“So,” Mark sounded like he was changing the subject, and I was glad for that, “you want to come tonight?”
“To your gig? You think Harun will be okay here alone?” I asked.
“I’m sure he’ll be fine. We’ll give him his meds. Make him a comfy bed. We can even put a movie on for him. Something with dogs in.”
“Mmmm . . . I’m not sure.”
“You don’t want to leave him?” Mark asked softly.
I shook my head. “I don’t know. I’m worried about him.”
“We can call Samirah and ask her?” he suggested.
“Okay.”
We walked back inside and Mark bent over and picked a landline up from the floor, as if it had just been discarded there. He held it out to me.
“I can’t remember the last time I used one of these,” I said. “And look, it has buttons. How cute.”
Mark gave a sarcastic chuckle. He flipped open a small book full of telephone numbers and ran his finger down the list.
“Cute. Phone contacts,” I mumbled, looking down at it.
“I never use this phone. No need. Everything is such a short distance here that people usually drive when they want to get hold of you.”
“It’s like living in the past,” I said, as he dialed the number and passed the phone over to me.
“Hello,” Samirah answered.
“Hey. It’s me. Frankie,” I said.
“Is Harun okay?” she asked immediately.
“He’s fine. I just wanted to know if it was alright to leave him for a little while tonight. Will he be okay?”
“Yes, just give him his meds and keep him confined,” she said.
“You sure?” I asked.
“Totally. You going out tonight?”
“Mark invited me to this gig tonight,” I said dismissively.
“Oh great! I’ll be there too. Will be cool to see you.”
“Really?”
“Faizel also plays in the band. It’s nice that you and Mark are getting close.”
I looked over to see where Mark was, and when I was sure he was out of earshot, I cupped my hand around the mouthpiece and whispered, “Mark just asked if I wanted to come, that’s all,” I said. “We’re not that close.”
“Where are you?” she asked as if she already psychically knew the answer.
“At Mark’s. I got kicked out of the hotel with Harun. Mark said I could stay here for a little while.”
“Cool,” she said. But she said it in a strange tone that I wasn’t very fond of. “See you guys soon.” She hung up before I could say anything else.
CHAPTER 31
