Page 84 of Two Marlboros

He grabbed my hand and I followed the movement of his fingers as they unbuttoned my cuffs. Each time he brushed against my skin I was shaken by a cold tremor. He rolled up the sleeve more or less to my elbow, stepped back for a moment and smiled with satisfaction.

“Much, much better. How much longer?”

The doorbell rang.

“This is it, I’d say.”

It was enough to answer the intercom to discover that it was indeed Ash, and I was grateful for that interruption. Nathan and I grabbed our things and left the apartment, getting into my partner’s car. As soon as we mounted the car, me in the passenger seat and Nathan in the back, I was relieved.

“So?” exclaimed Nathan out of nowhere. “What are we going to do tonight?”

Ash cast me a fleeting glance, which I returned without arousing suspicion, smiled, and turned the car on.

“To have some fun, since I’m single again.”

“Oh. I’m sorry. Are you eyeing anyone yet? Or are we going to explore?”

Nathan was a river in flood and Ash was getting completely swept away by it.

“You almost seem more excited than I am.”

“He’s just in nicotine withdrawal,” I explained.

Nathan lunged toward the front seats where Ash and I were, then mocked me with a grimace.

“Funny. Look, mine is a serious problem!”

“At least as serious as your trouser cuff dilemma.”

I felt a hand plunge into my shoulder, so I turned to Nathan, who stuck his tongue out at me.

“Hey!” and Ash’s cry silenced us both. “Can anyone tell me how old you are?”

“I’m twenty-one, he’sforty.”

Ashton burst out laughing, and I avoided replying so as not to drag out the silly argument. I looked out the window, but there was little to observe: we were almost stuck in traffic.

I felt a tap coming up my neck. I immediately snapped toward Nathan, who, however, was giving me one of his “just kidding” smiles.

“Will you satisfy my curiosity, Ash?”

Nathan was back at it.

“Tell me.”

“Why did you bring Alan along?”

I couldn’t see it, but I knew Nathan was about to snicker. He always had it there, about to come out.

“Isn’t it obvious? I’ll need it to politely turn down girls I’m not interested in.”

Nathan burst in laughs like a time bomb. I was actually smiling too, but I didn’t want to give him that satisfaction. He patted me on the back again.

“Congratulations, you’ve just been promoted to fly swatter!”

I shook my head and sighed. “You were so docile half an hour ago.”

“What am I, a little dog?”

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