Page 32 of Lucky Night

There’s no fire. Jenny, cometo—

Why haven’t we heard anything? It’s been over an hour.

They said it would take time. Honey. Are you still scared?

Of course I’m still scared, she says.Honey.

The emphasis there, that dark and loadedhoney,that’s not good. She’s planted at the foot of the bed, scowling at him. Did something happen while she was in the bathroom?

He sets the bottle on the nightstand and goes to her.

You seemed fine, he says. You said you were okay. I wish you’d told me you were still nervous.

Yeah, well, honesty isn’t really our thing, is it, Nick?

Okay, so something definitely happened in the bathroom. Didshe get an upsetting text from Tom? He knows he hasn’t done anything. He’s been nothing but patient.

He moves toward the phone. How about I call down?

She follows him. The alarms, the announcement, she says. The fact that we’re trapped. None of that bothers you?

I wouldn’t say we’re trapped.

Don’t quibble.

Jenny, I don’t think you’re being very—

Does anything bother you? she says. Ever?

Why is he being attacked?

He hasn’t done anything!

Plenty of things bother me, he says carefully.

Has anything ever not gone your way? Have you ever been disappointed?

He wants to laugh, but that would only make things worse. Still.Have you ever been disappointed?She has no idea.

Jenny, I understand you’re anxious, and I’m sorry I didn’t—

Answer the question, Nick.

Have I been disappointed? he says. Of course I have.

Yeah? Tell me aboutit.

Look, I don’t know what happened in the bathroom, but I haven’t done any—

Oh, no. You’re great! Her voice rises. You’ve beensuper.But it’s easy, isn’t it? I mean, it must be easy to be you. On top of the world. Better than me, smarter thanme—

Jenny, what the hell are you—

Don’t interrupt! She jabs a finger at his chest. You’re always interrupting me! Because you’re the boss, right? You know best, you’re in charge, you get to talk,to—

The smoke detector chirps.

They lookup.

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