Read Online The Day I Killed James by Catherine Ryan Hyde - Free Book Online Page A

just something about you, I guess.”
    “Like what?”
    “Like an attitude thing. You’re an enigma.”
    “I dismiss you, so I’m an enigma.”
    “Yeah. I think that’s it. You want nothing to do with us. And that’s attractive.”
    There’s plenty I want to do with you, she thought, and just for a moment that thought swept her aside, like a wave that hits you hard as you wade out. Moves you a few yards back before you can get to your feet again. But she pushed the thought away.
    “Who knew disdain was such an aphrodisiac?”
    “Best one there is,” he said, and they sat quietly for a time.
    The sun broke through the fog, warming her scalp.
    Todd said, “So
do
you have a thing for that Day Security guy?”
    “Who, Leander?”
    “Yeah. Leander.”
    “No.”
    “You’re always looking at him.”
    “He just reminds me of somebody. I just keep looking at him, thinking how he reminds me of a guy I used to know.”
    “But it’s not, like, a romantic thing.”
    “No.”
    “So us guide guys still have a shot with you?”
    Annie laughed, blowing smoke out her nose. “Not a chance,” she said.

TWO
    By Her Fruits Ye Shall Know Her
    Annie sat at the bar, staring straight ahead. Holding a cigarette in her right hand, which was rested on her ear, smoke curling up against her head. Watching herself in the bar mirror. In her periphery she saw Todd come in.
    He sat on the bar stool to her right.
    Sunday night. The place was quiet. Sparsely populated. Comfortable.
    “Annie.”
    “Hey, Todd.”
    “You shaved your head again.”
    She watched his face in the mirror without comment. Saw his hand come up, as if to touch her bare scalp. Hesitated there a moment.
    “May I?”
    She only shrugged.
    He ran his hand over the smooth skin of her scalp. More than once. And she held still and allowed it. Reacting slightly to his touch—to being touched at all, by anyone—but careful to keep that to herself.
    “It’s so smooth. Just like a baby’s butt.”
    “So the more you keep doing that, the more that makes you a pedophile and a pervert. Right?”
    “Well, when you put it like that.”
    He brought his hand down. Faced ahead. Looked into the mirror and caught her eye. The bartender looked questioningly to Todd, prepared to take an order.
    “What are you drinking, Annie?” Todd asked.
    “Tequila.”
    “Can I buy you another one?”
    “Sure you can.”
    He ordered another round for her, a Michelob for himself.
    They fell silent for a time. She was hoping he wouldn’t comment on her age. So far the bartender hadn’t bothered to wonder. At least not out loud.
    “Thanks for the drink.”
    “It looks good on you.”
    “What does?”
    “The skinhead thing. It works on you.”
    Annie let out a breath, hard and audibly. Rolled her eyes and set her head down on one folded arm. Snubbed her cigarette into the ashtray without looking.
    “Was that not the right thing to say?”
    She came upright. Shook her head slightly. Rubbed her face, her eyes. Then remembered she was still wearing makeup. Looked at the damage in the mirror and realized she didn’t care.
    “That is just, like, so far from the intention.”
    “What’s the intention?”
    “I don’t know. Kind of hard to explain. Not to be more attractive, that’s for sure. I guess it’s my version of a hair shirt. No pun intended. Plus, if it really is beauty you guys are looking for, it’s my best shot at ugly.”
    “Not working. It’s not your only kind of beauty.”
    “I have no idea what that means. But I’m not going to ask. Because you might tell me.”
    “There’s something from the inside, too. Like a light.”
    “And you can actually see this through the basket I’m hiding it under?”
    “Must be a pretty strong light.”
    A noisy couple spilled in the door. As if already drunk. Laughing and talking too loudly. Annie turned her head to see. Her stomach tightened. Todd glanced around, reacting to whatever he’d just seen on her face. Seeing