mmmclxxxi

Chapter 18: The Inner Me

“Don’t even try to cajole an apology out of me, Edward. I was sucking up
the cool grass with my toes underneath the most magnificent oak tree.”

[Edward’s frozen smirk]

“Marty’s in town.”  Doug figured it was best to just blurt it.

“Omigod! [world record for fastest jaw to drop from a smirk to all the way
down on the floor] Did he . . . ?”  [his head shaking as his jaw brushes the
carpet between his … what a lovely pair of shoes!]

“Marty’s in town.”

“I gathered that.  And I’m sorry.   Did he bring his Swedish friend or is he
flying solo?”

“It’s just Marty.”

“Doug, I just can’t deal with this . . .”

Fine, I’ll shut up for a minute and let him think I’m trying to absorb
his pain.