Page 36 of Big Sexy Love
‘I feel insane. And it’s really heavy. I feel like my head is drooping. My neck actually achesabit.’
‘Wait, let me take ascreenshot.’
‘This.’ I point to my head. ‘Was my payment for aChucklead.’
‘I’m guessing he wasn’t at the place on East 18thStreet?’
‘No.’ I shake my head. ‘I’msorry.’
Birdie nods, not looking all that surprised by theinformation.
‘I did meet his old friend from Princeton, though,’ I continue. ‘His name was Anders. He was living in the house, renting from Chuck’s parents who, apparently, haven’t seen or heard from Chuck in sixyears.’
‘Wow. He always did have a weird relationship with them. I wonder what tipped it over the edge into completeestrangement.’
I shrug. ‘Maybe they had affairs and ran away like myparentsdid.’
‘Oh sweetie,’ Birdie sayssympathetically.
‘I’m just messing,’ I say quickly, annoyed at myself for being negative in front of her, especially when she doesn’t even have a family to complain about. ‘Anyway. Anders gave me a picture of Chuck in exchange for letting him domyhair.’
‘Whattheshit?’
‘Yep. He invited me in, letting me believe that he was in fact Chuck Allen and then told me there was a “certain beautiful uniformity” to mycurls.’
‘Wow. Only in New York.’ Birdie laughs gleefully. ‘Show me the picture ofChuck!’
I take the photograph out of my bumbag and hold it up to thescreen.
Birdie squints and smilessadly.
‘Ah, I bought him that shirt,’ she says with anostalgicsigh.
‘He’s very handsome,’Isay.
‘He was gorgeous,’ Birdieagrees.
‘Well, according to Anders, Chuck works in Wall Street. Or at least he did. So that’s whyI’mhere.’
‘But… it’sSunday.’
‘I know that now! I didn’t even think until I got here. I’ll have to wait until Monday,’ I say. ‘Hopefully he’ll be working at the bank still, I can give him the letter and I’ll be back with you as soon aspossible.’
Birdie nods. ‘Thanks, Brewster. This really does mean a whole bunchtome.’
‘I know,’ I say. ‘I’ll find him, don’tworry.’
I see a flash of emotion cross Birdie’s face, but before I can decipher what it is, it’s gone and she’s smilingagain.
‘Hey, make sure you read my list of recommendations,won’tyou?’
‘I will.’ I grin back. ‘You always did say that you’d show me NYC one day,’ I point out with a wobble in myvoice.
Birdie sighs. ‘Well, there you go.’ Her voice wobbles a bit too. ‘Take pictures of everything, okay? I’m getting such a kick out of you beingthere!’
‘Definitely.’ I’m pleased that I agreed to do this for her, despite the fact that it’s been a teensy bit traumaticsofar.
‘Anything else interesting happened today? Besides your crazy-asshair?’
