Page 40 of Power Move
He said it, knowing I wanted to hear it. Talk was cheap, but I wanted to believe—even just a bit—he wasn’t lying.
“I keep telling that to my friend Lyle,” Norm said. “He always gives me hell for acting like I’m sixteen, but it keeps me young. I think the wife sometimes rolled her eyes, but she wasn’t a stick in the mud, either. Find a girl like that—one that won’t bore you. Oh, and if you like sleep, don’t have kids. I have no regrets on that front.”
Davey choked on his water. “Well, some might say children are the spice of life.”
“That’s certainly what your father thought,” Norm said. “Six children is not for the faint of heart. Don’t tell me you want six of them.”
“No,” Davey saw my gaze drop. “One or two is fine.”
Davey
Eva started to give up around eleven but rallied for dessert. Norm found her charming. He relaxed on his concerns and ate out of her palm. Eva was clever—more than I gave her credit for. She was also beautiful, even more so done up to the nines.
“Could I interest you in drinks? My friends are at the wine bar across the way.”
“I’m good,” Eva said. “It was lovely to meet you, but I’m knackered.”
“That’s British for tired,” I joked. “Same. I should head out.”
“Suit yourself,” Norm said. “Nice seeing you, Davey, and wonderful to meet you, dear Eva.”
She gave him a little wave as he disappeared to find his second watering hole.
“Home?” I asked.
“If that is still the offer, yes. I feel bad asking your driver?—”
“It is what I pay the service for,” I said. “It’s their job, Eva.”
“Fine,” she agreed.
We dipped into the waiting car in the circle drive outside.
“What’s your address, Eva?” I asked.
“7213 Thistle Rd, Krakow, Indiana. This time of night, you’ll be there in about 35 minutes,” Eva answered. “Sorry. It feels like the country.”
“Don’t apologize, miss,” Earl, a regular driver, said. “I’ve been out that way before.”
She turned to me. “And you can drop him first, obviously.”
“Nah, I’m down for a tiny road trip?—”
“Davey, I live a million miles away. It will be late.”
“I don’t have anywhere to be tomorrow. I’d rather make sure you get home safe and… I wouldn’t mind the drive.”
She rolled her eyes but didn’t protest. As Earl made his way south, Eva gazed at the lake to our left while I stared at her. She let out a long sigh and began disassembling her hair, as if trying hard to relax.
“Do I really make youthatuncomfortable?” I asked.
“No.” Eva turned. “You don’t. But my hair is pulling and everything sort of hurts.”
“Everything?”
“My back is killing me. My tits hurt. My feet are swollen. It’s hellish, Davey. I am not complaining to garner sympathy, just for perspective.”
“It is okay to complain to garner sympathy,” I said.
