Page 9 of Beautifully Used
“Maybe we should start over,” I suggested and stuck my hand out toward her. “Hi, I’m Brodie.”
She rolled her eyes, but took my hand and shook it. “Hi. Gabrielle.”
“Nice to meet you, Gabrielle.”
I studied the road as that uncomfortable quiet took over again. I decided it was going to be up to me to make this little adventure a more pleasant one. “So, Gabrielle, how’s life in San Diego?”
“Not bad.”
Jeez, this was like pulling teeth. She wasn’t going to make it easy on me that was for sure.
“You, uh, moved down there for school, right?”
“Back down there. My parents are from there, but now that the semester is over and I have two years completed, I’m transferring to Chico State this fall.”
“That’s where I went.”
“How was it? I mean, I’ve heard stories of kids dying from too much partying and stuff. I was a little reluctant to go there at first, but they have a really good English department.”
“I only went for one year. Then I joined the San Francisco PD.”
“The police department?”
I nodded.
“I have a hard time picturing you as a cop, but then, I guess the shoe sort of fits.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Well, I’ve heard that cops sort of have a reputation for sleeping around. Not all, but some. It’s probably that whole superhero complex that makes them think they’re God’s gift to women.”
“Is that so?” I laughed.
She shrugged.
“I see. And you think I sleep around a lot?”
She gave me a sideways glance and smirked. “Uh, yeah.”
“I can’t help it if women throw themselves at me. They use me, I use them. It’s a beautiful arrangement.”
“Brodie, I’m not a prude, but compared to you, I’m a virgin.”
“You are?” I said in a shocked, mocking tone. Then I wanted to kick myself because maybe she was.
“I said compared to you. Besides, if I were I wouldn’t tell you, so you can wipe that silly smirk right off your face.”
That was going to be difficult, but I gave it my best shot and changed the subject. Sobering my expression a bit, I said, “Weren’t you camping around Turtle Lake with your boyfriend when you spotted Lena at the parade? I sort of remember that guy, Weezer, saying something like that.”
“I hate that I was the one to give her location away to that creep.”
“It wasn’t your fault. You had no idea what he had done to her.”
“I know, but she was—is—a very good friend, and I would never have told Troy had I known. I just feel horrible about it.”
“I don’t think she holds it against you.”
She fell quiet again, most likely feeling guilty about Lena, and I felt like a heel for bringing the subject up. “So, you have a boyfriend?” I asked, trying to lighten the mood. Besides, I was curious about that.
