第12部分(第6/7 頁)

I　scanned　through　the　stations　until　I　found　one　that　was　harmless。　I　peeked

at　Jess's　expression　as　the

new　music　filled　the　car。

Her　eyes　squinted。　〃Since　when　do　you　listen　to　rap？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　I　said。　〃A　while。〃

〃You　like　this？〃　she　asked　doubtfully。

〃Sure。〃

It　would　be　much　too　hard　to　interact　with　Jessica　normally　if　I　had　to　work

to　tune　out　the　music；　too。　I

nodded　my　head；　hoping　I　was　in　time　with　the　beat。

〃Okay〃　She　stared　out　the　windshield　with　wide　eyes。

〃So　what's　up　with　you　and　Mike　these　days？〃　I　asked　quickly。

〃You　see　him　more　than　I　do。〃

The　question　hadn't　started　her　talking　like　I'd　hoped　it　would。

〃It's　hard　to　talk　at　work；〃　I　mumbled；　and　then　I　tried　again。　〃Have　you　been

out　with　anyone　lately？〃

〃Not　really。　I　go　out　with　Conner　sometimes。　I　went　out　with　Eric　two　weeks

ago。〃　She　rolled　her　eyes；

and　I　sensed　a　long　story。　I　clutched　at　the　opportunity。

〃Eric　Yorkie？　Who　asked　who？〃

She　groaned；　getting　more　animated。　〃He　did；　of　course！　I　couldn't　think　of　a

nice　way　to　say　no。〃

〃Where　did　he　take　you？〃　I　demanded；　knowing　she　would　interpret　my　eagerness

as　interest。　〃Tell　me

all　about　it。〃

She　launched　into　her　tale；　and　I　settled　into　my　seat；　more　fortable　now。

I　paid　strict　attention；

murmuring　in　sympathy　and　gasping　in　horror　as　called　for。　When　she　was

finished　with　her　Eric　story；

she　continued　into　a　Conner　parison　without　any　prodding。

The　movie　was　playing　early；　so　Jess　thought　we　should　hit　the　twilight

showing　and　eat　later。　I　was

happy　to　go　along　with　whatever　she　wanted；　after　all；　I　was　getting