Page 40 of You Spin Me

“Well, she sounds… It sounded like you like her. Like,likeher, like her.”

“Don’t be stupid.”

“You’re the stupidhead.”

“You can’t win that battle with me.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Dunderhead. That was pretty funny when you called her that. Or was it chowderhead?” She laughs, like this is all no big deal. “Hey, I know. Why don’t you bring her to dinner Sunday?”

“I can’t do that.”

“Why not? Is she in a mental institution or something? Is that what she was talking about? It was a little confusing.”

“No, you idiot. I’ve never met her. We just talk on the phone.”

She sighs. “Who’s the idiot in this scenario? Why haven’t you met her?”

“Do you really have to ask that?”

“You have got to get over yourself already. Your scars are hardly noticeable now.”

“That’s because you’re comparing them to when they were brand spankin’ new. Plus, you see them every week. Believe me, people still notice them.”

“So, whatever. If she’s a cool chick, she won’t care.”

“And if she does care?”

“Then why are you wasting your time talking to her?”

“Yeah. Well. I gotta go. The dog needs a walk.”

“Yeah, well, your nephew needs both my hands.” She grunts, and I hear baby gurgles. “Danny says hi.”

“Hi, Danny. Bye, Danny. Bye, Penny. See you Sunday.”

“Let me know if you want to bring her?—”

I hang up before she can say it.

Worryabout what I’ve done dogs me the rest of the day, through my workout, through a trip to the post office to mail letters, through the routines I have to rush through because I slept so late. I even make a half-hearted attempt to find Jessica by calling the Chichester theater. Unfortunately, they won’t give me her home number.

Jones usually takes off early on Fridays since he spins for the station on the weekends, so I’m half relieved, half anxious when I find him in his office. “Why are you still here?”

He just looks at me.

Fuck. Penny was right. “Listen, I don’t know exactly what happened last night, but I was using some new headset so I could…” No way am I telling him about what Jess means to me since I can’t even figure it out myself. “So it’s easier to take calls. I must’ve pushed some wrong button when I broadcast that call, but I’ll figure it out.”

He still doesn’t say anything.

“Or I’ll chuck the headset. I’m not sure where Talia got it. It’s not her fault, though. I asked her to get it for me.”

“Are you done?”

“Am I in trouble?”

He takes a deep breath and blows it out again before answering. “The answering machine blew up last night with requests for more about the girl with the learning disability. Calls have been coming in all day long too.”

Rubbing my eyebrow, I have to stifle a growl. “It was a fucking mistake, Jones.”

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