Eighteen (18)(58)
He’s close. I do fantasize about that. But Mateo is leaving in two days for Arizona to help install the new software at the Phoenix Planetarium. That was his first sale post-Hawaii trip and since then he’s set up a full year’s worth of consultations around the country. He says he’s even got international orders now. He officially became Dr. Mateo Alesci, PhD, last week after his defense.
It scares the f*ck out of me, if I’m being honest. We’re in totally different places. I can’t go with him, obviously. I can’t leave Olivia, especially when Jason has been acting so strange.
“Shannon?”
“Huh?”
“Big future plans?”
“Oh, well, I’ve been designing the websites for Alesci’s restaurants. And Gigi wants me to make menus and marketing stuff next. So I guess I’m a graphic designer.”
“Living the dream, huh?”
“Right.”
“Why are you so pissy with me?”
“I’m not,” I say, feeling very pissy right now.
“Please.” Danny laughs. “I know you better than that. Trouble in paradise?”
“He’s just working late tonight in LA, that’s all. And he’s leaving for Phoenix on Friday, so I’m feeling needy, I guess.”
“Hmmm, working late in LA, huh?” Danny says. “I saw him a little while ago, so he must not’ve left yet.”
“Where?” I ask, startled out of my funk. “He left last night.”
“No, I swear. I saw him getting gas over by Vons.”
I don’t say anything to that, but inside I’m trying to figure out why Mateo would lie about going to LA last night.
“You should come to my party tonight and be needy with me.”
“I don’t think so. I have to watch Olivia, anyway.”
“Nah, I heard Jason say he was leaving her at Dana’s tonight so he can work. They’re tight now, I guess. I never thought they’d make a good couple, but—”
“Dana? Wait. What?” I have to stop and shake my head. “Jason and the babysitter?” What the f*ck is happening to this day? First Mateo and now Jason.
“You didn’t know?” Danny looks at me like I’m an idiot. “How does that happen? He’s been over there every day for months.”
“He drops her off and goes to work all day.”
“Is that what he told you?” Danny laughs. “Jesus Christ. Forget I mentioned it.”
“Wait,” I say, grabbing his arm so he can’t walk off. “Tell me, Danny. He’s f*cking the babysitter?”
“Do you care?”
“Well, not really. But I do care that he’s been lying to me all semester. I’ve been staying with Olivia every night almost so he can work that second job. Is he even working at night?”
“Oh, he’s working. He’s working for Phil, that’s where he’s working at. And that’s the only job he’s got as far as I know.”
“Phil?”
“Dealing, Shannon. Like me, only he does the risky stuff. Runs to Tijuana and shit to pick up coke. That’s why he’s gone all night sometimes.”
I almost fall over. “He’s a drug runner for Phil?”
“How do you manage to stay so clueless?” Danny is looking at me like I’m a moron now. And I am. How didn’t I know this? Mateo, that little part of my brain that makes sense says. Mateo is the only thing that’s been on my mind.
“Didn’t Mateo mention it?”
“Why would Mateo know about Jason?”
Danny has to blink several times at my apparent ignorance. “Are you f*cking with me right now?”
“I mean, I know they know each other from high school and stuff.”
“Did Mateo tell you that?”
“No, we never talk about Jason. Not really. Mateo asks about him casually, like if Jason’s going to work at night and stuff, so Mateo knows he can bring me dinner.”
Danny just stares at me. And then he laughs. And laughs, and laughs, and laughs.
“What?” I demand. “What’s so funny?”
“Your boyfriend’s a very talented liar, Shannon. I wanted to say something earlier, but it’s none of my business, right? And you’d just assume I was making a move on you and then hate me afterward. But wow, I thought you had more street cred than this. The guy is a f*cking narc. He’s busted at least three major dealers in the past year alone. He works for the f*cking Anaheim Task Force as an informant.”
“How the hell do you know this? I mean, it’s not like narcs go around announcing it.”
Danny huffs out a long breath of air. “Oh, we all know it. He’s had a long history. What the f*ck do you think happened to my mom?”
“Your mom? What?”
“He busted her, Shannon. Right after high school. He was f*cking her for drugs and then one day he decided to quit and go to college, and when she said she wasn’t interested in his straight-edge lifestyle and dumped him, he turned her in. And do you know what he told me, Shannon? Do you know what he had the nerve to tell me as they were handcuffing my mom and taking her off to jail?”
I swallow hard and shake my head.
“He said, ‘Hey, kid, it’s for your own good.’ I was eight years old, Shannon. Eight f*cking years old. And I don’t care how bad your f*cking mother is, when you’re eight years old, you love her no matter what.”