How The Cookie Crumbles (14 page)

“Practice?”

“Yeah, apparently I was good enough to fool around with, but not good enough to date seriously. When it came time to for a real relationship, he chose a girl from his own crowd. You know, rich, wasp-y, connected families from Toronto, all that stuff. And he told me that, too, that I wasn’t one of them….” Her voice sounded faraway, but I could see that this still pained her. Then she added a complete Chloë-ism, “The idea that Canada is a classless society only exists in economics class.”

“Oh Chlo,” I went and hugged her. “This Tim guy is absolute asshole if he didn’t appreciate what a wonderful person you are!”

“Or I was a dummy not to realize that he was a big phony! I just don’t want you to get hurt too, Frankie. I know you’re way more experienced with men than I am, but still….”

I sighed. “Look, nothing’s going to happen. I’ll go out to dinner with him, and then I’ll be meeting you guys at the club. I’ve got the address, and I’ll get Liam to drop me or I’ll get a taxi. Kingston’s so small, I can probably walk there anyway.”

But to my surprise, when Liam showed up he had made reservations at a faraway spot. We ended up driving half an hour out of Kingston to some fancy inn on Lake Ontario. As usual, I was slightly lost. This place was an old stone building, elegantly decorated with early Canadian antiques. It was ritzy, but it seemed a little stodgy, like the kind of place that my mom and dad would go to.

Liam was putting on the full charm offensive, and I had to admit it was nice to have a conversation that wasn’t about video gaming or high school pranks.

“Frances, it’s so surprising that you haven’t travelled much, especially since you’re an art history major. Wouldn’t you like to see the originals of Renaissance art? I’ll never forget my first time in the Ufizzi, seeing Boticelli’s Birth of Venus. Unbelievable.”

I sighed. Liam was so sophisticated, and I would love to see the art museums of Europe. Still, he was inspiring me to dream, maybe a trip after I graduated? “Sounds heavenly,” I replied.

“Italy is not just art of course, it’s the whole cultural experience, the architecture, the food, and the people are all incredible. It’s beautiful around Lake Como, in my mind it’s the perfect spot for a romantic holiday.” He looked at me, his blue eyes crinkling as he smiled. “Just like you Frances, sei bellissima. You said your grandmother was Italian, right? Do you speak any Italian?”

“Um, sure: spaghetti, cappuccino, Ferraro Rocher.”

“What a shame, you should learn, especially if it’s in your ancestry.” He reached across the table and stroked my inner arm, a startlingly intimate gesture. Just then our meals arrived and he retreated. Everything looked lovely, it was one of those locavore places where they use flowers for garnish and lots of herbs. My lamb chop was delectable.

After a delicious meal and an interesting conversation, I was feeling a lot more charitable towards Liam. Maybe he had slipped up once, but he was very sophisticated, and definitely good-looking. I wanted to pay for myself, but he insisted because he was working and I was a student. Still, I didn’t like that feeling of indebtedness.

We got back into his car, I had happily noticed that Liam only had one glass of wine with dinner, so he could still drive. Little things like that are important. As we drove back along the highway, I was still quite lost, but when we passed an adorable sign for cat-boarding I knew we hadn’t come that way.

“Where are we going?”

“My friend’s place is on the way, I thought we could drop by his party first.”

“Liam, I told you I needed to get back and meet my friends. I didn’t know we’d be going so far for dinner in the first place.”

“I know, I just wanted to take you someplace nice, someplace special, and the choices in Kingston are pretty limited. Besides, you enjoyed dinner, didn’t you?”

“Of course, but I don’t like the way you assumed I’d want to go someplace with you… without asking me.”

Liam looked over at me, and even in the semi-darkness I could see his smile. “Look Frances, I’m really trying to make things up to you. You’re a beautiful, intelligent woman, and I’d really enjoy your company a little longer. It’s still early, right?”

I looked at the car clock and it was only 9:30. “Yes,” I said grudgingly.

“Is it okay if we stop by Alexander’s place? I’ll take you back whenever you want.”

I didn’t really want to go, but Liam had been so nice all evening I felt like dropping in on the party wasn’t that much to ask. “Okay. But really, I only want to stay half an hour.”

“No problem,” he said, smiling easily at me. His teeth were perfect and gleaming even in the dark car interior. Outside it was even darker, since we were out in the countryside.

