- Will -
Frank was only a few steps behind me when I placed my racket on the patio table.
“Are you sick of it yet?”
He took a seat next to me. “Sick of what?”
I smiled. “Getting whooped by me.”
“Yeah, actually I am. I haven’t beaten you since-”
“April I think it was?”
“We could always switch to golf.” Frank pulled his sweaty t-shirt away from his chest. “Then I’d get to taste victory again.”
“Your tennis needs work if we’re ever going to beat those pricks from Wesleyan.”
“Why do you care so much?”
“Cause I hate to lose, Frank. Especially to pricks.”
A young doe-eyed waitress with her hair pulled back arrived beside our table. “What can I get you gentlemen?”
“Two Peroni and a plate of sandwiches,” I said.
“Of course, Mr. Abbott.” She tucked a wisp of hair behind her ear.
“And an order of those fries with the Cajun spices, please.”
“Coming right up, Mr. Reynolds.”
I watched her walk away, but it did nothing for me. She had no curves to speak of.
“Cute little ass on her, don’t you think?” Frank asked.
“She’s shaped like a little boy.”
He shrugged. “I would anyway.”
I shook my head. “How can you eat fries after you exercise?”
“I’m starving. Becky’s on a diet again, and I’ve been eating bird seed all week.”
“Bird seed?”
“Flax. I don’t know. Some shit that gives her gas.”
“Charming.”
“Speaking of which. We’re having a dinner party next weekend- flax free. Will you come?”
“Thanks, but no thanks.”
“Why not?”
“Cause I can’t trust you guys anymore after that last charade.”
“It wasn’t that bad.”
“Are you kidding?” I leaned back in my chair. “Becky blatantly invited all her single friends and me. It was an ambush.”
“How was she supposed to know you’d already pissed two of them off?”
“For the record, those money grabbing maniacs pissed me off. They were the two highest maintenance women I’ve ever taken out. I have no reason to think the rest of your wife’s friends are any different.”
“The food was good though.”
“Yeah, it was. But I can get Viccino’s anytime I want, can’t I? Without having to watch my wallet or my mouth?”
“Your mouth?”
“Don’t pretend you ever speak your mind in front of those women. Becky’s friends are the unofficial gossip mill of New York. It’s not safe for a guy like me to even be around them.”
“It’s not that bad.”
“Yes it is. I have to protect what little privacy I have which means I’ve no interest in touching any of those social climbers with a ten foot pole.”
He rolled his eyes.
“Honestly, if I wanted your wife to know everything about my sex life, I’d just sleep with her myself.”
“Fuck off. You don’t have to say that just to get out of coming to dinner.”
The waitress showed up with our drinks, our food, and a pitcher of ice water.
“Thanks.” I checked her name tag. “Marion, is it?”
She blushed. “Yes, sir.”
“Thanks, Marion,” I said again.
“Is there anything else I can get you gentlemen?”
“No. I think we’re all set.” I didn’t bother watching her walk away this time.
“Do you always have to flirt with the waitress?” Frank asked when she was out of ear shot.
“I was just being polite.”
“Sure you were. She turned red as a tomato.”
“That’s because women are defenseless to my good looks. I can’t help it. It’s a curse.”
“Whatever. If you’re all that irresistible why haven’t you gotten back out there and started dating?”
“No one has peaked my interest.”
“Bull shit.” He grabbed a handful of fries. “Are you still sleeping with Laura?”
I stuffed a finger sandwich in my mouth.
“Jesus, Will. Why?”
“Why not?”
“Cause you can’t move on if you’re still fucking your ex. Even teenagers know that.”
I shrugged. “It’s easy, and there are no surprises. Plus, it doesn’t distract me from my work cause she doesn’t want anything else from me.”
“That’s cold, man. You’re cold.”
“That’s what she said.”
He lifted his beer to his lips. “What are you talking about?”
“She said I’m incapable of love.”
“What a bitch.”
It bothered me to hear him call Laura a bitch, but I let it slide. After all, he only ever heard about her when she was shitty to me.
I poured some ice water into our glasses. “She thinks I don’t even know what love is and that all I do is think about myself and my work.”
“Well those things might be true.”
I set the pitcher down and looked at him. “I’m listening.”
“All you think about is yourself and your work- but as far as not knowing what love is- I think that’s only because you haven’t found it yet.” He leaned back in his chair. “Personally, I don’t think anyone really knows what love is until they find it.”
I rolled my eyes.
“I’m serious.”
“So you don’t think I ever loved Laura either?”
“I think you loved Laura for the same reason you love your job.”
I raised my eyebrows.
“Because she’s challenging, and you love a challenge.”
“Hmmm.”
“But there’s nothing challenging about fucking your sex obsessed ex-wife. That’s why I’m surprised you’re still even interested in doing that.”
“It’s only temporary. I’m not looking for anything serious right now. I have too much going on.”
“I’m not saying you have to get into anything serious. I’m just saying you ought to get back out there and have a little fun.”
“I understand.”
“With someone else.”
“Right.”
“Who doesn’t have a long history of screwing you.”
“That’s enough.”
“How was the benefit last night?”
“Good. Sorry you couldn’t make it.”
“Emily got my note though, right?”
“Yeah. The time share in Napa is all yours. I’m sure Emily will have the contracts over to you first thing next week.”
“Great. Anyone choke on any horderves this time?”
“No. We make them smaller now.”
He shook his head. “God. Some idiot always has to ruin it for everyone else. So nothing interesting happened then?”
“Not really, but I may have met someone that might be a good hire.”
“Oh really?”
“Yeah. Recent college grad.” I didn’t know why I was telling him about Ella. Did I want to talk about her that badly?
“A college grad?”
“Yeah. I might bring her on if I think she’s got potential.”
“Well that explains it.”
“What?”
“It’s a chick.”
“She’s a young woman.”
“I bet she is. Fresh out of college. Probably all bright eyed and eager to please.”
“Hopefully.”
“What a nice thing for you to do.” The sarcasm in his voice was thick.
“It’s sort of an experiment.”
“About how long it takes you to get in her pants?”
“No, actually.” He was annoying me now. “I want to see if she’s easier to train because she won’t have picked up a bunch of bad habits from previous employers.”
“Sounds like she’s going to be your new bad habit.”
“Jesus, Frank. Do you always have to be such a sexist ass?”
He shrugged. “Is it going to be a problem for you that she’s beautiful?”
I squinted at him.
“Oh come on. She’s obviously attractive or you wouldn’t be so interested in training her to work with you. Especially if she’s got no experience.”
“The fact that she’s good looking is a coincidence.”
“Tell yourself whatever you want. Nothing in your world is ever a coincidence. Your life is like a finely orchestrated symphony.”
I smiled. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
He rolled his eyes. “It’s really a compliment for Emily.”
“Can’t argue with that.”
“Does she know you’re bringing on a new experiment?”
“No, but she’s always very supportive, and unlike you, she’ll understand that I am just trying to do a nice thing for someone.”
“For absolutely no reason other than that you’re such a nice guy.”
“That’s right,” I said. But I didn’t believe me any more than he did.