She called out to me, "My love, my Frances."
I scaled the tower, like I was rock climbing. "Don't fear, my dear!" I called up to her. "I'm here to steer you clear of dang-eer." Oh, man!
After that horrible poetic verse, it was all downhill. Christine transformed into a shark and I was fish bait.
So, that's why I'm back here, sitting in Dr. Schroeder's office, waiting to once again to reveal my inner self to Mr. Wonder Bread.
"What would you like?" asked the man behind the counter at Mocha Daze. I did a double take -- but yeah, it was Mike. I had forgotten that he was working there now. Hugo's a better man than I for hiring him.
"Uh, just a small orange juice and a muffin," I mumbled. I felt like a heel for going off on him like I did. But the guy deserved it. If those thugs had come and I was home, I could have found myself on the wrong end of a left hook.
He brought the juice and muffin. Mike tried to hold my eyes, but I looked away. Why was I feeling guilty about him?? It was totally justifiable to want him out of the apartment.
"You're not just getting a roommate," he said when he moved in. "You're getting a security system."
Security, my ass. He could find another place to live. There were plenty of places. If Greg really wanted him to stick around, he would move Mike into the guest house.
I glanced over at Mike, helping another customer. He looked dejected and hurt. Good.
And then his face lit up. I looked at who came through the door. Jane. She gave him a smack on the lips, and I shuddered involuntarily.
She saw me and said, "We've got the perfect solution, Fran. Mike's moving into my place, with me!"
What?!? "Over my dead body!" I blurted out. She and he looked stunned. "I mean, he signed a lease thing," I stammered. What the hell was I saying?! "He-he can't move out just like that!"
Mike grinned."Frannie, are you fighting for me?"
"No." I tossed at him, wondering all the while why I was saying what I was saying. "But you and I made a deal and youâre sticking to it!"
It was as if he was pleased to see me this way. He looked at Jane and shrugged his shoulders. "What can I do?"
