“I changed my mind," he said. "I'll take you up on helping me get a job."I almost swerved into oncoming traffic.”

“Lydia screamed. The car began to swerve all over the street. "YOU SON-OF-A-BITCH! I'LL KILL YOU!" She crossed the double yellow line at high speed, directly into oncoming traffic. Horns sounded and cars scattered. We drove on against the flow of traffic, cars approaching us peeling off to the left and right. Then just as abruptly Lydia swerved back across the double line into the lane we had just vacated. Where are the police? I thought. Why is it that when Lydia does something the police become nonexistent?”

“Oh God,” Jenna said, “will you shut up and kiss me before I change my mind?”

“I changed my mind. Get out of my house now. I'll set your things on fire and mail you the ashes.”

“You still have," I looked at my watch, "twelve seconds to change your mind. Find someone else and save your reputation."One side of his lip cricked up. "I found you. I'll take my chances.”

“I guess you get all my money, I said. And I'm not even dead. I was trying for a joke, but it came out sounding macabre.Hush, he said. He was still kneeling on the floor. You know I'll always take care of you.I thought, already he's starting to patronize me. Then I thought, already you're starting to get paranoid.”