Page 32 of Putting Out
“The Lucky Cow?” Kenny interjected. “Is that place still open? Please tell me it’s not where your principal takes you to eat on a date. You’ll be dead from a heart attack in a year.”
“You only ever took me to the Lucky Cow,” she pointed out.
“That was when you were younger. You had a much better chance of recovering from all the fat back then.”
Tessa looked to Reilly. “Did he just call me old and fat?”
Reilly winced. “I think so. You can hit him if you want.”
She shook her head and again turned away for another prolonged silence.
“Anyway, Robert, he’s the new principal at the high school, overheard them and thought it might be great if you could make your announcement in the auditorium. The reporters liked the idea of pinning you down in a single spot and it would be large enough to hold all of them.”
“Robert,” Kenny muttered. “Serious name.”
“All of them?” Reilly continued pushing Kenny in the chest to back him up another step. “There’s about fifteen or so still hanging around. I doubt we need an auditorium for that. I don’t want to turn this into an event. It’s going to be a yes or no answer.”
“It was an idea. There aren’t a whole lot of places to gather in this town other than well, the Lucky Cow, and Robert thought this might be better.”
“Sounds likeRobertis looking for some publicity.”
Both Reilly and Tessa turned to Kenny, their expressions incredulous.
“Yes, Kenny, that’s it. He’s looking to hype … a high school,” Tessa finished. “You know there is only one in town. It’s not like the kids have a choice.”
“Whatever.”
“I’m still not sure.”
“I think you should do it.” Luke had gotten up from his seat on the couch to join the threesome in the foyer.
“It will be easier to have them all in one group. You can answer all their questions at once without having to worry about being harassed on the street to give your answer one more time. It finishes it.”
It made sense. The idea of finishing it seemed like a great idea.
“Okay. Tell him I’ll do it. Just call me in the morning and tell me when to be there.”
“Will do.”
“I’ll walk you out to your car, Tessa,” Luke offered.
For a moment Kenny stared at Luke, but then he glanced behind him into the living room where his girlfriend was still watching the movie.
“Good night, Mr. and Mrs. O’Reilly,” Tessa called out.
A chorus of good-nights came from the couple seated together on the couch.
“Nice meeting you, Erica.”
Her hand went up into the air in what Kenny imagined was a wave, but she never moved it. He would have liked for them to talk. He wasn’t sure why. But since he was moving in the direction of finally becoming serious about someone, and since the last person he’d been serious with was Tessa, some warped part of his mind told him it would be a good idea for them to get to know each other.
If he could see them interact, if he could study them for similarities, things might make sense. He would know he had the type of woman he connected with. That Erica embodied qualities that he looked for in a mate.
If Erica was in any way like Tessa, then it had to bode well for his relationship with Tessa.
Erica, he corrected himself. His relationship was with Erica. Tessa was the past. He was ready for the future.
“See you tomorrow, Reilly. I’ll call. Bye, Kenny.”
