“You took her to my house.”
“Have you ever knowingly laid eyes on a hooker, Andrew?”
He didn’t respond, which meant yes.
“So you’ve seen what they’re like. They’re party girls that think about nothing but cock and drugs. I don’t even like letting them in my home. I certainly wouldn’t bring one to your house.”
“It’s still kind of weird.”
“Yeah, well, you guys were screwing with me, so you deserve it.”
“Fair enough,” he said. “Why did she leave you?”
“Because she met Becky.”
“Who’s Becky?”
“The only other person I’ve tried to be with. It was years ago, when I was younger. She was a walking stereotype, the exact opposite of everything Mercedes is.”
“What’d you do to her?”
“I was the richest guy she ever met, and I broke up with her.”
Andrew laughed. “The women you deal with are probably a nightmare.”
“They are. That’s why I liked Mercedes so much. I took her to a famous designer to have a gown made, and the woman was begging her to model for her.” I laughed. “And Mercedes was completely convinced that she was ugly. She refused to believe that she was pretty enough to be a model.”
“Really?”
“Yes, and you have no idea how refreshing that is, Andrew. The women I deal with have such big heads; it’s not even funny. Modesty to them is a thong.”
“That’s sick.”
“But it’s not just that. She’s so dedicated to her family. The only reason she took the job was because her father has cancer, and she’s staying with her parents to take care of him.”
“What did that girl, Becky, do? I don’t get it. She really liked you, Jake.”
“Mercedes won’t tell me what’s going through her head.”
“You need to find out.”
“It’s too late.”
“Maybe so, but that girl really liked you. You have never in your entire life, not once, felt this way. We both know that. If you let this go, you will regret it the rest of your life.”
I pursed my lips. “I know you’re right, but I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
“You’ll figure it out. You have to. This is your chance, Jake. You probably won’t get another.”
“I don’t even know if I have a chance, but I’m sure as fuck going to try.”
“Good,” Andrew said.
“What about you? What are you going to do about Elizabeth?”
“I don’t know,” he said, sighing. “You might have a chance, but with Elizabeth, there’s so much there, and she won’t talk. She just shuts down, or starts screaming every time I try to talk to her.”
“It’s been going on a long time, hasn’t it?” I asked.