Page 111 of Rhymes with Metaphor
“Let’s talk about this later, right?”said Reg to Martin.He raised his voice and waved, “Goodnight, Juliet.”
Juliet waved, looking puzzled, but Martin conceded defeat and stalked off to join her.Reg made his way back to his car.Martin squealed his tires pulling onto the road.Reg got into the car.
“When you see your sister next, you should probably tell her about us.”
“Why?It’s none of her business.”
“Because if you don’t, Martin will.I’d ask him to keep quiet, but I suspect his loyalty is with her now, not me.”
“Where’s yours?”said Joel.
“You know where mine is,” said Reg, looking at him.
They held hands while Reg drove them home, troubled by the knowledge that the quiet peace they had found together had come to an end.
The next day, Reg got a text from Martin:
Tate’s Coffee Shop, 1 p.m.
Reg arrived at 1:15 to find Martin sitting at a table in the corner, arms crossed, pretending to read a copy ofThe New Yorker.Reg got himself a cup of revolting coffee and sat opposite him.
“Late, as usual,” said Martin.
“Has Juliet put you up to this?”
“I haven’t told her.I can only imagine what finding out would do to her.She’s under a lot of strain, and half of it’s from worrying about Joel.How long has this been going on?”
“Three months,” said Reg.
“Pounced on him the second we left England, did you?And don’t tell me it’s all right because he’s mature for his age.”
“In some ways he’s considerably younger than his age.”
“That makes it even worse.Juliet didn’t want to leave him behind in England, but Ivouchedfor you.”
“He didn’t need Juliet’s permission to stay in England,” said Reg.
“All along, while you were pretending to care about his welfare, you just wanted to fuck him.”
“I haven’t fucked him, as it happens.”
“I don’t want to know the details,” said Martin.“I can guess what happened.You got him drunk and took advantage.”
“I didn’t know your talents extended to writing fairytales.”
“I didn’t know yours extended to seducing teenagers.Why him, Reg?Of all the people you could have picked—and you have your pick—why did it have to be him?”
“You know I don’t have my pick,” said Reg quietly.
“What does your married boyfriend think of all this?”
“I ended it with him before anything happened with Joel,” said Reg.“And for the record, he was never married.”
“Stop pretending this is all proper and aboveboard.You’re dating a teenager.”
“I don’t know what you’re hoping to achieve by giving me this lecture.Joel is an adult.He can go where he likes and do what he likeswithwhomever he likes.”
“You need to do the right thing, Reg.And that’s moving him out of your place and helping him find one of his own.”
