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“Please don’t try. Forget my problems. Think about your opportunities, a new girlfriend, a promising job… Tell me about your job. Are you in an office or touring sites?”
Finally, Kasem abandoned the sticky subject and launched into a description of his job, work he seemed to like a lot, at a place where he was greatly appreciated.
“I think I’d better go now.” He smiled widely. “I’m meeting Tracy at the bar.”
“Have fun.” Royce answered without smiling. If onlyhecould meet Susan…
“One question before I go. Since I live here, is it okay if I bring Tracy to my room once in a while?”
Bring Tracyhere? To his condo? Susan would have a fit.
“I have no other place to take her for… I mean…”
“Okay, okay. No problem. Just let me know ahead of time so that I can vacate the place or lock myself in my room.”
“Thank you. You’re a real friend. Bye, now. It’s Friday night, a good night for fun.”
“Bye, have fun.”
Damn it. Tracy here.Susan would never believe he’d agreed only to help her, to let Kasem get himself entangled with the blonde siren.
Lonely and in a rotten mood, Royce poured himself a double scotch on the rocks and raised his glass in a toast. “To you, Royce Winston. You are an unlucky bastard who has the misfortune of falling in love with the most unreachable beautiful woman.” He swallowed his drink bottoms up, collapsed in a chair and held his head with both hands.
His phone rang. His skull hurting, he ignored the ring for a few seconds. It stopped. Good, he wasn’t in a chatting mood. The chiming started again. Cursing, Royce reached into his pocket.
Susan’s smiling picture stared at him. “Susan?” Her first call in ten days.
“Hi Royce. Is it a bad time?”
“No, not at all.” He had trouble collecting his wits.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Huh… nothing. All’s good.”
She paused for a few seconds. “Why’s your language sluggish? Are you drunk? Don’t tell me you’re at the bar again?”
“No, not at the bar. I’m home, drinking by myself to forget my misery. A double scotch, not enough.”
“What? Why Royce?”
“Cause I miss you like hell, that’s why.” His head hurt too much for him to invent an excuse. “I want to forget—”
“No, please don’t forget me, Royce. I want you with me.”
“Huh…” Damn it, he’d drunk more than he thought and was imagining things, nice crazy things, like Susan wanting him. “You want what?”
“I was going to ask you to come here, but you can’t drive in that shape. Is Kasem home?”
“No, he just left. Out for the evening.”
“Good. I’m coming to pick you up.”
“You?” He doubted his hearing.
“Yes. Just wait for me downstairs, in front of your building.”
“Ah.” Was he dreaming? He dragged himself to the kitchen sink and splashed water on his face.
