Page 50 of Two Chances With You

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“Hey, don’t blame the car thieves,” I say, emerging behind them along with Marcantonio. “Who’s going to steal that hunk o’ junk, anyway?”

“Don’t you get started now. I need to go to the police and report the theft.”

“It was yours. Now it’s their car. I mean, all you have to do is change the name and everything will go back the way it should be!”

“I think all you’ll have to do is pay a fine. They probably towed your car, so if you want to blame anyone, blame the traffic cops. And then, if you really want to put the blame where it belongs, which it strikes me is certainly your prerogative, blame yourself.”

“Listen, I’m furious right now. What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about the fact that you parked outside the theater’s emergency exit. It’s plain as day.”

“The gentleman is quite right.” A female traffic cop walks past us. She’s heard our whole conversation and decides to weigh in. “We had no choice in the matter but to tow it.”

“Well, it certainly strikes me as an exaggeration to say that you had no choice in the matter. You could have just waited for a couple of minutes. I was in the theater for work.”

The female traffic cop stops smiling. “What, are you trying to dispute the violation?”

“I’m just trying to tell you the way things went.”

The traffic cop walks away without another word.

Marcantonio decides to butt in on the fly. “Okay, that’ll do. Since we have the whole afternoon free and especially because you two ladies got cast in the show, I’d suggest we go get something to drink and raise a toast, all together.” Marcantonio smiles at Ele.

“You’re right. Well then, let’s go get something to drink,” I suggest.

Gin swings around in front of me with great determination. “What is this, another audition?”

I look at her with a smile. “If you like.”

“Sorry, then, you can dream on.”

Marcantonio gets between us. “Can it seriously be that whatever a person says, you’ve got to pick a fight? All I said was let’s all go get something to drink together. A smidgen of enthusiasm, for Pete’s sake!”

Marcantonio shakes his head and then locks arms with Ele. “Come on. Otherwise we’ll be standing here until the sun comes up.” And he leads her off.

Gin stands there, watching her.

“Ouch, so painful. He took your girlfriend away.”

“She’s a big girl, and she knows what she’s doing. The problem would have been if she’d left with you.”

“Why? Would you have been jealous?” I ask.

“Hey, you’re pretty sure of yourself! I would have thrown myself off a cliff. Okay, where did you park your motorcycle?”

“Why?”

“You’re driving me home.”

Chapter 17

When we get to the motorcycle, I climb on and start the engine. Gin tries to get on behind me but I rev it and lurch forward. “Nothing doing, I’m an innovative taxi driver.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You have to pay before you start the ride.”

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