Sustainable Living
That’s the problem with being a couple in this business. You’re pretty sure you’re in love, and that she’s in love too, but you always worry you might be wrong about one of those two statements. That’s how it is in any relationship, I guess, but usually you’re at least sure which one you could be wrong about.
She’s been driving for nine hours, and we’re ostensibly headed to Portland, and we’re going to be a happy couple (which shouldn’t be too hard) interested in starting a restaurant. She’ll have graduated from a very nice culinary institute, which she almost did, anyhow, and my MBA will be from somewhere suitably, but not too ambitiously, impressive. Details are important, and though we’ll probably never be asked for it, the marriage certificate’s already been prepared. Birth certificates in a file folder, photos of us on our honeymoon (two jobs back), engraved rings (easily found at most pawn shops), and affected Southern speech patterns all help maintain the relationship as well as the illusion.
Every once in awhile she glances down and checks the GPS. I send her texts and she texts me back. We’ve got some seed money stashed in my car, and she’s got all the paperwork up in hers. It’s a bit harder to walk away.
Unless you know you’re getting screwed. Unless you keep seeing her checking her phone when you’re not texting her. Unless you’re willing to let suspicions drive you apart, and widen that tiny little crack in your heart where a voice leaks out and whispers, “She’s just a business partner,” and “You’re just her business partner.” Unless you slowly begin to believe those are two different statements.
Later, at the hotel room, while she’s in the shower, I check her phone. There are numbers I don’t recognize. None of them have contact names. We buy burners every few weeks and it isn’t worth our time to reprogram a phonebook. The whole scene plays out like a cliche. All the texts are deleted except for one, what the evening news would call “sexting”, and it isn’t from me. I flip through the paperwork I’ve got spread out on the bed and the number clicks. It’s the angel investor we’ve lined up a meeting with about the restaurant.
I feel like a jealous husband, and that’s when I breathe a sigh of relief. Method acting always makes the work easier.
David Baillie
You credited your ghost writer? I never used to do that!
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Nicolas Papaconstantinou
Ha! The credit thing has been fixed, and now your comment sounds insane!
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Cyn
Welcome back, darlin’
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georgelondon
Nicely twisted and liked the low key, undramatic reveals, and really liked the closer. Bravo.
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Rivka Jacobs
Matt’s back, and firing on all cylinders!
Wow, excellent short story. Great characters, intriguing situation; the conflict is everywhere but nowhere — brilliantly done.
You also infuse the story with a sense of sophistication; it’s a story about grifters. An entire movie, or novel, told in a few paragraphs. I admire your ability to do this.
Excellent!
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Nicolas Papaconstantinou
Lovely piece of work, Matt… Like George, I love the final payoff. Suits my pragmatic nature!
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