thought—however remote the possibility—of catching a glimpse
of her。 Or Emily。 Or anyone else； for that matter； except for
James； who had kept in touch。
Somehow； someway； for somereason； Loretta had called her old
college roommate who just so happened to edit the city section
ofThe Buzz and told her that she’d discovered the next new
“it” writer。 That was supposed to be me。 She’d arranged an
interview for me today； and even forewarned the woman that I’d
been summarily dismissed from Miranda’s employ； but the woman
had just laughed and said something to the effect that if they
refused to use anyone whom Miranda had fired at one point or
another； they’d barely have any writers at all。
I finished my cappuccino and； newly energized； gathered my
portfolio of different articles and headed—this time calmly；
without either an incessantly ringing phone or an armload of
Coffees—toward the Elias…Clark building。 A moment or two of
reconnaissance from the sidewalk indicated that noRunway
Clackers were amid the crowds in the lobby； and I proceeded to
heave my weight against the revolving door。 Nothing had
changed in the five months since I’d last been there： I could
see Ahmed behind the register in the newsstand； and a huge；
glossy poster advertised thatChic would be hosting a party at
Lotus that weekend。 Although I technically should’ve signed
in； I instinctively walked directly toward the turnstiles。
Immediately； I heard a familiar voice call out；“I can’t
remember if I cried when I read about his widowed bride； but
something touched me deep inside； the day； the music died。 And
we were singing 。 。 。” “American Pie”！What a sweetie； I
thought。 This was the good…bye song that I’d never gotten to
sing。 I turned to see Eduardo； as large and sweaty as usual；
grinning。 But not at me。 In front of the turnstile closest to
him stood a toweringly skinny girl with jet black hair and
green eyes； wearing a dynamite pair of tight； pinstripe pants
and a navel…revealing tank top。 She also happened to be
balancing a small tray with three Starbucks Coffees； an
overflowing bag of newspapers and magazines； three hangers
with plete outfits dangling from each one； and a duffel
monogrammed with the initials “MP。” Her Cell Phone began to
ring just as I realized what was happening； and she looked so
panicked I thought she might cry on the spot。 But when her
repeated banging against the turnstile failed to elicit entry；
she sighed deeply and sang；“’Bye； ’bye； Miss American Pie；
drove my Chevy to the levee； but the levee was dry； and good
old boys were drinking whiskey and rye； singing this will be
the day that I die； this will be the day that I die 。 。 。”
When I looked back to Eduardo； he smiled quickly in my
direction and winked。 And then； while the pretty brunette girl
finished singing her verse； he buzzed me through like I was
someone who mattered。
This book is a work of fiction。 Names； characters； Businesses；
organizations； places； events； and incidents either are the
product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously。
Any resemblance to actual persons； living or dead； events； or
locales is entirely coincidental。
“Material Girl” by Peter Brown and Robert Rans ©； 1984 Candy
Castle music。 All Rights administered by Warner…Tamerlane
Publishing Corp。 All Rights Reserved。 Used by Permission。
WARNER BROS。 PUBLICATIONS U。S。 INC。； Miami； FL 33014
“Wannabe” Words and Music by Matt Rowebottom； Richard
Stannard； Geri Halliwell； Emma Bunton； Melanie Brown； Melanie
Chisholm； and Victoria Adams。 ©； 1996 EMI music PUBLISHING LTD。
and UNIVERSAL…POLYGRAM
INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHING； INC。 All Rights for EMI MUSIC
PUBLISHING LTD。 in the U。S。 and Canada Controlled and
Administered by EMI FULL KEEL music。 All Rights Reserved。
International Copyright Secured。 Used by Permission。
“I Think We’re Alone Now” Words and music by Ritchie Cordell。
©； 1967
（Renewed 1995） EMI LONGITUDE music。 All Rights Reserved。
International Copyright Secured。 Used by Permission。
“American Pie” Words and music by Don McLean。 ©； Copyright 1971
Songs of Universal； Inc。 on behalf of itself and Benny Bird
Co。； Inc。 All rights reserved。 Used by permission。
（END）