Read Online The Insiders by J. Minter - Free Book Online

splash of cranberry,” Jonathan said.
    â€œJesus Christ,” Mickey said. “I’m getting a beer.”
    He went up to the bar. Although it was Saturday night and just past eight, the place was quiet, even tomblike. The bartender was an extremely tall young woman in a black T-shirt and jeans.
    â€œCould I get a Stella?” Mickey asked. He knew that even if he didn’t know a staff member, they probably knew him. This was largely because he’d been coming to the restaurant for brunch with his parents since hewas a little kid. The bar he was leaning against had been designed by his father before he’d gotten really famous.
    The bartender looked in his eyes, which were as cloudy as his thoughts, and lined with red. She cocked her head to one side, then the other. Then she said, “No.”
    â€œWhat do you mean, no?”
    â€œYou keep nodding, but I’m not asking you a question. It’s scary. So, no.”
    â€œAre you saying no because I’m sixteen, or because I’m on enough painkillers to knock out an elephant?”
    â€œYes,” the bartender said. She pulled out a glass and the soda gun, poured Mickey a Coke, and handed it across to him. While this was going on, Mickey’s attention drifted to the groups of people who were beginning to come through the door, all waiting for their parties to arrive so they could get seated in the back. He looked back at Jonathan, who was on the phone.
    In all the darkness, Mickey realized he couldn’t see the floor. There were just swirling mists down there. Part of him was grateful to the bartender for not letting him drink. The TV behind the bar was tuned to New York One, which was showing an interview with a woman who designed handbags shaped like dogs.
    â€œCan we watch the Rangers game?” Mickey asked.
    â€œIf I say yes will you stay here so I can keep aneye on you?”
    â€œYes,” Mickey said back. “I want to keep my eyes on you, too.” He was slurring. Then he frowned, and it was a clown’s frown, big and sad and helpless. In about three seconds, the bartender melted for him.
    â€œGimme a kiss on the cheek and go sit with your friend with the funny shoes,” she said. So Mickey reached over and kissed her and she smelled like whiskey and daisies. She reached out and tousled his thicket of matchstick hair.
    â€œDo you think my girlfriend will be angry at me for being such a mess?” Mickey asked.
    â€œOnly if she finds out you kissed me,” the bartender said. “Now get back to your friend. He looks upset.”
    â€œCan you believe it? I don’t think anybody’s coming but Liza,” Jonathan said when Mickey sat down next to him. “And I don’t even remember inviting her.”
    â€œWhatever,” Mickey said. His arm felt like it weighed as much as one of his Dad’s Cadillac sculptures.
    â€œWhere’s my drink?” Jonathan asked.
    By then Mickey was so zoned out that all he could focus on was the whizzing puck on the TV screen.

david gets the call
    David smiled when he realized that he’d totally forgotten about dinner with everybody at Man Ray. That was cool. He felt his cheeks glow. He never, never forgot things, and always envied Patch Flood for being so mellow that he could never be counted on to show up for anything. And now here David was, casually at a Rangers game with his parents, which was pretty cool if you looked at it from a certain laid-back perspective that David knew he didn’t have himself but that some of his friends did.
    â€œThey scored!” Sam Grobart yelled. He grabbed David and they stood up and threw their hands in the air.
    â€œWhat led up to that?” David’s mom asked. Sam sat down to explain.
    So now the Rangers were one goal ahead and David felt happy. It was the beginning of the third period and all they needed to do was hold on. The smell of sweat and beer hung heavy in the cold