A delusion that’s only going to last another few hours…

Chapter 27

Bonnie Jo rolls her naked self back over to me. “Hey, love, why don’t you just stay here tonight, with me? I really don’t want you to go.”

“Neither do I.” She’s absolutely irresistible. “It’s almost eight o’clock. Let me see. I’ll be right back.”

I grab my cell phone and step into the kitchen to call home, without a stitch of clothes on.

“Not again,” Jean answers.

“Afraid so, honey. We are totally jammed on this new business pitch. I’m not going to get out of here until who knows when. I’m afraid I won’t even get to leave until two a.m. or something, so I’m going to grab a room at that bed-and-breakfast down the street.”

“Oh, dear. Good thing they’re paying you the big bucks.”

“Thanks for understanding, baby. I hope. Anyway, kiss the kids good night for me—tell them tomorrow night we’ll have dinner at that place they love, Pizza Pizazz.”

“Okay. Be careful. We’ll be here. Love you.”

“Love you. Bye for now,” and on the way back into the bedroom I get a text from Barb Lundquist, the recruiter—she’s sure no nine-to-fiver.

Hey Tim—Linda wants to see you again, 8 AM tomorrow! Possible? Landmark Diner, Grand/Lafayette. Let me know ASAP when you get this.

Can’t say it’s perfect timing. But I tap a quick response.…

Count on it. Thanks.

By midnight Bonnie Jo and I are spent, physically, emotionally. No more weed. We climb in the shower together and hold each other there for a good while, close and soapy under the steaming hot water.

She gets out first and is drying herself when I absolutely blow it: “Hey Tiff—Bonnie!—hand me a towel, baby?”

“What the hell did you just call me? Fucking Tiffany?”

She totally loses it, shrieking, with fire in her eyes.

“You two-timing asshole!”

Now I’ve blown it. How do I tell Bonnie Jo that she’s not the only other woman?

“Jesus, baby…we were just talking about her, it was a slip of the tongue.”

“Bullshit!!” She’s not buying it. “You goddamned psycho!”

It takes everything I’ve got to calm her down. And now I’m stuck here the rest of the night.

I sleep on the couch. Doesn’t help.

Chapter 28

My iPhone alarm buzzes at six thirty. Set on vibrate. No sound.

I slip off the couch, headed for the shower, trying not to make any noise. I see through the cracked open bedroom door that Bonnie hasn’t moved a muscle since I left her in bed last night.

Showered and shaved, I put on a fresh shirt and underwear out of the hall closet, where I keep a few things for just such occasions.

Normally I’d leave a note or something. But after the blow-up last night we are by no means normal, so I slip out the front door and take the elevator down to the lobby.

The Landmark Diner is back downtown, below the agency. I take a cab to save time and Linda’s already there, waiting for me. We have another great chat over breakfast and I insist on picking up the check this time.