The party was at someone’s farmhouse property, which reminded me of Mrs. Fitz’s birthday party. Obviously buying and renovating old farms was the trendy thing to do. There was already a bunch of expensive cars parked all over the lawn and long driveway of the house. A booming bass vibrated the ground as we walked up to the house. Things were rocking inside, with a big crowd for a place in the middle of nowhere. There were a fair number of people inside, half guys and half girls.

“Fitz,” some guys called out as we entered. He did some bro-type handshakes with his buddies, and introduced me around. Once Liam had gotten drinks for both of us, he excused himself and took off with his buddies.

“I’ll be right back, baby,” he assured me, but I didn’t mind, I liked mingling. However, the party turned out to be kind of boring, there were lots of people there, but they all seemed to know each other and weren’t particularly friendly. I wandered around and checked out the house. It was as perfectly decorated as Brendan and Penny’s place, except for the added layer of beer bottles and junk food.

I was making my way back to the living room when I overheard two guys talking about Liam.

“Fitz, fuck man, how does he do it?”

“Do what?”

“All the fresh meat! The guy always has some new pussy lined up. That walking pair of tits tonight, she’s going to be a sweet fuck.”

“Why don’t you kiss his ass, maybe he’ll let you have sloppy seconds.”

“I’d rather sandwich her, Fitz likes that shit, doesn’t he?”

They started laughing and I walked away, feeling completely nauseous. But then I realized that just because these a-holes were saying something didn’t mean it was true. I went to find Liam to demand he take me back to Kingston. I looked all over the house, and finally found him coming out of the basement.

“Frances! There you are!” Liam seemed all hyper, unlike his usual cool self. He gave me a big hug, lifting me into the air and then putting me down.

“Liam, I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

“Really? Because I’ve been looking everywhere for you! Are you having a good time? Can I get you a drink or something? What about something to eat? Are you hungry?”

“Um no, actually I’d like to go now,” I told him firmly. Why was he acting so weird? Then I looked up at his eyes, they looked kind of watery. Then he sniffled, and the clues fell into place. Liam was downstairs doing coke or something! I was an idiot to go out with him, and an idiot to come here. Basically, I was an idiot.

“Awww, come on, baby. You need to kick back a little… why don’t you come downstairs with me and meet Molly?”

“Actually, I think I’ve met everyone I want to here. If you just give me the address here, I can get a cab and go, while you stay and party.”

“Look, I’ll take you back to Kingston, if that’s what you want. But hey, you could stay here tonight, there’s lots of room upstairs. And then we could really get to know each other,” he put his arm around me and leaned down to kiss me but I dodged under his arm.

“Um, I have to use the bathroom,” I said and scurried away.

I found an old-fashioned powder room down the hall, went in, and locked the door. Then I called Chloë.

“Chlo, please can you help me? I’m at this party; I think it’s about half an hour from Kingston. Liam’s really out of it, and I need to get home. But I can’t get a taxi because I don’t know exactly where I am.” I was whispering, but luckily Chloë sensed the desperation in my tone.

“Sure Frankie, don’t worry. I’ll ask Andrew to get you.” There was a little discussion and then she put Andrew on the phone, and I gave him all the directions that I could recall.

“We went to dinner at the Stonefarm Inn, then we drove up this two lane highway, and I saw an Esso station – oh, and this cat place, Calico Cats Cattery and Boarding!”

Fortunately, Andrew was able to translate my ramblings into geography. “Yeah, I heard about some private party near Odessa. I’m pretty sure I know where you’re at, and it’ll take us about 20 minutes to get there. I can text you when we’re there.”

Thank God Kingston was such a small place. “Okay, in 20 minutes, I’ll be waiting at the end of the driveway for you.”

“Are you sure that’s safe, Frankie? All alone in the dark?”

“Oh Andrew, I think it’s safer outside than inside.” It wasn’t that I thought Liam and his buddies were going to actually do anything to me, but he was so out of it that I felt safer getting out of here.

“Okay Frankie, we’ll leave right now. Call us right away if there’s any problem.”

He hung up before I could even thank him. I had always liked Andrew, but now I could see that he was good in a crisis too.

I stalled in the powder room, plotting my escape, until Liam started pounding on the door.

