“I hate to break it to you, Rip, but you’re not a wannabe anything.Right now, you can actually be whatever you want.Not everyone gets that chance.”
I know he’s talking about his sister, and guilt is like a shiv in my gut.
“This is the opportunity of a lifetime.You sure you want to shut the door on it without even giving it a shot?”
I sit down on the stairs, not caring that the worn carpet has seen better days.“I don’t know.This isn’t something I expected to be worrying about this morning, okay?I have no idea how to respond.”
“All I’m saying is you should give it some consideration before you shut it down.Thousands of people would kill for this kind of exposure, and if you think for a second you might want to try out this life, then you have to take it.It’s not going to wait around for you.Right now, you’re a mystery.A hot new sound everyone wants to get their hands on.If you wait too long, they’ll move on to the next new thing.”
I know what Frisco is saying is true, but didn’t I just decide yesterday that every time I try to reach for something, I get smacked down?If I took this opportunity and it all went south, how humiliating would that be?
I was afraid to start something with Boone because I knew it would throw me into the spotlight, but wouldn’t this do the same?And if I fail, there’s no one else to blame.It’s all on me.
“I get what you’re saying, but I can’t decide right now.I’m sitting on the stairs, wishing I had another muffin because mine plopped facedown at the bottom of the landing.You gotta give me a minute.”
Frisco’s quiet laugh comes over the line.“All right, Rip.Go get another muffin and think about it.You work today?”
“Yeah, at six.”
“Don’t be surprised if you’re mobbed for more than drinks.”
“I’m not too worried.Behind a bar, I blend in like furniture.”
“You’re totally friggin’ wrong about that.I saw you clear as day, and Boone sure did too.”
For a second I wonder if Frisco is still annoyed that I hooked up with Boone after I shut him down, but the tone of his voice is good natured.
“You sure you’re not holding that against me?That I—”
“That you picked him and not me?Nah, I’ve got a big enough ego that I can handle it.”
“Now that, I actually believe.”I hesitate but ask the question that’s on the tip of my tongue, even though I know I shouldn’t.“Have you heard from him?”
“Nope.I’m a little surprised about it.You?”
“No.”
“That’s interesting.”
“Why?”
“Shit.Sorry, Rip, I gotta go.Think about what I said.”
He hangs up, and I’m left wondering why it’s interesting Boone hasn’t contacted either of us.
13
Ripley
Islammy palms on my steering wheel.
“Why?Why would you do thistoday?Come on!”
My Javelin is dead.She turned over once, sputtered, and went quiet, and now I can’t get her to cough up a sound.And it’s not because I ran out of gas again.
“Come on, girl.Just one more time.”
I turn the key and pump the gas pedal, but nothing happens.