Free Lost December by Richard Paul Evans Page A

either of the women slept.
    Lucy quietly got up a few hours later. She took a quick shower and then came out of the bathroom dressed. “I better go,” she said.
    “Why don’t you just stay with us for a few days?” Candace said.
    “No,” she said, her voice strained, “I can’t be around him.”
    “Where will you go?”
    “Home. I’ll go home.”
    “How will you get back to the states?” I asked.
    “I’m not sure. I was going to ask my aunt to send me some money.”
    I took out my wallet and pulled out ten 100-euro bills. “This will get you home.”
    She looked at me gratefully. “Thank you.” She leaned forward and kissed me on the cheek. “Thank you for being so good to me. I wish I had what you and Candace have.”
    I walked her down to the lobby and helped her get a cab. When I got back to the room, Candace said, “Think she’ll be okay?”
    “For now,” I said.
    “I hate Marshall,” she said.
    “I know. How could anyone be so cold?”

    Later, in the afternoon, Candace, Sean and I were in the hotel’s restaurant eating lunch when Marshall walked in. He looked to be in good spirits. “Hey, people,” he said flippantly. “Whassup?”
    “Lucy went home,” I said.
    “Yeah, I figured she would.” He sat down at the table and lifted a menu. “So what’s good?”
    Candace and I looked at him incredulously. “You’re not bothered by this?” Candace asked.
    He didn’t even look up from the menu. “Why would I be? She’s not my problem.”
    “She’s pregnant,” Candace said.
    “Yeah, well she should have done a better job protecting herself.”
    “Stunning,” Candace said. “After all this time together, you just toss her like she’s trash.”
    I glanced over at Sean, who seemed more amused than disturbed by the conversation. He hadn’t returned to the hotel until 8 A.M. , so he’d missed Lucy and Marshall’s fight.
    “It’s none of your business,” Marshall said. “She chose her path.”
    “You’re such a loser,” Candace said.
    Marshall pointed at her. “Shut your mouth.”
    “Don’t talk to her that way,” I said, leaning toward him threateningly. He cowered back. “You’re a jerk, Marshall. You always have been. You dress up your selfishness like it’s some deep, philosophical statement, but the truth is, you’re just a cheater and a user. It’s time for you to leave.”
    He laughed, then turned to Sean. “Can you believe this guy?” He looked back at me. “It’s a free country, man.”
    “Free? No, it’s two thousand euros a day.”
    “I’m not going anywhere, dude.”
    “Well, I’m not paying your way anymore,” I said.
    He grimaced. “What are you talking about? You’re not paying my way. Sean is.”
    “Oh, really?” I turned to Sean. “Is that true?”
    “I’m going to pay you back,” Sean said.
    I shook my head. “I’ll make it easy on both of you. I’m not giving Sean another euro until you’re gone.”
    “Wow,” Sean said, leaning back from the table. “That’s harsh.”
    Marshall looked at Sean for backup. Sean just shrugged. “Sorry, man,” he said, “Out of my hands.”
    Marshall’s face turned red. “You’re calling
me
a cheater? Did you ever tell Candace about your one-night stand with the UPenn undergrad?”
    Candace blanched. She looked at me with a shocked expression.
    Marshall grinned. “Didn’t think so.”
    “Is it true?” Candace asked.
    I had no idea what to say. When I didn’t answer, she stood up and stormed off from the table. I stood and watched her go, debating whether to run after her or not.
    “Glass houses and stones,” Marshall said. He looked back at Sean. “I need some money to get home.”
    “I’m broke,” Sean said.
    Marshall turned to me. “I need some money.”
    I looked at him, my face red with anger. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
    “What am I supposed to do?”
    “Not my problem,” I said.

CHAPTER
Twenty
    How can so few seconds of pleasure
bring so many days of