Rules of Attraction, The by Ellis Bret Easton

Author:Ellis, Bret Easton [Ellis, Bret Easton]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780679781486
Amazon: 067978148X
Publisher: Vintage
Published: 1987-01-02T06:00:00+00:00

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a Valium and went to sleep. Paul went into the other room I sat on the bed watching Mirni sleep for quite some time before I decided to tell him. I went into his room. He had undressed already and was in bed reading. Richard wasn't there. The television was on. He looked up when I opened the door. Was he angry? Had he not wanted to come to Boston? Had he not wanted to come and see me? I felt very old at that moment and sorry for myself. What I had to tell him couldn't be said in a hotel room and finally I spoke, 'Why don't you get dressed?'

'Why?' he asked.

'I thought maybe we'd go downstairs for a drink,' I suggested, casually.

'What for?' he asked.

'I want to talk to you about something,' I told him.

He looked panicked and asked, 'Why not here?'

'Let's go downstairs,' I told him and went to get my purse.

He put on a pair of jeans and a grey sweater and a ripped black tweed coat that I didn't recognize, that I had not bought for him. He met me in the hall.

We went downstairs to the bar and the host came up to us and looked Paul over. 'Yes, there are two of us,' I said.

'I'm afraid there's a dress code,' the host smiled.

'Yes? . . .' I waited.

This young man is not following it,' the host said, still smiling.

'Where does it say there's a dress code?' I asked.

The host glared, still smiling and then walked over to a white board and pointed to the bright blue lettering, first

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to 'No Jeans,' and then, Tie Must Be Worn.' I was getting a headache and I felt very tired. i 'Forget it, Mom,' Paul said. 'We'll go somewhere else.'

I said, 'We are guests in this hotel.'

'Yes, I realize that,' the host explained, officiously I thought. 'But this applies to everyone.'

I opened my purse.

'Would you like me to make reservations for later?' the host asked.

'My son is dressed fine,' I said, handing the host a twenty dollar bill.

'Just sit us in the back,' I said wearily.

The host took the bill quickly and said, Yes, there might be a table over in the corner, in the dark.' 'In the corner, in the dark,' I said. He sat us down at a terribly small, dimly lit table in back, away from the large crowded bar, but I was too tired to complain and simply ordered two champagne Kirs. Paul tried to light a cigarette inconspicuously and all at once he looked so handsome sitting there, the light playing off his features; his hair blond and thick and combed back, his face lean, the nose regal and thin, that I wanted to hug him, make contact of some kind, but 'Darling, I wish you wouldn't smoke' was all I could say.

'Mother, I'm sorry,' he said. 'But I need a cigarette. Badly.'

I let it pass and the waiter brought the Kirs. I focused all my attention on the way

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