Page 47 of My Rock Star Neighbor
“Nothing?And here I thought you might be the key.”She leans back, seeming more relaxed.
He shakes his head.
Maddie sips her drink.Finally.I was beginning to worry that she knew something I didn’t and that I wasn’t supposed to drink any beverages here.
The silence lengthens.
The Maddie silent treatment.It’s not fun.He shifts in his chair.
Ha.Even tougher men than me can be brought down by the Maddie silent treatment.
He looks at me.“You like her?This isn’t safe.”
“That’s exactly what I’m worried about,” I say.I’m probably not supposed to say that.
“Definitely not safe.”He holds up a napkin and rips it in half.“You should quit while you’re ahead.”
I pick up the napkin he ripped and rip the two parts in half.“You touch her, and you will regret it.You tell your boss that.”
We stare at each other.He drops his gaze first.
“Okay, I’m glad we’ve made that point,” Maddie says.“Are you safe?”
He starts.“As long as I keep my mouth shut.”
“Then why did you meet me?”
“He wants to know what you know.”He points to the paper.
Should Maddie have shown him what she knows?She doesn’t look upset.She knows what she’s doing.
“I have a pretty good case for Galliano,” she says.“You should tell him that.”
“I will.”That sneer is back.
“Well, I appreciate you taking the time to talk with me,” Maddie says.“If you want to share anything else, please let me know.”She hands him her card.
“Are you guys really going on a date now?”He fingers her card.
“Of course,” Maddie says.“Any places you recommend around here?”
He barks out a short laugh.“You’re interesting, lady.”He points his finger at me.“And it looks like you’re not just a pretty boy.”
“I grew up in this neighborhood when it wasn’t quite as gentrified,” I say.“As did Maddie.Give your boss our best.”
We leave and walk outside.I take a big breath of fresh air.
I turn to Maddie.“It’s not safe.”
“He’s just trying to scare me off,” she says.
That may be.In my experience, growing up as an initially scrawny kid in this neighborhood and a “pretty boy,” people often bluff and threaten, but if they’re serious, they get to it and don’t have an introductory meeting.But Maddie going up against that guy or his friends makes me worried.
We walk briskly down the street.All the stores are closed with grates down on this block.The windows are also dark, as if there is no point in paying for electricity when only rats visit this area at night.
“That didn’t give you pause at all?It definitely made me want to get out of there.”I hold Maddie’s hand and set a brisk pace to put distance between that guy and us.The next few blocks are also deserted, with just a traffic light blinking red and green amid the shadows created by the lamplights.This street is all office buildings with abandoned shops underneath.
We finally reach a block where the stores are lit up.We pass a group of college students out for the night, discussing what bar they want to go to next.We’re back among people.
