Read Online Add Spice to Taste by R.G. Emanuelle - Free Book Online

for a moment, wondering how far I should go with my answer. Should I just say that I wanted a job that kept semi-normal hours, and leave it at that? Or should I explain that the café kept me away for many hours and sucked money like a sponge and eventually drove Brenda into the arms of another woman? Should I tell her that my business—once my dream—had sucked me dry?
    What the hell. The box had been opened. “ The café drained me. Physically, emotionally, and financially. And it didn’t do any favors for my relationship. So I shut it down and started teaching. I survived. The relationship didn’t.” A chord of insecurity sounded in me then. Was I saying too much? I decided to switch topics. “Tell me about yourself. I know you’re into yoga, but what else?”
    “Well, to pay the bills, I’m working in a natural foods store. ” She smiled shyly. “But what I really am is a filmmaker.”
    “No kidding? What kinds of films do you make?”
    “Mostly documentaries. I’m doing my very first—on my own, that is—out of film school on the gay movement from the perspective of immigrants.”
    “Wow . How interesting. I’ve never thought about that.” I took a swig of my beer, glad to be off the subject of me. “When is it going to be ready to be seen? And where? I promise, I’ll be in the front row.”
    “ It may be a while,” she replied with a sigh. “I don’t have the money to continue the project right now. I’m barely making enough to live on at the store. I’ve applied for grants but, so far, nothing’s come through yet.”
    “Oh, bummer.”
    She was just about to say something else when I felt my phone buzz in my pocket, and I jumped slightly for the second time that evening. I took it out and looked at it, and apologetically looked at Julianna, who busied herself with her drink while I looked at the ID.
    I didn’t recognize the number but then remembered that Brit was supposed to call me. I didn’t really want to leave Julianna, but I was hoping that this would be a job I could take. I really needed the money.
    “Hello?” I closed off one ear with a finger and repeated myself. “Hello? Hold on a second.” I got off the stool and press the phone to my leg. “Um, you know what? This might be in reference to a possible job. I’m sorry, but I really should take it.”
    “That’s okay. Go ahead.”
    “Okay.” I again looked at her apologetically. “I’ll be right back.”
    “I’ll be here,” Julianna said, winking. My entire head tingled in response.
    “Hang on,” I said into the phone and I stepped out. The change from the air-conditioned bar to the hot street was a shock. The breeze had died down and now the air was still and heavy. The sidewalk was crowded with people coming and going to and from the plethora of restaurants, clubs, pubs, and all-night markets in Greenwich Village. Seventh Avenue hosted a nonstop stream of cars heading farther downtown, or to the bridges and tunnels to head out of the smoldering city for a long weekend.
    I put the phone to my ear. “Hello?” Between the people talking and laughing and the sounds of motors and horns honking, I found it almost as difficult to hear outside as I had inside.
    “Hi, it’s Brit. From class.”
    Yep . Pelvis Woman. “Hi.”
    “Have I caught you at a bad time?”
    “Well, I’m out right now, so I’m having a hard time hearing you.”
    A couple of guys walked by, hand-in-hand. As they passed, one of them let out a lungful of smoke right in front of my face and it hovered in the air. I waved my hand through the haze to dispel it.
    “I’ll make it quick,” Brit said. “I wanted to ask you about doing a private party for me. I saw on your bio that you do stuff like that, and I really, really need someone. It’s kind of short notice, but I was hoping you could do it.”
    How short? Well, whatever. A gig was a gig. “Okay, sure, we can talk about that. Listen, why don’t you stay after class tomorrow and we can