Page 62 of Total Exposure

“What happened?” he asks.

“What do you mean?”

“Obviously you’re calling, asking what I think of this girl, for a reason. So what happened?”

“Nothing,” I say, thankful that didn’t come out defensive. “She’s just… wound up tight, ya know.”

“Bottled the fuck up,” Jordan says. “Which is why we’re here. Push her to face her fear. I’m surprised she stayed, actually.”

“Why?”

“Because Lucinda told me she’s been locked away in her apartment for like ten years.”

“Lucinda,” I say. “That’s the doctor. Evangeline’s mentioned her.”

Now it’s not a shrug I detect. It’s a stiffening. “Tell me you did not talk to her, Ixion. I will be so fucking pissed off—”

“Relax,” I say, my eyes darting to the screen in front of me just in time to see her turn over in bed and stick her foot out from under the covers. She must be hot. “She was talking to the cameras.”

“Crazy bitch,” he says. And not in a joking way, either.

“Why the hell are you so antagonistic about her? Is there something I’m missing?”

“Like I said,” Jordan explains. “She’s weird. And she’s not really my client. I’m just doing a favor for Lucinda.”

“Your client?” I ask. “What’s that mean? You do this kind of thing often?”

He laughs. “Need-to-know basis, Ixion. Just do your job.”

“Are the others all being watched?” I ask. And then I quickly add, “Just asking in case you need me again.”

“No one but Evangeline Rolaine has this stupid phobia. Most of them are just your run-of-the-mill sexually repressed thirty-somethings.”

“Hmm,” I say. “So why me, Jordan? Why, after all these years, do you suddenly care?”

He’s silent for a few moments. Then he clears his throat and says, “You know I never meant—”

“Yeah.” I cut him off. “Sure. I know.”

“Don’t be a dick. I got you out of jail. She never pressed charges.”

No. She never did that. She did something much worse. “We’re not even,” I say back. “Not even close. And I never asked you for that favor.”

“I didn’t mean to hurt her,” Jordan whispers back.

“What about me?”

“Dude…” He exhales, lets the silence stretch again. “I chose you.”

“Did you?” I laugh, my words hoarse and low.

“You know I did. She didn’t really get hurt, ya know. She never loved you like that.”

If he was here right now I’d knock his fucking teeth out for that comment. He has no idea what I lost when she left.

“I made a mistake, OK?” Jordan says. “Everyone makes mistakes. But I fixed it as best I could. I never did it again.”

“That’s funny,” I counter. “You’re still playing games with people.”