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“I know you’re in there. Open up,” shouted the man who, until recently, had been his best friend.
“Leave me the fuck alone,” he muttered before unlocking and opening the door.
“I heard that,” said Dutch, pushing his way inside and eyeing the duffel bag. “Where you headed?”
“Connecticut,” he lied.
“Seriously?”
“What do you want?” Mantis was in no mood for questioning from anyone, let alone Dutch.
“Alegria is getting out of the hospital today.”
“Glad to hear it.” Mantis had no intention of admitting to Dutch that he already knew she was.
“She’s doing a lot better.”
“I wish her all the best.”
“Look, what happened…”
“Is there another reason you stopped by?”
“Mantis, come on, we’re best friends.”
“Who aren’t seventeen anymore. We don’t hang out. What do you want, Dutch?”
“She told me it was over between the two of you.”
“What is this? Are you here to ask my forgiveness for being in a relationship with my ex-girlfriend? Or is it permission you’re after? Get over yourself, neither of you is that important.”
“You don’t have to be an asshole about it.”
Mantis shook his head. “Alegria and I had a thing. It’s over. Both of us have moved on. How does that make me an asshole?” He looked at his phone. “I need to get to the airfield. Was there anything else?”
Dutch looked out the window and then back at him. “Happy Thanksgiving.”
“Same to you. Now, if you don’t mind…”
Dutch walked out the door, leaving Mantis feeling exactly like the asshole his friend had accused him of being. Maybe he was, but why did Dutch have to get involved with the one woman Mantis knew would always own him? Weren’t there four billion other women in the world he could’ve chosen from?
Maybe he should take that into consideration himself. Given the astronomical number, surely he could find another woman to love heart and soul
.
He checked the time again. At Gunner’s request, he was piloting K19’s commuter jet up to San Luis Obispo from the airfield in Santa Barbara. The only reason time was an issue was because the private plane section of the regional airport was especially busy near the holidays. His flight plan was filed, and if he didn’t get there on time, it might be several hours before he could get another slot.
He was glad now that he’d called Gunner. He’d told the man he was calling to check on Raketa—who was going by Zary now—but was elated when Gunner asked what his plans were for Thanksgiving. It was precisely the reason he’d called.
“I’m a man without a mission,” Mantis had told him.
Gunner had laughed. “You’re welcome to come here. We’re opening a zoo, it appears. All the single animals will be here this week.”
“I appreciate the invitation.”
“By the way,” he’d said. “Striker will be here too.”
That made sense, he was one of the mateless animals. Unlike Dutch and Alegria.
