The Wild Zone by Joy Fielding

Author:Joy Fielding
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Atria Books
Published: 2010-02-26T23:00:00+00:00

SEVENTEEN

“HEY, GOOD-LOOKIN’,” JEFF SAID, taking a seat at the bar and smiling at Kristin. “Tom been in yet?”

“Haven’t seen him. You heard anything from Will?”

Jeff shook his head. “He’s probably too embarrassed to show his face.”

“Why would he be embarrassed?”

Jeff leaned in, lowered his voice to a whisper. “’Cause nothing happened between him and Suzy Pomegranate, that’s why.” He laughed. “Can you believe that? Strike two!”

“How do you know nothing happened?”

“Because Tom walked in on them.”

“He interrupted them?”

“Apparently there was nothing to interrupt. Can you believe that?” he said again, his eyes sweeping across the lightly populated room. “Not too busy tonight,” he commented.

“It’s Monday,” Kristin said. “Although it was pretty busy earlier.” She touched the business card in the side pocket of her tight black skirt, wondering if she should show it to Jeff. Dr. Dave Bigelow, Radiologist, Miami General Hospital. How would Jeff react? she wondered. Would he be indifferent, or would it shake him up a little bit? And was that what she wanted—to shake him up? And if so, how much?

He already knew that other guys found her attractive. He loved hearing her stories about the men who came on to her, the men she turned down on an almost nightly basis, whose hopeful business cards she quickly tossed into the trash.

Except she hadn’t tossed this one.

Why hadn’t she?

Was she actually considering calling him?

How would Jeff react to that?

“What are you drinking?” she asked.

“Gimme a Miller draft.” Jeff laughed. “I can’t believe he struck out again.”

He was still chuckling when Will walked through the door some ten minutes later. “Well, well. The unconquering hero finally resurfaces,” Jeff said, hoisting his glass into the air. “Give the man a drink, Krissie. He looks like he could use hydrating.”

“Miller draft,” Will told Kristin.

“Atta boy. Okay. So, out with it. Details, details.”

“You know what happened,” Will said testily. “I’m sure Tom couldn’t wait to tell you.”

“I know what didn’t happen. Again,” Jeff said. “What I don’t know is why.”

“We’re not all like you, Jeff,” Will told his brother. “Some of us like to take things slow.”

“Slow is one thing. Stupid is another.”

“You all right?” Kristin asked, handing Will his beer.

“I’m fine. Honestly. It was a lovely afternoon.”

“A lovely afternoon?” Jeff repeated incredulously. “What are you talking about? Who the hell says things like ‘It was a lovely afternoon’?”

“People like me,” Will said. “Call me crazy, but is there anything wrong with getting to know someone first?”

“You’re crazy,” said Jeff.

“I think it’s sweet,” Kristin offered.

“Suzy’s very vulnerable right now,” Will explained. “It wouldn’t be fair to take advantage—”

“Who cares about being fair?” Jeff demanded. “What’s the matter with you? Christ, no wonder Amy dumped you.”

Will raised his glass to his lips, drank half his beer in one gulp.

“Jeff,” Kristin cautioned. “Go easy.”

“It’s okay,” Will said. “It’s nothing I haven’t said to myself a million times.”

“You gotta seize the moment, little brother. How many chances do you think you get at the brass ring?”

“I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

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