Page 55 of Lucky Night

Because his hands are trembling.

He lowers himself to the side of the bed. He takes a deep breath.

He’s a little rattled.

No, not rattled. Disorganized. This is too much, all at once. They were shouting at each other, they were breaking up—were they really?—then came the banging, the rush to the door, now they’re dealing with a plus-size Scandinavian who’s shedding stress like a fucking virus. Who wouldn’t be skittish in those circumstances?

What’s your name? she says into his phone, then holds it up to the Finn.

He needs to get a grip. He’s disappointed, sure. Bitterly. No rescue for them, no salvation, not yet. But there’s nothing to be done about that, so he needs to let itgo.

Edvin? she says. Hi, Edvin! I’m Jenny. She puts a hand on her chest.Jenny.

The Finn nods at her briefly, then returns to his study of her phone.

So did she have an orgasm or not? He thinks she did. Herconfession had the ring of truth. And he’d been skeptical when she said she’d faked it. He knows her, how she feels when she…

Why the fuck is he thinking about orgasms right now? Jesus, he’s all over the place. Outrage still twanging through him. Not to mention a cringing mortification. What was he thinking, exposing himself to her like that? Telling her he thought he was losing her? What did he expect?

Doesn’t matter. It’s over. They’re parting ways. He suggested it, and she agreed.

The Finn—Edvin, apparently—is now chattering away as he scrolls and types. Jenny raises Nick’s phone to capture what he’s saying.

I tried to go down the stairs,the voice from the phone says,but when I opened the door it flake force right moon.

She sighs and taps the screen. Can you repeat that? she says into the microphone.

Calmer now, Nick picks up the receiver and dials the front desk. He proposed they be civil, and he will be, for the rest of this miserable night. That’s two rings. He watches the Finn move away from the window and head for the television, trailing Jenny. Are they really done? Did he overreact? She’d lied to him, but she was trying to make it right. That’s six rings. These useless clowns. Are they just not picking up now? Are they…

There must be someone downstairs.

Right?

He hangs up and redials. Of course there’s someone downstairs. The hot NY1 reporter is still yakking away, though nothing is going on behind her. A few firemen strolling into the building, that’s it. Look at that guy. Captain Sloth. Could he be more unhurried? He’s not dashing toward an inferno—he’s heading in for a colonoscopy.

Jenny is speaking into his phone slowly, eyes on the stranger’s face. She’s so generous with him, so patient. Must be nice. Word of advice, buddy. Don’t expect straightforward answers about her sexual satisfaction, okay?

The mega-Finn is listening to her, scrolling on the phone and glancing at the television. He’s like a carnival creature. In that scrap of a bathrobe that barely reaches his knees. You expect someone that size to be a little tougher. More self-possessed.

They’re still not answering. He hangs up, considering whether he should do something that occurred to him a while ago, but that he decided was unnecessary, too dire, too…

Doesn’t matter. It’s time.

He dials 911.

The line is busy.

He and Jenny can’t be done. He was bewildered, that’s all, caught off guard. He still is. Why would she say she didn’t come when she had? How can you know someone so well, physically, intimately, while inside they’re a black fucking box? But then, why is he surprised? Her lies are always mystifying. Like the age thing. Why does she pretend to be two years younger than she is? Does she think he doesn’t know how to google?

Ei,the Finn says.Ei…

His voice sounds different. A little hollow. He swallows hard.

Edvin. She touches his arm. Are you okay?

The Finn clutches his stomach and runs for the bathroom.

He yanks the door shut behind him, so hard it nearly comes off the track.

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