Chapter 15
I could hear the blender crushing fruit and vegetables as I made my way down the stairs. Kay poured the light green liquid into a glass and held it out to me.
“Thanks,” I said, somewhat astonished, as I usually made my smoothies myself.
“You’re late.”
Her tone wasn’t accusatory, but surprised. I cast a glance at my watch and realized she was right. I usually had my smoothie a good twenty minutes earlier. If I wanted to go for my usual jog on the beach, I’d have to get going.
“How was your evening with the Greenfield girl?”
“Her name’s Laurie.” I took a sip. “It was nice. We watched a movie.”
“And then Vince Greenfield brought you home.”
My eyes shot to her.
“I happened to see you.”
“He got home right as I was leaving, and he insisted on accompanying me.” I made it sound as harmless as it was. But because I felt cornered somehow, I added, “It was nice of him.”
“Yeah, very nice,” she said, without removing her eyes from mine. Though there wasn’t any hint of sarcasm in her voice, there was a kind of concern. “Pay attention, okay?”
I wrinkled my brow. “To what?”
She hesitated as if weighing whether to say what she was thinking. “Listen. Vince Greenfield doesn’t really like me, and I don’t want any of that to rub off on you.”
“He is totally normal with me.”
That was true, but I didn’t like the direction our conversation was taking.
“That’s exactly what worries me.”
I looked at her blankly.
“Lou, I just want to make sure he doesn’t use you.”
“Huh?”
“He’s a good-looking guy, and, at the moment, you… You’re vulnerable.”
“Vulnerable?”
“You’re new here, you don’t know anyone, and you’re getting over a kind of setback. It’s normal to be a bit vulnerable to…”
I exhaled loudly. “What? You think he’s going to use me to convince you not to be against his hostel anymore?”
“I wouldn’t exactly put it that way,” she retreated. “Just be a bit careful around him, okay?”
I finished my smoothie. “I don’t think that’s necessary.”
She opened her mouth to say something, but I added, “He walked me home because Laurie had a negative experience outside at night. That’s the only reason. We didn’t even exchange ten words with each other.”
That was a bit exaggerated, but so were Kay’s insinuations.
“Well, good. Maybe you’re right, and I’m seeing ghosts. I just don’t want anyone to hurt you.”
“I know. But you can give me a little more credit than that.” I winked and put the empty glass down on the countertop. “Right. I’ve got to get going!”
Jogging along the ocean a little later, I thought about her words again.
Even though I still felt her worries were unfounded, I had to admit that Vince’s behavior toward me had only changed the moment I made Kay retract her complaint.
But that didn’t strike me as suspicious.
I put the conversation to one side and concentrated on my running, my breathing, my pulse.
I still couldn’t estimate how last night’s pizza would affect my performance, but for the moment I felt good. I was firing on all cylinders.