You’re not going to be able to call me Royce in front of my family, so you might want to start kicking the habit now.
I decide when I kick a habit. Royce stays.
I flick the phone screen with my middle finger.
Stubborn ass.
Can I pick you up at six?
I’m capable of driving myself.
You’re capable of plenty. That doesn’t mean other people can’t do something for you.
My mom lives across town. So, again I ask, can I pick you up at six?
Briefly I consider putting my foot down and insisting I drive. It would keep some degree of separation between us. But then I fire off a text that saysyes,because I wouldn’t mind being chauffeured. We live in a driving city, no mass transportation except for a light rail that moves through downtown Phoenix, and I happen to hate driving.
Address, please?
I send him my address and tell him I’ll be ready at six.
Paloma walks into my office, throwing herself in the chair opposite my desk. “I hate that man,” she wails, a touch of venom in her tone.
“What man?”
She points a stiff finger to her right. “The guy who owns the architecture firm next door.”
I suppress my smile. It’s never a good idea to show mirth of any form while Paloma is mad. “What did Daniel do now?”
“What didn’t he do?” she seethes. “That man is on my last nerve. All day long he stands in front of his store,right next to my office, and yammers away on the phone. It’s like he’s scared of his own desk.” Her hands fly into the air, exasperated. “I want to pour boiling water in his ear.”
“That would kill him.”
“Exactly.”
“Murder is an offense punishable by law.”
“Ahh, but that’s the beauty of this method.” She mimes pouring water, then brushes one palm against the other. “It leaves no trace.”
I study her. “You’re terrifying.”
She half-grins and shimmies her shoulders. “Thank you.” She stands abruptly. “That’s it. I’m finished complaining. What about you? Do you have anything to complain about?”
“Other than the fact I’m going to meet Klein’s mother tonight?”
“You’re meeting yourfriend’smom, not that you can call him that. Big deal.”
I don’t like how much emphasis she puts on the word ‘friend’.
“Right,” I nod, shrugging one shoulder. “Big deal.”
Paloma gives me a knowing look, and I’m not loving how much she appears to be enjoying my discomfort.
“Tell your word slinger quarterback I said hello.”
“He’s scared of you, I think. At least a little.”
She pauses in my office door. “Good.” She repeats the pouring water motion. “He should be.”