“Frances? You okay in there?”

“I’m fine,” I said. “I’ll be right out.” But I could still hear his breathing outside the door, so he was clearly waiting, like the gentleman he wasn’t. I opened the door and he grinned blearily down at me, with a refilled drink.

“Frances! I missed you, baby.” He grabbed me and planted a sloppy kiss on my face, while trying to grab my ass at the same time. How did I ever find this leech attractive? “Say, did I show you the upstairs yet?”

I checked my watch, and calculated that Andrew would be here in about ten minutes.

“Um, look Liam, I need to go outside.”

“Outside? Oh, a nature girl. Okay, if you wanna fool around outside, that’s cool.” He actually started unbuttoning his shirt! So gross.

“No! I mean, I need to go out for… “ What did people go outside for? “A smoke!”

He stared at me blankly. “Oh. You’re a smoker? That’s not good. You should quit.”

Now he’s concerned about my health? He obviously thought I was some slut anyway, so smoking was completely in line with that. “Whatever. Look Liam, I’ll be right back.”

“It’s okay, I’ll come out with you.”

“No, don’t. Um, second-hand smoke is really bad for you,” I told him. He was busy staring down my dress and didn’t look particularly worried about his long-term health. I sighed inside. “Look, I won’t be long. You can go back downstairs with your buddies, and I’ll meet you there… right after my cigarette.” He gave me a bleary look and I escaped before he could figure out his next move. I got out into the blessed quiet and fresh air. I made my way down to the end of the driveway, and then I heard a voice.

“Where do you think you’re going, Frances? We’re not exactly close to anything. You know, I get the feeling you’re playing me here.” Liam stood right behind me, and he looked a little angry.

19. To The Rescue

Jake

“I’ve got to go and pick up Frankie,” Andrew explained, as they started leaving the pre-party at Tolly’s place. “She’s in trouble.”

“I’ll come. Let’s take my car,” I said, grabbing my keys. “It’s faster.”

We hopped into the Rover, and took off towards Odessa. It was dark and there wasn’t any traffic, so we were making good time, but Chloë was talking nervously the whole time. “Oh my God, I hope Frankie is okay. I told her not to go out with that preppy pervert. Guys like that are all the same, they think so highly of themselves and they take whatever they want. They don’t care about people’s feelings or anything.” Andrew kept looking back and telling her that things would be okay, but both of them looked worried. I accelerated hard once we got past the city limits. It wasn’t too tough to find the place, we knew the general area and Andrew texted some Queen’s friends to get the exact location. As I swung into the long driveway, the lights picked out two figures: Frankie and some guy yanking on her wrist. I honked the horn, and the two of them looked over in surprise. Andrew was out of the car before I even stopped. He seemed to be on some superhero mission, probably to impress Chloë.

“Let her go,” he yelled.

“Why don’t you fuck off,” the guy said. “She’s my date, and you’re on private property. You were not invited here, fuckhead.”

“Frankie’s my friend, asshole. Let her go!”

“I don’t have to take orders from Kingston grease,” he sneered. Frankie used the distraction to pull her wrist out of his grip and then bent down to grab her purse.

“Get in the car,” Andrew told her, but as he turned the asshole shoved him to the ground. Instead of getting in the car, Frankie helped Andrew up, and they both faced the guy. I guess I needed to get involved too, so I got out of the car.

“Hey asshole, back off,” I told him.

“Yeah, come on! I can take both of you at once!” He started jumping around with his fists up, like some stupid boxer. This asshole figured he was Superman, or something.

“Stop it, Liam!” Frankie told him. “I’m leaving now and you need to back off, or I’ll – I’ll tell your grandmother what you did.”

“What I did? C’mon Frances, where’s your gratitude? I blow 200 bucks on dinner and now you want to take off?”

“Don’t start with me! You’re the one who begged me to go out with you again! You’re the one who chose that expensive place and insisted on paying! You’re the one who got all high and started acting weird! Who in their right mind would want to be with such a complete jerk?” Frankie was really mad and it was kinda funny to see her ripping into the guy. I thought she’d be all scared, but she seemed to be as confident as ever.

The guy looked like he still had more to say but his eyes flickered over to me. “Shit! Jake Cookson? Man, what are you doing here?”