Free Calling Out by Rae Meadows Page A

asks.
    Ember gathers my hair into her hands and lets it fall on my back. I feel like
I could sleep for a week. When I answer the phone, she listens with a bemused
smile. “Mohammed’ll loan you the money in a second,” I say to her after I hang
up. “He’ll think he’s won the jackpot.” She hugs me from behind and reads Scott’s
information sheet over my shoulder.
    â€œMaybe you could send me to that guy, the one you were talking to. He sounds
like fun.”
    Ember spins my chair around and with a school-yard giggle, flashes me her small,
perfect breasts.
    â€œYeah, maybe,” I say, feeling a bit territorial about Scott.
    Mohammed charges in and with barely an introduction, whisks Ember back into
his office. A few minutes later, her laugh breaks through the afternoon dead
air. I am flummoxed by the idea of her being able to jump right in, but I can’t
tell if it’s out of envy for her guts or her beauty or her blitheness.
    I’m glad when McCallister calls, because he’s after something that he can get
only from me.
    â€œJane.”
    â€œHi.”
    â€œDo you think the gay quarterback screenplay should be a comedy or a drama?”
    â€œComedy.”
    â€œYou’re sounding particularly dour today.” “Late night.” I know he is curious
but I won’t expound. “Really? I was asleep at nine.”
    â€œDo you always have to use your cell phone?” I ask. “I feel like I have to yell.”
    â€œThe cell phone is probably best in this situation. Besides, I can hear you
just fine.”
    â€œBecause I’m yelling.”
    â€œI have a question for you, Jane. Did we used to talk when we went out to dinner?
I mean have stuff to talk about? Or were there long stretches of silence?” “You
talked,” I say.
    â€œFunny,” he says. “It’s not like it feels awkward or anything, the not talking.
I just wondered.”
    â€œEvery relationship is different, McCallister.” “So it is,” he says.
    â€œGot to go,” I say.
    Ember and Mohammed emerge with jovial smiles. “Write out the checks,” Mohammed
says to me. “Let’s
    get her out there!” He has the ebullient face of a bornagain evangelist. I can’t
imagine what Ember gave him as collateral. He rubs his hands together and practically
skips
    out the door.
    â€œSo what does Ford think of all this?” I ask. “My sweet Ford,” she says. “Why
should he care? I’m still going home to him.” From her backpack she pulls the
baggie of white powder, significantly depleted from last night.
    â€œMeet me in the bathroom?”
    I hesitate but then I follow her.
    Diamond buzzes as we’re wiping our noses. I get the door.
    â€œThat fucker,” she says as she throws herself on the couch.
    I try to pinpoint her date in my racing head. “He thinks because he’s seen me
before he gets privileges.”
    Dale, the school principal, from Bountiful. “He got all grabby and ripped my
shirt before I could get it off. Kept pushing my head down. As if.”
    â€œWhere was his wife this time?” I ask.
    â€œSome sort of ward-meeting thing. I don’t know how he always gets out of church
activities.”
    â€œHey,” Ember says, walking into the lounge. “Hey,” Diamond says. “Are you new?”
    â€œYep. I’m sure I’ll see you around.”
    Ember smiles and waves to me on her way out. “She’s pretty,” Diamond says.
    â€œSo are you,” I say.
    She laughs and brings the money over to the desk. “Are you okay?” I ask. “Did
he get rough or anything?” “Whatever. I’m fine.”
    â€œHow’s the tooth?” I ask, to remind her that I know she’s escorting again only
because of that.
    â€œIt hurts like shit,” she says. She smiles and tosses me a