Too Easy by Bruce Deitrick Price Read Free Book Online Page B

do.”
    â€œI care a lot about you. No, I’ll say it. I love you. Nice words.”
    He stares at her, his eyes bleary. “I can’t stop thinking about you,” he says factually.
    â€œIt’s a start.” She laughs. “I know, I know, the married guys never leave their wives.” She rubs his chest, smiles sort ofsadly. “That’s all right. I’ll take my chances. You’re worth it. Personally, I think we’re a perfect match.”
    He stares some more, amazed at how she touched the big question and just went past it. He embraces her almost feverishly, from desire and confusion and something else, gratitude perhaps. For what she’s given him; and that she keeps on giving more.
    She seems sometimes to think for him, which is frightening. But still a gift. Or they’re so attuned that their thoughts arrive at the same point? Maybe, he thinks, that’s what real love is. Oh, no question about it, he does love her.
    The decision is like a canyon in front of his feet, but in that instant he sees himself somehow on the other side, leaving his wife behind. He and Kathy will always be together, locked in an endless embrace.
    Kathy gives him a final kiss. “You go first,” she says, “catch your train.”
    â€¢Â Â â€¢Â Â â€¢
    Kathy takes a cab to a restaurant near Penn Station. To meet Louise again, quiet her down. Goddamned Keith.
    Louise is waiting inside, smoking nervously.
    â€œAlright, alright,” Kathy says, “how bad is it? You’re here, in one piece. Louise! You are sure he didn’t follow you, right?”
    Louise smirks. “I’m sure.”
    They hug, then Kathy says, “Relax. You’re here to live it up.” She tells the girl with the menus, “Looks like we need the smoking section.”
    They get a table by the far wall, nobody close. Fold their coats over nearby chairs. “This looks good, Louise. Now we can carry on.”
    They order martinis. Louise lights another cigarette. “Nice place,” she says, glancing around at the black and chrome decor. She plays with the matches, rests her elbows on the black table. Sort of nervous, but giving Kathy this smuglook. “Well, don’t you look all rosy-cheeked? Been doing anything you wouldn’t tell Mom about?”
    Kathy laughs. “Alright, now tell me about Keith.”
    â€œLet’s wait for the drinks. Look at men.”
    â€œYou got it.”
    Kathy feels good, fairly calm. Nothing but time, now that Robie’s on a train home. The martinis come and the women touch glasses. “To you,” Kathy says.
    â€œThanks, I need it.” Louise sips half her drink, goes back to puffing on the cigarette. She’s always a little high-strung. Her face pretty enough but tense, watchful. Too much mascara. Always strutting her shoulders so nobody misses the boobs. Kathy never knows what she’ll say next, or what mood she’ll suddenly land in.
    Louise sighs at length.
    â€œLike I said, I have a long day. I’m beat to hell. Probably a good thing in the circumstances. I come home and there’s your ex-man sitting on the sofa, watching the basketball game, having himself a beer. One of mine, I think. I do happen to have two locks on my door.”
    Kathy shakes her head. “Resourceful guy.”
    â€œOh, yeah, Kath. Thank you for sharing that.”
    â€œHe’s just showing off.”
    â€œYeah, he can get in my place any time he wants and kill me. He showed me that much.”
    â€œLouise, be calm, be serious. The man’s probably on probation somewhere. He is not going to do anything that would hurt him. He’s selfish like that.”
    â€œHe pointed out he could rape me and beat me up a little and nobody would do a thing. He also said I’d like it.”
    Kathy laughs. “What a guy. . . . Sorry.”
    â€œYou can laugh. I’m on the front line