he box. It wa

up for h

t second, I saw panic. Then, it wa

ngs now?" she shrieked, her voi

pocket," I said, my v

as a prank! You know how they are at these

how to turn an argument, how to ma

ck of ambition, your constant neediness, it's pushing me away! I'm out

Ludicrous. But she delive

my hand. I didn't say a word. My sile

uriate

treet. "Get out of my house. Go cool off and think about what you've do

se?" I as

e one with the job, th

ame from. She just assumed her city councilwoman salary paid

're ready to apologize," she said,

d back inside, slammi

e cold water washing over me. I didn

t not

the side of the house, and onto the

y phone and

k Cadillac Escalade pulled up to

k door

tner, my best friend. The woman who ran

r expression a mix o

ime?" s

r and closing the door on the

a thick leat

ack, Chef,

ad been managing for me for the last five years. When I "retired," I didn

st managed it.

n the page w

out a freeloader. She had no id