“Would you be available to come to my home tonight and provide guidance?” Robert asked.
Liz stared at the bowl of half-eaten popcorn on the sofa. “You mean now?”
“If you aren’t busy? I know it’s late, but from what Olivia said, you’re a night owl like me. I can send a car for you.”
Liz tugged at her hair, undecided. “Hmm, the thing is, I don’t know if Olivia would be too happy about me going over to your house in secret.”
“I see.”
“But. . . youdoseem to genuinely care for her.”
“I do.”
“And I know she cares for you.”
“I hope that is still true.”
“Did youreallypunch Nick?”
“I did. Right on the jaw.”
Liz picked up the remoted and turned off the movie. “You know what, Robert? Send your car.”
* * *
Liz,thanks to the double espresso Robert had given her, fought against an overwhelming urge to pee. She jittered in her seat, crossing and uncrossing her legs in discomfort. She felt for the man, and for Olivia, but if he didn’t stop gabbing her teeth would soon be floating. They (mostly him) had been chattering nonstop for at least an hour. Robert would have to give his vocal cords a break eventually, wouldn’t he?
“So, you see, Elizabeth, it was not my intention to make Olivia to feel indebted to me,” he prattled on. “I paid off her loan simply because I have plenty of money to spare. I was in no way attempting to buy her affection or—”
“Uh, Robert?” Liz butted in swiftly. She couldn’t hold it any longer. “I’m so sorry to interrupt, but could I possibly use your bathroom?”
“Of course. I’m terribly sorry. I sometime forget the needs of humans—females—when they are in my home.”
Liz provided her host a perplexed look. “We ladies do tend to use the restroom more than the boys, I guess.”
“The restroom is down the hall. The door is on the right.”
“Thanks. I’ll be back in a jiff.”
Liz laughed under her breath. Robert wasso weird, but he was clearly head-over-heels in love with Olivia. His adoration dripped from every word he spoke about her. They hadn’t known each other for very long, but they were like a perfectly fitted lock and key. Both were smart, thoughtful, and beautiful, yet they had a quirkiness about their personality that made them special. Robert’s face also showed the same tinge of loneliness that Olivia’s sometimes did, which made her suspect that he, too, had lived through a few hard times. Liz hoped the two of them could work out their differences. They belonged together.
She found the bathroom and emptied her bladder, feeling such relief that her eyes rolled back into her head. This was why she never drank coffee; it went straight through her. She removed her amethyst ring and set it on the black stone soap dish by the sink. Like everything else in the mogul’s home, the soap was lavish, a small white ball of scented glycerin carved in the shape of a lotus flower. She lathered her hands under the tap, taking pleasure in the simple ritual, making a mental note to ask Robert where he got it.
She jumped when her pocket chimed. David. She quickly dried her hands and answered.
“Liz, thaaaaaank God,” he slurred. “I misssss you, baby.”
She never knew what to expect on David’s nights out with the boys, though it was usually something that resulted in him later apologizing to her. They were probably halfway to Vegas by now, passing around a bottle of cheap vodka in the backseat of the car. At least he never drove drunk.
“How much have you had to drink?” she chided.
“Jus’ a couple.”
“Yeah, a couple six-packs.”
“Yep. You got me!” He cracked up. “Lissssen, I need my house key. I’ve locked myself out! Can you beeeelieve it?”
“David.”
