Сумерки

           "Thewordseemedinadequate,butIcouldn’tthinkofabetterresponse.

           Wesatinsilenceagain.Iglancedattheclockonthedashboard.Itwaspastsix-thirty.

           "JessicaandAngelawillbeworried,"Imurmured."Iwassupposedtomeetthem."

           Hestartedtheenginewithoutanotherword,turningaroundsmoothlyandspeedingbacktowardtown.Wewereunderthestreetlightsinnotimeatall,stillgoingtoofast,weavingwitheasethroughthecarsslowlycruisingtheboardwalk.Heparallel-parkedagainstthecurbinaspaceIwouldhavethoughtmuchtoosmallfortheVolvo,butheslidineffortlesslyinonetry.IlookedoutthewindowtoseethelightsofLaBellaItalia,andJessandAngelajustleaving,pacinganxiouslyawayfromus.

           "Howdidyouknowwhere...?"Ibegan,butthenIjustshookmyhead.Iheardthedooropenandturnedtoseehimgettingout.

           "Whatareyoudoing?"Iasked.

           "I’mtakingyoutodinner."Hesmiledslightly,buthiseyeswerehard.Hesteppedoutofthecarandslammedthedoor.Ifumbledwithmyseatbelt,andthenhurriedtogetoutofthecaraswell.Hewaswaitingformeonthesidewalk.

           HespokebeforeIcould."GostopJessicaandAngelabeforeIhavetotrackthemdown,too.Idon’tthinkIcouldrestrainmyselfifIranintoyourotherfriendsagain."

           Ishiveredatthethreatinhisvoice.

           "Jess!Angela!"Iyelledafterthem,wavingwhentheyturned.Theyrushedbacktome,thepronouncedreliefonboththeirfacessimultaneouslychangingtosurpriseastheysawwhoIwasstandingnextto.Theyhesitatedafewfeetfromus.