Smitty leaned toward him. “You’re not going to report me, are you? To the Realtors Association?”
“Find me a place to live today, and I’ll think about it.”
“You’re a saint. And believe it or not, I’ve found you a place. I think. Again, Jesse, I’m sorry... What’s this? A stain?” He dropped to the hardwood floor, pressing his fingers into a small, white spot. “Did you do this? Was it already here? Archer will kill me.”
“Smitty.” Jesse exhaled, clapping his friend on the shoulder. “Take a breath. It was already there.”
“This is giving me a heart attack.” He clapped his hand over his heart as he walked toward the sliding glass door, the one leading to the lower deck and the beach, and jerked it open. “Crime never pays. It never pays.” He shook his fists in the air. “You’d think I’d have learned.”
“Learned? Do you have a former life in crime?”
But Smitty paced and panicked. “I’m a lowlife, a bum, the worst sort of friend.”
“Smitty, stop and tell me about this other place. And do not tell me some acquaintance of yours is out of town. By the way, I do take payments. Also, you should confess to Archer.” Jesse popped his friend on the back. “Look, I can’t move today. I’m meeting with Jeremiah Gonda to go over the script one more time. Don’t know when I’ll be done. So tomorrow is the best I can do.IfI decide to trust you.”
“Gonda? What do you know, this new place is in Bel Air. Sure you don’t have time today?”
“No, and even if I did, you should sweat this a little.”
“You’re a pal. Trust me, this new place is legit. Like I said, crime doesn’t pay.” He slapped his hand to his forehead. “I can’t go to prison. I look horrible in stripes.”
“I think they wear solid colors these days. Orange.”
“Orange, even worse. With my complexion I’ll look like Halloween candy. And to those hungry inmates...”
Despite all irritation, Jesse laughed. He should be ticked, but Smitty was such a character. “Meet me here this evening,” he said, drawing Smitty back into the house. “We’ll pack up and move me out. But this is your last chance. If this doesn’t work, I’m getting a new Realtor. And maybe a new friend.”
He was going to miss this place. The view. The sound of the ocean. The memory of Chloe. It’d been a long time since he’d paired a memory of the ocean with a beautiful woman, the feel of her skin and the taste of her lips.
“So, what’s up with the girl? The one from the wedding?” Smitty dropped down onto the S chair and peeked into the donut bag, his panic fading.
“Chloe? When did I tell you about Chloe?”
Smitty’s cheeks reddened as he retrieved a second apple fritter. “L-last week.”
“Did I see you last week?”
“No. Maybe I heard it from someone.”
“Who?”
“Ted?”
“You heard it from Ted Stux? Of Ted and Stella fame? I didn’t know you knew him.”
Smitty exhaled, smiling, devouring his fritter. “Yeah, we go way back. Well, notwayback, just back.”
“He told you about Chloe?” Jesse perched on the edge of the wooden table.
“Said you two hit it off.”
“We did, yes.”
“No kidding. That’s more romance than I’ve heard from you since we met.”
“I’ve dated.”
“A flirt on set or at a party is not dating. Not a path to love.”
