04-04-2024, 05:11 AM
Jude's excitement layers inside him, a knot twisting tighter and tighter. Beneath the easy-going placid surface, he is waiting with bated breath for the blow-up. Whether it comes from Guthrie or Near, he doesn't care. Misery loves company. The tantalizing promise of that company ripples electrically in the air.
Consultant. Jude's eyes are sparkling. He looks at Guthrie as he speaks, sadly deprived of whatever look is on Near's face. There is no less sparkle in his eyes when both Near and Guthrie dismiss his assessment of Near. He concedes happily, "Maybe it is just me," seizing upon the leaky implication that there is some part of Near that only Jude possesses and trying to break the pipe clean open. "Maybe that's my effect."
And maybe Jude is right. Is Near giving Guthrie straight answers now?
He flexes one foot on the couch and curls his toes. They crack softly in the silence, and he switches to the other foot. "An alternative energy start-up." The gaiety in Jude's voice is full of California sunshine. Jude too can be insensitive to finer interpersonal emotions, but all his attention is trained on Guthrie now. The straight answer wouldn't get Near much further anyhow. Neither Jude nor Near understand why they're having dinner together. How could they tell someone else?
Consultant. Jude's eyes are sparkling. He looks at Guthrie as he speaks, sadly deprived of whatever look is on Near's face. There is no less sparkle in his eyes when both Near and Guthrie dismiss his assessment of Near. He concedes happily, "Maybe it is just me," seizing upon the leaky implication that there is some part of Near that only Jude possesses and trying to break the pipe clean open. "Maybe that's my effect."
And maybe Jude is right. Is Near giving Guthrie straight answers now?
He flexes one foot on the couch and curls his toes. They crack softly in the silence, and he switches to the other foot. "An alternative energy start-up." The gaiety in Jude's voice is full of California sunshine. Jude too can be insensitive to finer interpersonal emotions, but all his attention is trained on Guthrie now. The straight answer wouldn't get Near much further anyhow. Neither Jude nor Near understand why they're having dinner together. How could they tell someone else?