A Song for Julia Read Free Page B

Julia.”
    Julia’s face set in visible distaste. “Not my boyfriend, actually. An acquaintance. Maria Clawson, meet Crank Wilson. You should excuse us now, we’re eating, and you’re interrupting.”
    Maria blinked. I don’t know if she was offended by Julia’s obvious bad manners, but I was. I’d judged her to be better than that … she was rude, to both of us.
    I leaned forward. “Nice to meet ya, Maria. And don’t listen to Julia … she’s still shy about us.” I reached out and put my hand over one of Julia’s. She snatched hers back.
    Maria beamed. “I see! How long have you two known each other?”
    “Ms. Clawson,” Julia started to interject. I spoke louder and leered a little. “About four hours. But they’ve been very intense, if you know what I mean.”
    “You asshole!” Julia blurted, catching the attention of everyone on the sidewalk.
    I gave her a lewd wink.
    “Oh dear,” Maria said. “I suppose I should leave you two alone.”
    “As if,” Julia said, her tone laced with sarcasm. “Why don’t you go spread your poison somewhere else?”
    Maria gave a prim smile and walked away looking satisfied.
    “What was all that about?” I asked.
    Her eyes swiveled to me, flashing with genuine anger. “Why did you do that?”
    “Do what? I was just having a little fun.”
    “Maria Clawson is a gossip columnist, Crank.”
    A gossip columnist? “Are you serious? I didn’t even know there still were gossip columnists. Who cares, I’m not that famous anyway.”
    She narrowed her eyes at me. “It’s not you I’m concerned about, you conceited jerk, it’s me.”
    “Ashamed to be seen with me?” I asked, half angry.
    “She spent years smearing my family every chance she could get.”
    “Well, screw her,” I responded. And then I did something I probably shouldn’t have. I stood up, noting that Maria had returned to the last booth on the sidewalk, where she was chatting with some blue-haired old biddy. “Hey you! Maria!” I shouted, catching everyone’s attention, including the homeless guy sitting across the street. “Yeah…go piss off, ya gossipy bitch!”
    Julia hid her face. “Oh, God,” she mumbled behind her hands. “Are you nuts?”
    “Yeah, darlin’,” I answered, “I am. Come on, let’s blow this place.” I took out my wallet and dropped two twenties on the table just as the manager approached.
    I turned to the manager. “Yeah, yeah, we’re leaving. Don’t get your panties in a bunch.”
    Julia groaned. “I don’t know him,” she muttered.
    I chuckled and said, “What do you say we walk down toward the White House?”
    “Will you get us kicked out of there, too?”
    “Not promising anything.” I flashed her a grin, gave a jaunty wave to Maria Clawson, who looked as if she’d just swallowed a great big mouthful of spoiled meat, and led Julia out onto the sidewalk.

CHAPTER TWO

    Sucks for you (Julia)
    It was official. Crank was crazy. Compelling, interesting, and damned good looking. But crazy.
    Too bad, really. He was kind of fun to be around. But I already knew that when today was over, I’d never see him again. On Monday, I’d be back at school, back to my life. It was going to be bad enough when Maria Clawson wrote whatever she was going to write. And there was no doubt in my mind she’d be writing about this. It was another chance to smear my dad. My fault. Again. I wasn’t angry with him for his outburst. How could I be? Maria Clawson, without even knowing me, had used me to try to ruin my father’s career, and in the process had nearly ruined my life. He could have done a lot worse, and it wouldn’t have bothered me.
    We walked south on 15th Street then veered to the right on Vermont Avenue, headed toward the White House. Crowds of men and women filled the streets, most of them dressed in casual fall clothing. On Monday, they’d all be in suits, commuting to and from work in various government offices, trade associations and lobbyists. For