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“Aha.”
“What do you mean,aha?” She prickled.
“Nothing.” I raised my palms in mock innocence.
She squinted at me with suspicion. “You’ve clearly got something to say. Go ahead, you won’t offend my delicate senses.”
“I bet he watchedEverestand decided it’d be cool to see the mountain up close.”
Mount Everest was by far the most gorgeous sight I’d ever laid eyes on. I planned on climbing it again before I hit fifty.
“I’ll have you know he’ll be teaching English to monks,” she said protectively.
I threw my head back and laughed, while Duffy stood there and stared at me, lava-tipped arrows shooting from her eyes straight to my face.
“What’s so bloody hilarious?” she demanded.
“Those programs are semiscams. They’re for patronizing Westerners who want to feel good about themselves. You know he needs to actuallypayto stay there, right? Like, a couple hundred bucks a week. About twenty-five thousand Nepali rupees. I survived on that kind of money for an entiremonth, in semiluxurious conditions last time I was there.” Islapped my thigh, cackling. “Only white rich dudes from New England go around thinkingtheycan teach monks shit and not vice versa.”
Duffy’s lips were now pressed into a disapproving line. “He’s not from New England. He’s from Westchester.”
That only made me laugh harder. “You’re killing me, kid.”
“I’m not a kid.”
“Yes, you are, and a very sweet one, under those ridiculous high-end clothes and fake posh accent.”
That last comment made her flinch, which confirmed my suspicion she was putting on a show. She poured water and milk into our teas and brought them over to the coffee table, shaking with anger. “You wouldn’t understand. It’s about self-growth. He doesn’t care about the money.”
“You mean he’s rich, unlike me?” I grinned, pleased. “Well, that explains why you’re only semibroken up and not completely finished.”
“He’s doing well for himself, yes. There’s no shame in that.”
“You still think he’ll have a change of heart and you’ll get to be Mrs. Moneybags.”
She gave me a blank stare. “Believe it or not, I love him.”
The only thing that helped me calm down from my fit of laughter was the knowledge she was extremely tempted to toss hot tea in my face. To my surprise, she handed me two Tylenols.
“For your head tomorrow,” she mumbled.
“I’m not that drunk,” I pointed out.
“God, I was hoping you were. The things that come out of your mouth are outrageous.”
I accepted the tea and acetaminophen gratefully.
“At any rate, I should let you know up front.” Duffy tipped her chin up. “Once he comes back and realizes the error of his ways, this arrangement is over.”
I covered my mouth with my fist to stifle another laugh. This woman was marrying a whole-ass stranger, and she was talking to meabout being in love with her ex-boyfriend. I wondered at what point in recent history logic had filed a restraining order against her.
“I understand.” I nodded solemnly. “Thanks for clarifying.”
“Look, I gathered you’re quite the lothario.” She took a sip of her tea. “Props to you, I’m not one to judge. But BJ and I—”
“Hold the press.” I held up a hand. “His name isBJ?”
“Brendan Jr.”
