Happy All the Time by Laurie Colwin Read Free Book Online Page B

the corner from Misty’s apartment. Misty was investigating the tablecloth and Vincent was staring at his whisky. Neither of them had spoken except to the waitress, who took their order. Vincent took this silence as a good sign—of what he was not sure. Among the things that Misty said she hated was small talk. This made things somewhat difficult for Vincent, who was used to small talk with women. He decided to make the first move by saying the first thing that came into his head.
    â€œI’m sorry to have bothered you,” he began.
    â€œBothered me?” said Misty.
    â€œCalling you on the intercom and all.”
    â€œWhat all? What bother?”
    Vincent took a deep breath. “It’s just a figure of speech,” he said.
    â€œI hate figures of speech,” said Misty calmly.
    Vincent took another deep breath and pressed on.
    â€œWhat I mean to say is, I’m sorry to have kissed you like that yesterday.”
    Misty lifted her eyes from the tablecloth. The most remote flicker of a smile crossed her lips.
    â€œIs that really what you mean to say?” she said.
    â€œI thought it was,” said Vincent.
    â€œThink again,” said Misty. The flicker had turned into a real smile, a smile that looked almost warm. That, of course, was an excellent sign. “Did you actually drag me out to dinner to tell me that you didn’t mean to kiss me?” She was still smiling.
    â€œI’m sorry,” said Vincent. “I was just being conversational.”
    â€œConversational about kissing?” said Misty. “Very interesting.”
    â€œWhat I meant to say is that I wanted to kiss you, but I didn’t mean to.”
    â€œWell, that certainly clears things up,” said Misty. “You and I seem to have very different ideas about intent and about kissing.”
    â€œI mean, you can’t just go around kissing people,” said Vincent.
    â€œYou did,” said Misty. She looked at him thoughtfully. “You know what?” she said.
    â€œAnd furthermore,” interrupted Vincent, “I want to know if that fellow I saw you with last night … I mean, I was wondering who he was.”
    â€œYou were wondering?” said Misty. “You know what the trouble with you is? You’re smart but in all the wrong ways. First you kiss me. Then you say you didn’t mean to. Then you run into me with some nearsighted woman on your arm and then you want to know who was that fellow you saw me with. I ask you.”
    Relief left Vincent quickly. What a dark mistake his life had been. Misty looked very calm and cool. There was no particular expression on her face. Was it a good sign that she had noticed Winnie’s myopia or was it simply ammunition gathering? Her calmness was extremely forbidding. He decided, since he could not figure out what else to do, to continue being the fool he was.
    â€œThe girl you saw me with last night is a sort of casual friend,” said Vincent. “Or rather she was.”
    â€œIs ‘casual friend’ a figure of speech too?”
    â€œI used to sleep with her,” said Vincent. “For no good reason.”
    â€œI’m not interested in your disgusting social habits,” said Misty.
    â€œShe’s married to a fellow called Toad.”
    A huge smile lit Misty’s face.
    â€œToad,” she said. “How adorable. Why is it that you upper-class types always name yourselves after reptiles?”
    â€œAmphibians,” said Vincent. “Now, who was that man?”
    â€œI am under no obligation to tell you anything,” said Misty.
    â€œI told you,” said Vincent. “It isn’t fair.”
    â€œNo?” said Misty. “Well, here’s a revelation for you. You don’t have to be fair in this world.”
    â€œI’ll pay you to tell me,” said Vincent. He pulled his wallet out of his jacket.
    â€œMy goodness,” said Misty. “You really are