Page 42 of Sleeper: The Palisades Edition
“Sounds about right. Maybe I should change into a pair of old sweatpants and wear a baseball cap.”
“You’d still look good,” I mutter.
The awkward silence that follows is a giant gaping hole that I wish I could crawl into, but no. It’s there. I’m here. She’s here, staring down at the counter and gently stroking the smooth concrete with the tip of her index finger while exhaling. No snarky retort. No eye roll. Just this silent, honest torture.
“You need me back here to make breakfast?”
“Are you not coming home tonight?”
“I was just going to crash at Harley’s. She lives in Hollywood.”
“Ahh.”
“There’s some other bar she wants to go to after Nico’s show.”
“Cool.”
“And then she wants to go to some club after that, but I doubt I’ll be able to stay awake that long.”
“Is Nico going with you guys?”
“No.”
“Uh-huh.”
“But I’ll be back in the morning. To drop the kids off at the birthday party.”
“Right. The trampoline one?”’
“Yes. Unless you need me…”
Fuck yes, I need you, I want you, I crave you… Can’t you see that?
“I can definitely manage breakfast. You have a good time. Not too good.”
“I will have exactly the right amount of good time.”
“So will I.”
“I have no doubt… So I’m gonna go change into some overalls and an oversize sweat shirt, maybe some rain boots, and be on my way.”
“You’re driving?”
“Yes. The truck. Not the Volvo.”
“You’re not drinking, then?”
“I’m driving to Harley’s, and we’re going to walk to the thing. She lives like five blocks away.”
“You’re walking? In Hollywood? On Cahuenga? At night? Absolutely not, young lady. I’ll give you money for an Uber.”
“Oh my God, it’s only five blocks.”
“Does your brother know you plan to walk to his show?”
“No, and I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t care. Is there rampant gang activity in that part of Hollywood or something?”
“No.”
