Free Until Tomorrow by Robin Jones Gunn

week.”
    Todd laughed. “I haven’t shaved for a month.”
    Christy laughed with him. “Oops! Sorry.”
    Todd rubbed his chin with his thumb and forefinger. “I guess growing facial hair isn’t one of my talents.”
    â€œTry a goatee,” Katie suggested, reaching over and touching Todd’s chin.
    â€œYou think?” he asked.
    â€œSure,” Christy agreed. “Try shaving all of it but this part.” She reached across the table and rubbed the soft fuzz across his chin. “It’s actually a little darker there.”
    â€œReally?” Todd held up the back of a spoon and tried to catch his reflection. Then, without looking up, Todd asked, “Do both of you want to go to Capri?”
    â€œI do,” Christy said.
    â€œSure,” Katie agreed. “Does this mean we have a plan?”
    â€œI guess so,” Todd said, putting down the spoon and ordering a mineral water from the waiter who now stood before them. Christy ordered the same.
    Katie shrugged and said, “Okay. Another one of those.”
    The waiter looked unclear as to what she was telling him.
    â€œ Tre aqua minerale ,” Todd ordered for them.
    Christy was impressed and gave Todd a look of admiration.
    â€œIt’s so close to Spanish,” he said. “When I was in Spain last year I picked up a few key phrases.”
    â€œGood,” Katie said. “Teach me how to ask, ‘Where is the bathroom?’ ”
    â€œOut that door and to the left,” Todd said. “We passed it on the way in.”
    â€œThat doesn’t do me any good,” Katie said. “I’m serious. Teach me whatever phrases you know. I get nervous when I can’t communicate.”
    â€œAnd I get nervous when you do communicate,” Christy said under her breath.
    â€œWhat was that?” Katie leaned forward, her arms resting on the white tablecloth.
    Christy hesitated before deciding honesty was the way to go with her friends. “I’ve been having a hard time not getting upset at you all day, Katie.”
    â€œWhy? What did I do?”
    â€œFirst, this morning you had all those accusations outside Antonio’s house after breakfast. I think you’ll notice from the way things are going that those assumptions weren’t completely accurate.”
    Katie tilted her head back and forth as if weighing Christy’s words. “I still see some potential, but you’re right. It doesn’t appear to be what I thought it was earlier.”
    â€œI can assure you, from my perspective, it is not.” Christy glanced at Todd.
    â€œAm I supposed to know what you guys are talking about?” he asked.
    â€œNo,” Christy said quickly. She went right on to her next point. “And the whole thing about Rick was more than needed to be said, Katie.”
    â€œWhy? What did I say wrong? Todd didn’t mind. Did you, Todd?”
    Todd shook his head. “We all go through different stages in life. Some relationships last and others don’t. That’s reality.”
    Christy thought his evaluation was a little too down-to-earth, even for Todd. It sounded as if he could be referring to another relationship, a larger one than the brief handful of dates Christy had with Rick.
    Maybe he’s talking about his relationship with Rick. The two of them shared an apartment in college with some other guys, but now Todd and Rick never see each other .
    â€œCan you let me out, Katie?” Todd asked. “I’ll be right back.”
    â€œNope. Not until you say it in Italian.”
    â€œI don’t know how to say it in Italian,” Todd said.
    â€œThen too bad. You’re stuck.”
    As Christy watched, a little-boy grin appeared on Todd’s face. It was the same look he and his buddy Doug used to get at the beach when they were about to pick up one of the girls and throw her into the ocean. Todd reached under the table, and Katie