Chapter Five
Their lair smells like a postapocalyptic Bath he’s such a wonderful boy. He does the same for you, I’m sure.”
My smile twists at the corners and Nicholas has found something in the carpet to captivate him.
“Come look at these fresh ones!” she tells me, waving for us to follow her into the salon.
Another forty dollars of Nicholas’s regret stares mockingly at me from a small table.
He’s peeled the gas station sticker from the plastic wrap, and I muse that with cold weather approaching roses are going to be harder for him to find.
He’ll be forking out a hundred bucks a week for 1-800-Flowers.
“Aren’t they precious?” Deborah thrusts the bouquet under my nose. I lean in and inhale.
“So that’s what flowers smell like! I never get the opportunity to see them up close, so I had no idea.”
Nicholas sighs at the ceiling.
“Look what else my Nicky got me.” Deborah pops the lid of a small black velvet box, showcasing a glittering band of chocolate diamonds.
I have never understood the appeal of brown diamonds.
I don’t want this monstrosity. If someone gave it to me I would never wear it.
And yet I’m almost nauseated with jealousy.
“You’re one lucky lady.” I keep my gaze fixed on Nicholas. My tone rings so false, I know we all hear it. “What was the occasion?”
“Harold’s and my anniversary.” Harold is snoozing in a chair, hunched and lopsided. She wakes him up by yanking on his collar until he’s straightened out. “What was it he got for you, dear? Golf clubs?”
Harold jumps and snorts. He’s adept at speaking through his nose.