“Also,” she says, practically turning around to look at me while changing lanes, “what kind of billionaire loses his goddam license? My god, you just bribe a judge.”
“This is America. No one bribes people in America. Can you watch the fucking road?”
“Yes, you do. I know you write emails to your lobbyists.”
“That’s different. That’s just business.”
The dog is barking. He sees his impending death.
I grab onto the door handle as Jenna almost scrapes the cab of a semitruck.
“He’s not supposed to be here.” She rolls down the window. “Trucks over forty tons are not allowed on downtown streets!”
“Pull over.”
“Just sit tight.”
“Pull the fuck over,” I bellow, grabbing the door and wrenching it open.
“Child locks, child locks!” She slams her hand on the button.
Too late.
The car is still moving when I swing out, Jenna yelling my name out the window.
5
JENNA
Iwatch dejectedly as McCarthy slams the car door then stalks into the lobby of the ExoTech Company. I slump in the seat and finally get the Bluetooth to connect to the car system and call my fiancé.
“Yeah.” Nathan sounds distracted.
“Is this a bad time?” I ask anxiously. After the shit show of this morning, my job is toast. All my eggs are in the Nathan basket.
Now there’s a woman talking in the background. A young woman. Younger than me.
We trust Nathan.
“I just, um… wanted to see if you wanted to ride over to the funeral together?”
“Can I get it without mustard… Funeral?” His voice is louder.
“You know, for my ex. I told you last night? I need support…”
There’s silence on the line. Then, “Look, Jelly Bean, I have a lot of work to do.”
My lower lip trembles. “But, Nathan, this is important!”
“Jelly Bean, you know how I feel about the crying. You’re a grown woman, not a little girl. Grow up,” he says with a sigh. “I can’t just be expected to roll over whenever you start sobbing. You and your mom…”
“I’m not,” I say and clear my throat, but I’m sure he can hear the tears in my voice.
“One of us has to keep our job. That engagement ring wasn’t free, you know,” Nathan says. “You’re so bad with money.”
“I know, I know, I—it’s fine. I’ll be fine.” I wipe at my eyes.
“Yeah…What time do you think you’ll be back home, Jelly Bean?”
