The Love You Crave

45.

“How much are you paying the other girl?” Maybe says.

“What girl?” Sam says.

“The one who’s been taking my classes at Mabry.”

“Twenty grand.”

“For twenty grand the best she can do is a B-plus in biology?”

“Like I said, the professor’s a dick.”

Maybe laughs. “That’s what I told my father.”

“You spoke to him?”

“Of course.”

“I thought you weren’t taking his calls.”

“If I ignore my father too long, he starts checking around.”

“You wouldn’t tell him about any of this, would you?”

“Are you crazy? He’d kill you.”

“Yes.”

Maybe studies his face a minute. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell him?”

“Should I be?”

“Yes. If you ever displease me enough, you’re toast.”

“Then promise you’ll never tell.”

“I won’t promise that.”

“Will you at least promise not to mention my name?”

“We’ll see. Right now he thinks you’re a post-Rapture pet salesman named Chuck.”

“You’re shitting me!”

Maybe laughs.

After ordering room service, Sam drives her home. Tries to kiss her at the door, but she puts her hand between their faces to block his lips.

“We don’t have that type of relationship,” she says. “Remember?”

“Sorry. I’ll check around, find the best doctor for the boob job. I’ll let you know when and where.”

“We’ll have a meeting first, right?”

“You and the doctor? Of course.”

“Thanks again for that.”

“My pleasure.”

Kimberly enters her apartment, locks the door behind her, heads for the kitchen, sees the message light blinking. She presses the button, hears her father’s voice. She looks at the digital clock on the oven. 8:55 a.m. Which makes it 5:55 in Vegas.

She calls her father, gets his voice mail. Leaves a message. “You said to call anytime before nine. I stupidly assumed you’d wait till the last minute to hear from me. But no. It’s exactly 8:55, and you’re nowhere to be found. Thanks a lot!”