Sympathy for the Devil Read Online Free PDF

Cari’s name quietly. I was expecting an older, almost arthritic, wobbly voiced, weak-kneed short arse. I was confronted with a GAP model.
           “Rick, don’t sit down,” Cari directed shortly. “You won’t be here long.”
           Poor bloke , I thought with a mental grin. How did he cope for months? She held out her palm, into which he tipped a ring. A sparkler like that would have any woman with taste killing men, women, and children for it. I’d seen women fight over a pair of Hermes gloves in Harvey Nichols. It was bloody, and at my mother’s insistence I was in therapy the next day.
           “Thanks.” She beamed, closing her fingers around it. Rick stood there looking bewildered. “Um…what about my graphic novel?”
           “That would be my graphic novel. You gave it back to me,” she reminded him.
           I wondered why Cari had wasted weeks of her life with such a watercolour of a prick. He must have had to crawl out from under her personality. She was far too strong for him. Not too much for you though , a voice taunted. But she ain’t my type , I replied just as smartly.
           “But you were saying…” Rick said hesitantly.
           “Richard, I never said anything of the sort,” she informed him, slipping the ring onto her right hand, third finger and examining it with a glowing face. “I seem to recall you telling me you didn’t want my gifts.”
           “Cari, now you’re just being…”
           Her face set in anger. It was like watching a soap opera, her features were so dramatically inclined. “Don’t you start on me. You threw it at me and said you didn’t want a fucking thing from me. You rarely lie, as you’re too stupid to know how to, so I’ve taken you at your word.”
           “Cari…”
           “Nuh uh. We’re done. I’ll erase your number, you erase mine. I’m sure you’ll find some simpering female on your level to buy you the right one. