. In fact, Ihadn'tbeen Jaden's assistant when he'd first brokered that deal with the truck. But this was none of Stuart's business, and I saw no reason to spell it out for him.
"Oh, get real," Stuart said. "When I stopped by your place in Florida, I wasn't coming toarrestyou."
"Right," I snapped. "You came for sandwiches and sex."
At this, he had the nerve to sound insulted. "I did not!"
I gave another sigh. "Look, I don’t want to argue. So let's just part as friends and be done with it, okay?"
He grumbled, "Friendsdon't steal friend's trucks."
"Yeah, and they don't call the cops on each other either, but ifIcan forget it, why can't you?"
"Oh come on.Youhaven't forgotten," he said. "You're still mad. I can tell."
He was right. I was.But I didn't want to fight about it. In an obvious hint, I said, "Well, it's been nice talking to you—"
"But wait," Stuart said. "When are you coming home?"
What kind of question was that?"Iamhome."
