Page 99 of Lucky Night

I did.

Three thousand? she says. For one night?

I was trying to impress you, remember?

That’s insane! she cries.

You aren’t flattered? I picked the finest room, for the finest pieceof—

Oh my God, stop!

He sips his juice. I thought you’d be pleased. It’s a junior suite. And the price was even higher because…

Because why?

He doesn’t answer. He’s suddenly absorbed in whatever Brian is saying.

Why was the price higher?

He sighs and rubs his face.

Nick?

The price was higher, he says at last, because I chose a room on a high floor.

She sits down heavily and covers her face with her hands.

He rubs her back.

The good news is, the FDNY believes that the steel-frame structure is fundamentally stable, despite the severity of the explosion. A team of engineers and architects is working to assess the situation, but structural damage may be minimal.

He flips through the channels. She walks in a circle, twirling a lock of her hair.

The fire department has also confirmed that the original fire on the twenty-first floor has been contained. All efforts are now being directed to the situation on the floors above.

What did you mean when you said you’d never lost? he asks.

What?

Earlier. When you were, you know…

Out of my mind?

Basically. You said this was all your fault, and God was going to make you lose. You were so distressed. What’s got God all workedup?

She roams over to the sofa. Then the desk. Circling again. There’s nowhere to go. She comes back and sits beside him.

It’s this superstition I have, she says. It’s nagged at me for a while now. The feeling that something horrible is going to happen to me because I haven’t suffered enough in life.

Jesus, Jenny.

I know. It’s totally irrational, but it preys on me. Because I’ve never ever experienced anything really bad. I’ve got great health, I love my work, I have money, wonderful parents who are still alive, happy kids, a loving partner. I’ve never been traumatized, never truly grieved. And sometimes I think, well, it’s coming for me. And the longer it takes to get here, the worse it’s going to be, you know? Like an overdue earthquake.

Tom cheated on you, he points out. A lot of people would consider that traumatic.

She shrugs. It was temporary. I got overit.

Well, I don’t think your overdue earthquake is happening tonight.

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