Amateurs by Dylan Hicks Read Free Book Online

keep up on music.”
    â€œNo, no, it’s the people excluded from unemployment figures because they’ve stopped looking.”
    â€œOh, right, yes,” Karyn said.
    â€œLucas has joined their ranks.” A moment of mute sympathy. “There was an ill-starred entrepreneurial endeavor as well. The greater exigency from my vantage is that he says his car trouble will keep him away from our wedding. He can’t afford to hire a car and obviously can’t afford to fly. So,” she sighed, “I’m wondering if you might consider car sharing with him to Winnipeg.”
    â€œGive him a ride, you mean?”
    â€œHe was trying to convince me to bring him in as the DJ, but I fear that’s not quite the fix. It’s how we met, actually: he the wedding DJ, I the too, too intoxicated dancer. Brilliant music, but there was something wrong, a balky needle or something with the calibration of the tonearms—I can’t claim a consummate understanding of the technicalities, but the records kept skipping.” She imitated the sound. “I suppose I could pay his way, but I’ve already established a dangerous precedent of charity.”
    â€œYeah, I—”
    â€œIt’s vital to me that Lucas attend the wedding. Naturally at this stage I’m inclined to believe this will be my only wedding, and just as naturally I want to be amidst the people I care most about—as well as interesting new people such as yourself! I’ll confess to you now that there was a time I fancied Lucas almost intensely”—Karyn weighed how and whether one should modify intensely —“and saw myself walking the aisle towards him, though in the end we couldn’t make a go of it.”
    Gemma seemed to expect an answer to a question Karyn had lost sight of. “I guess I was looking forward to a road trip with just my son,” Karyn said after a moment. “Sometimes it’s hard to get kids to talk, you know, but a lot can come out on a long drive.”
    â€œVomit, for instance,” Gemma said.
    A hesitant laugh from Karyn.
    â€œI only say so because I’m susceptible to carsickness, motion sickness of all stripes, really. I recently became dizzy while riding an extremely aged and sweet-tempered horse.”
    â€œHmm.”
    â€œOn even terrain.”
    â€œThat must be frustrating,” Karyn said.
    â€œThe horse was called Sleepy.”
    â€œStill, I think it’d be nice for Maxwell and me to be alone.”
    â€œBut you practically would be alone.”
    â€œWell, we’d be with your friend.”
    â€œLet me ask you something, Karyn:”—like someone selling a dishwasher, Karyn thought—“When you share a taxi with a friend, do you think, Oh, we had better include the driver in every aspect of our conversation, we certainly wouldn’t want him to feel left out, or do you proceed essentially as if you were alone?”
    â€œIf anything I’d be more likely to chat with the cabby if I had a friend to act as a buffer.”
    â€œLucas would be mortified if he knew I was asking you this favor. Mortified. He’s not a freeloader or an idler at heart.”
    â€œIt’s not that I have any objection to him,” Karyn said, “except that he’s a stranger.”
    â€œYes, well, perhaps it would be better, then, for the two of you to meet in advance.”
    â€œWait, is this whole thing—”
    Gemma interrupted, “Sorry, one moment.” Now to someone else: “Oh, how thrilling!” To Karyn: “ Publishers Weekly has given Archer’s new book a starred review. What do you think of the title, Karyn, The Second Stranger ? It’s too late for changes, so do say you approve.”
    â€œ The Second Stranger, ” Karyn said thoughtfully. “What was I supposed to say again?”
    â€œThat you like it.”
    â€œI like it.”
    â€œIt’s quite an unusual