Chapter 6

Paul looked at the public phone attendant with irritation as he dialed Nilar’s number again. It was the fifth time he had come to this booth today, and each time Nilar had given him the same answer: Nikki hadn’t returned from her date yet.

Nilar, if you recall, was Nikki’s best friend. She knew about the date--at least the tame, “vanilla” side of it. Nikki had told her in advance, since the plan was to use Nilar’s landline later for a spicy conversation once the date was over.

At Nikki’s house, the only phone was in the living room, and their talks were always overshadowed by the risk of her father overhearing. Discussing anything that had happened at the café there was out of the question.

But when Paul called again that afternoon, Nikki picked up.

“Nikki, you there?”

“Paul?”

“Give me a sec,” Paul said, pulling the handset slightly away from his ear as he handed a crumpled banknote to the phone attendant. “Can you take a walk? I won’t be long.”

The attendant nodded, stuck a cigarette between his lips, and stood up. Pocketing the tip Paul had given him, he stepped out of the booth.

Paul could hear Nikki doing the same on the other side, asking Nilar to leave the room for privacy. A moment later, Nilar’s voice drifted through: she’d wait downstairs until Nikki was finished with him.

Paul breathed into the handset as frustration mounted. Earlier, his head had been full of all the things he wanted to say, but now the words wouldn’t come.

“Paul, you still there?” Nikki’s voice echoed in his ear.

“Yeah,” he said quietly.

“Why did you leave this morning?” asked Nikki.

“I ... I just couldn’t bear it,” he muttered.

“Wasn’t that what you wanted?” Nikki’s voice was soft, almost teasing. “Me on a date with another man.”

“Yeah, but it was too much.”

“I know, babe,” she said. “I went too far.”

“I didn’t know he’d touch you like that on the first date,” Paul said, still struggling to come to terms with what had happened.