The Position by Izzy Mason Read Free Book Online Page B

the park and get some more tonic water. See you on the flip side, Mickey. Good luck tomorrow.”  
    Liz and I watch Travis toddle off down the sidewalk in a weaving line. “Yeah, that’s what he needs,” I quip. “More drinks.”  
    Liz laughs and shrugs. She gazes after him, her eyes full of affection. “I like him, Mickey,” she says in a low voice. “I like him a lot.”
    I nod and smile. “He’s a good egg, that one.”  
    She looks at me, the smile gone from her face. “He’s going to break my heart, isn’t he?”  
    Yes, I think. Without a doubt. But I don’t want to make her feel bad. “How should I know?”  
    Liz shakes her head and takes a drink. For a long time she stares out at the empty street, her eyes glassy with gin. She looks sad, as if she’s mourning the end of her relationship before it even happens. “Dammit,” she groans. “I didn’t want to like him. I didn’t want to like anybody. Guys are only fun if you have nothing invested. Once you start to fall for them, everything sucks.”  
    I sit there quietly, not knowing what to say. It’s not like I have a lot of experience to contribute to the conversation. All I know is that falling in love with someone who will never, ever love you back seriously sucks. Finally, I look at her and smile. “Then try to keep it light.”  
    She nods and forces a smile. “Yeah. Light is good.”  
    Liz shivers and squints up at the sky. “I’m cold. I’m going home to change. Are you taking off?”  
    “Yeah.” I raise my arms to stretch and realize that I reek from riding my bike home from work in the heat. That’ll be nice tomorrow morning. I can be ugly *and* smell revolting. “Actually, I think I’ll take a quick shower.”
    Liz puts down her glass and heads for the porch stairs. The alcohol seems to have made her plaintive rather than giddy. “Tell Travis I’ll be back soon.” She turns back with anxious eyes. “And Mickey…don’t tell him I said anything, okay?”  
    Poor Liz. If it were up to me, I’d make Travis stay with her forever. But as they say, the heart wants what it wants, and you can’t force someone to love you. I know that better than anyone.  
    I give her an encouraging smile. “No problem. And don’t worry so much. Travis obviously likes you. A lot.”  
    I go inside and take a long, hot shower. I think about Liz trying not to fall in love. The heart is such a traitor. I feel like I never even had a choice with Lazarus. Even after I found out that he hired me just to help keep his dick in his pants, I still went head over heels like an idiot.  
    I don’t want to, but I imagine Lazarus in the shower with me. As I let the soap slide over my body, I imagine it’s his warm hand. When I slide it between my legs I sigh and shudder. What would it be like to feel his naked body pressed against my backside? Is his chest smooth or hairy? I’m starting to think that I might spontaneously combust if I touched him like that. Or if he touched me.  
    Finally, I turn off the water and step out of the tub. Thick steam hangs in the air and the mirror has disappeared completely. I’m standing there naked, toweling off my long hair, when the door opens. There’s no lock, but I’ve never had to worry about Travis barging in. He would never do that. Except that today he does.
    “Hey, gorgeous,” he calls. “You ready for round two?”  
    I gasp and hold the towel in front of me. “What the fuck!”  
    Travis sways slightly from the alcohol. When he realizes it’s me, he nearly jumps out of his skin. “Oh, shit! Mickey! What are you…?”  
    Then his eyes fix on my body. He closes the door and leans against it for support. “Jesus, Mickey,” he mumbles.  
    I feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone or the Bizarro world or wherever the hell it is that my best friend has turned into a salivating maniac. “Get the fuck out!” I shout.  
    But he just stands there, running a hand through his thick black