Page 115 of Other Side Of Never
After a lot of mental shuffling, I even got him a little excited about the prospect.Especially when I clicked on a popular musical instrument store in the city.
But that only lasted until the phone rang.
28
Sex Tape
“Stayuphere,Jakey,”I ordered.“He doesn’t know where I live, and I don’t want him anywhere near Auntie Anita’s place.”
He grabbed onto my hand.“Where are you going?”
I pulled myself up to my full five-foot two-inch height.“He’s at Susie Q’s.I’ll speak to him outside.”
“You’re not going by yourself,” he declared.
I hesitated, then remembered who and where I was.“This is my town, Jake.These are my friends, my people.You showing your face right now is only going to add fuel to his fire.I’ll deal with him and send him on his way.Then we can move forward together.Okay?”
“Your friends will be there?”
I nodded.“They will.”
Walking to Susie Q’s, I wrapped my sweater more tightly around me.This far north, the tease of autumn came early.But whether it was the drop in temperature as the sun traveled toward the horizon or a surge of adrenaline, I only knew how badly I was shaking.
Opening my cell phone, I called Shae and asked her if Gabe could run over to help me.
“He’s on his way,” she assured me.
Relief billowed through me like a fresh breeze, but it did little to temper the shaking.Seeing Gary for the first time in over a year didn’t help.
I watched him from the other side of the glass as he chatted with Susie under the warm lights of the diner.
She laughed in her usual joyful fashion, waving her hands around animatedly as she spoke to him, listening carefully when he replied.
It had been a long time since I’d seen this version of Gary.
I always blamed myself for not being able to read him.Studying him through the window to Susie’s diner, I realized just how much of a consummate actor he was.
I was never the problem.
My instincts and ability to read people weren’t the problem.
He was the problem.
After talking to him, Susie probably thought I was nuts.
Squaring my shoulders, I swung the door to Susie Q’s open.
Susie’s face brightened, but her eyes were watchful.“There she is now.I’ll leave you in her very capable hands to find a table.”
Gary’s face froze, the soft lines of his smile deepening into harsh lines of disapproval.
Susie took a step back and held up her hands.“Whoa, what’s this all about?”
I faced her.“I’ll speak to Gary outside.”
“Why don’t you sit here,” Susie began.“I’ll bring you a coffee.I need to pack up Daire and Harley’s order and I’ll be right with you.”
I smiled tightly.“This is a conversation for outside, Susie.Don’t worry.”
