Shelby by Pete; McCormack Read Free Book Online

me.”
    â€œI’d love it to be a double date.”
    â€œI’ll see what I can do.”
    I was touched and my nose ran. I sniffed again. “Thank you for caring in these unclear days.”
    â€œFuck you,” he said.
    From the kitchen Eric made phone calls, his voice varying between a normal volume and a mumbling whisper. Trying to eavesdrop, I sat up. He walked back into the front room. “The Aristocratic,” he said, “ten o’clock, Loretta—you met her before.”
    â€œI have?”
    â€œAt the party.”
    â€œWhat party?”
    â€œWhen you missed your exam that night.”
    â€œThat was when all this madness started!”
    â€œAnd another girl’s coming—Suzanne.”
    â€œWhat’s she like?”
    â€œNice. We leave here at 9:45, we’ll take my car. You might have to bus home.”
    Tearing down Broadway in Eric’s worn out convertible I felt like I wanted to drive forever; bathed in darkness and neon, pals side by side, the wind chilly enough to let us know anything could happen at any moment.
    â€œRelax and be yourself,” he said to me as we got out of the car. I appreciated that. “Within reason,” he added.
    Suzanne and Loretta were there when we arrived and the way they perused me made me wonder what Eric had told them on the phone. We sat in a booth and ordered coffee. Loretta was stereotypically attractive, like she could be one of the blackhaired twins on a Doublemint gum commercial. Suzanne had beautifully expressive hands all covered in silver rings—and the nape of her neck reminded me of velvety Naugahyde. When she told me she was a sculptress my heart jumped. From a purely physical standpoint, 99% of all men would choose Loretta over Suzanne. Not me.
    As the evening progressed, Loretta carried the conversation—her most intriguing monologue being fifteen minutes about a steroid user who, on the night she hoped to consummate their relationship, confessed to her that they’d have to wait a couple of months for his testicles to grow back to size. Needless to say, they never made it.
    Stories after that paled in comparison and by midnight I was nodding off. Loretta was still talking. Eric sat holding his face up with his hand, dangling a cigarette in his mouth, desperately trying to look interested. Suzanne seemed to be half asleep, too, her head resting gently on Eric’s shoulder. I could only watch that and sigh …
    â€œWell did you call her?” I opened my eyes to see Loretta in my face. She took a drag on her cigarette.
    â€œSorry?”
    â€œLucy? The girl at the party. You told me you couldn’t wait to.”
    â€œOh! I … I misplaced her number.”
    â€œWhy didn’t you tell me? I’m tellin’ you a reading with her will blow your f-ing mind.”
    â€œReading?”
    â€œPsychic readings, Shelby. Christ. I told you all about it. You sure acted interested when you were telling me your f-ing life story—paranormal this and destiny that.”
    â€œI was interested,” I said. “Does she do future telling?”
    â€œProbably.”
    â€œLike tarot cards and all that?”
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œOuija boards?”
    â€œI’m not sure—but you’ll love it. She’s totally hip with the gods—actually, goddesses. She opened me up a lot. Past lives. Where I was blocking.”
    Eric perked up. “Is she single?”
    â€œI thought you were working on me?” Loretta said with a smile.
    â€œLike a dog,” he said. “I’m asking for Shelby.” Loretta turned to me. I instinctively fixed my hair.
    â€œShe’s a lot older—like thirty-five,” Loretta said, “and way out there … and a real looker. Anyway, I think she’s got a beau.”
    â€œYeah, but she ain’t met the Shel-man,” Eric said, giving me a wink.
    Loretta looked at me and smiled.