Not Just a Friend Read Free Page B

did not involve making beautiful—or, more likely, not-so-beautiful—junk art.
    The waiter came over and served a plate of catfish to Maya and steak to Tyler.
    Thank God . Here was some distraction from this horrible conversation.
    Tyler ignored his food, however. “I’m certain my current project will make me lots of money. If you saw it, I’d bet you’d agree.”
    Man, he sure was full of himself. “What’s your current project?”
    “Glad you asked. I found an old microwave, and I’m going to fill it with discarded computer mice and TV remotes and cellphones.”
    “And that’s it?”
    Tyler reminded her of the flakes Kristy used to date before she met Grant. No way was Maya going on a second date with a guy who was raving about his work in progress involving a dead microwave, and who was convinced someone would pay him good money for this so-called art.
    No, at this point, she was staying just for the story. Just to see how much worse it could get. And the fish was excellent too. Yes, he had picked a good restaurant. But that was all she could say for him.
    Tyler folded his arms over his chest. “Of course there’s more to my project than that .”
    “Of course there is,” she murmured. “Are you going to wrap the entire thing in aluminum foil and—”
    “Plastic wrap, actually. I thought of foil, but I want something transparent.”
    “Then spray paint it and stick an old satellite dish on top? Maybe cover it in glue and dump the contents of a vacuum cleaner bag on it? A toilet paper roll as a final touch?”
    He cocked his head to the side. “That’s an interesting idea.”
    Was that a joke? Or did he truly believe she had some talent in the junk art department?
    “But let me tell you about my idea.” Tyler put his elbows on the table and leaned forward. “After I cover the entire thing in plastic wrap, I’m going to tape food to it.”
    “Food you find in the garbage?”
    “Yes.” He looked at her like she’d asked an incredibly stupid question. “Eggshells, banana peels, chicken bones, rotten fish…”
    “That’ll sure smell good.”
    “It won’t.” Had he failed to pick up on her sarcasm? “But that’s part of the experience.”
    “And what experience are you going for? What’s the message of your piece?”
    “Isn’t it obvious? The disposability of modern life.”
    Maya smacked her forehead with her palm. “How could I be so blind?”
    He chuckled. “It’s pretty obvious once you see it, isn’t it? But I wonder if my current idea is a bit…small. I’ve done a lot of searching in the last week, hoping to find an old refrigerator. I’ll still use the microwave, of course. It’ll sit on top.”
    “And will you fill the fridge with TV remotes and cellphones? Wrap the whole thing in plastic wrap and stick rotten chicken on it?”
    “That’s the plan, yes. Brilliant, isn’t it?”
    “I’ve thought of several words to describe it, but ‘brilliant’ isn’t one of them.”
    “Ah.” He stroked his beard. “Deep? Thought-provoking? Edgy?”
    How the hell had Tyler come across as normal at first? When she’d met him last weekend, he’d seemed like a regular guy. Their long conversation about movies had been interesting, and she’d hoped for more of that. This…this was something else.
    “Edgy,” she said. “Yes. That’s it. But I think you should use the microwave and fridge in the creation of your artwork, too. Stick the old remotes and smartphones in the microwave, put it on high for twenty minutes, and see what happens. Maybe add some non-microwaveable plastic containers. I bet you can find lots of those in dumpsters. Or at least some non-microwaveable plastic wrap. Then stick everything in the freezer for twenty-four hours.”
    Maya had been staring at her plate, and when she looked up, Tyler was furiously scribbling on his paper napkin. He still hadn’t touched his food.
    “The use of both a microwave and a fridge is brilliant,” she said. “One heats