“I am still convinced she tried to fucking kill me.”
Casmiro’s voice replayed in my head, but I suppressed it. Suppressed his worry, buried the tight feeling in my gut.
I am wrong. My gut is wrong this time. My mind has compromised my gut, and my mind is unstable, so there is a 7.5 percent chance that I am wrong.
I held onto that percentage. I held onto it tight.
“Sorry about the cheap car rental,” Zahra said from the driver’s seat of the 2010 Toyota Camry, one hand on the steering wheel and the other on a cup of coffee we had stopped to get while we waited for the car. She didn’t accept my offer to pay for anything, so I let her handle it to avoid another argument. “Street and I spent a lot of money on the suite and the other cruise expenses.”
I didn’t respond; my focus was on my phone as I responded to Gemma’s text with a frown.
Me:
This is what I keep talking about. Your carelessness and naivety. I care about you, which is why I will not tolerate situations that will inevitably hurt you in the near future.
Gemma (blonde car highway):
Omg, relax, my love, it’s harmless, just one date.
I knew of her interest in Angelo, but I didn’t know Angelo would entertain or reciprocate it. I have never caredabout his romantic life; I only knew he never brought it into the business. I trusted him not to be careless with her, but his schedule was hectic and it would not end well for either of them.
Not to mention Casmiro, his focus would be off because, unlike me, he cared about Angelo’s dating life and would become even more grumpy than he already was.
And that I could not deal with.
Me:
One date can create many inconveniences I want to avoid dealing with.
“It’s funny how money can look so large one minute, and the next, you’re wondering how the hell it’s gone; it’s not like we spend much.” The car maneuvered onto another busy street. “But now I’m guessing being rich for a moment isn’t even the goal anymore; being rich enough to remain comfortable is what we should aim for. The gold can get us there, and then we could invest…”
She was still talking when Gemma’s response came in.
Gemma (blonde car highway):
You really have nothing to worry about; we’ll be fine.
“… I don’t know which tattoo I’m going to get, but probably when I get there…”
Me:
Illogical, Gemma.
“… this food place that serves amazing dishes; you’ll be obsessed after tasting their daily special…”
Gemma (blonde car highway):
But I really, really really really feel a connection, and I don’t want to lose that; you must also know how that feels.
“Who are you texting?”
I raised my head to catch her glancing at my phone and then me, before she focused on the road again.
“Someone,” I responded, looking back at the screen and shooting off a final message.
Me:
We will continue this conversation when I return.
