Page 33 of Nothing to You
“If you’d let me finish…” He gave her back the daiquiri and took the beer, twisting off the cap to toss it aside.“I was going to say you’re right that we all judge people, we judge situations, setups, trust our instincts—”
“Which is really just an innate judgment.”
“Maybe.But the rest of us don’t assume the worst, you do.”
“I do not,” she said, strolling around the coffee table.
“You do,” he drawled.“Radley, your defenses are so damn high, even you can’t see over them.You’re in your own world.”
“We all exist in our own world.It’s not possible to put yourself in anyone else’s shoes.People might say they do, but it’s bullshit.You can’t live my life any more than I can live yours.”Glass in hand, she wandered to the end of the screens and back.“We know each other about as well as any two people can.Conversation, words, are the only way to learn what’s in a person’s head, them telling you directly.”
“That relies on honesty,” he said.“Don’t we hide our perceived flaws and present the best versions of ourselves?”
She snorted and spun to pace back the other way.“Is that what you’ve been trying to do?Might want to brush up that game for next time.”
“Next time?Your clause in the contract stated, ‘friendship is real and permanent, whether you like it or not.’You’re stuck with me.”Which was what she’d told him.“You’re the last friend I’ll ever make.”
“Providing you’re honest.Honesty is a requirement of friendship.”
“I’m more honest than most because I have less to lose.”
“Less?”She frowned.“You own a massive multibillion—”
“The business is my bedrock.The money gives me the leeway to be as daring, as bold, as out there as I want.I have a direct line to the White House, I can—” She stopped to blink at him and he just snickered.“Yes, Radley, I know those at the top.I do some work for the DOD… on the side.”
“On the side,” she mocked his words.“You can be a real asshole.”
Beaming with pride, swagger bled from him.“I know.You’re welcome.”
TWELVE
“YOU CAN LITERALLY do whatever the fuck you want with friends that high up.Why wouldn’t you?”
“Right,” he said.“Knowing those at the top has its benefits.Also has its drawbacks.”
“Because you’re automatically tainted,” she said, returning to her pacing.“You celebrate the victories and are dragged down by their failures.”
“Which is part of the reason I don’t holler about it.”
“You keep it a secret.”
“It’s not a secret; I don’t advertise any of my friendships.”
“You know Zane Dyce.”
“Yeah,” he said, crossing one ankle over the other on the coffee table.
“Can I meet him?”
“He’s in the Pacific.”
“Ocean?”
“On an island.Not just floating around out there.”
Hmm.“For?Business or pleasure?”
“Business,” he said.“Pleasure if it presents itself.Guess he’s open to it.”
