Shemakesagoodpoint,Wes.Backoff.
“Cut the shit, Rose. I ran into Jeff at Bones tonight. Said he had to leave to go pick up the golf cart you left outside Starlight. Said it’s the second time he’s had to do it this week.”
Knew I should’ve gone back for it myself in the morning.
“The hell were you doing at a strip club, Rose?”
I can’t help my smile, wondering how she’s going to handle this one.
But at the same time, I want to stomp out there and tell him to back off. Because I don’t remember her inviting him in.
“It’s not a—well, it wasn’t tonight. There was this event, and I wanted to go.”
Thisisn’tgoingtoendwell.
I’ve been on the other end of this two-way conversationbefore and it always gets pretty heated.
“What’s the event?”
Herewego.
“None of your business,” Rose snaps back.
There’s silence for a moment and I wonder what’s going on.
I hear his footsteps move deeper into the house. Then his voice, as if he’s reading from something. My guess is his phone. “Starlight, closed for a private event.” There’s a pause. “Speed-dating? Really, Rose?”
I hear her laugh, instant relief washing over me. “You should try it sometime, maybe you won’t be so cranky if you got laid.”
“I’m not cranky. I’m worried about you. And is that whatyouwere doing? Trying to get laid?”
I still. Half wondering the answer, the other half wanting to level him.
“Wesley. It’s late. I’m tired. Please go.”
I hear movement and it sounds like he’s landed on the sofa where I was just about to do God-knows-what to his little sister.
He sighs. “Fine, you’re right. You’re an adult, it’s a weekend and you’re single. So tell me then, how’d it go?”
“Wesley, enough. Please go.”
My heart pounds in my chest because I know if she asks again and he doesn’t, then I’m going to have to make my presence known.
“What? I’m curious. Did you meet anyone? Heck, if it worked for you, I might sign up for the next one.”
“For God’s sake, I wasn’t planning on going out with any of them. I just wanted to have fun, explore, get to know people around here.”
Another sigh. His voice softening. “Rose, you can’t just go out meeting strangers, especially in a strange town.”
“Didn’t realize I was a prisoner. And if that was your intention here, I’m on the next plane back to New York, Wes.”
“I meant I don’t want you outat nighthere by yourself.”
“Wesley, I don’t show up at your door at one in the morning. Please pay me the same respect.”
“I’m trying to make sense of what you want so maybe I can help. You wanted to be a doctor, atherapist. It’s all you ever talked about. Then you pick up a paintbrush—your senior year, no less—and decide to live every day like it’s your last? What’s going on with you?”
I hang on to every word like it’s the key to her puzzle.
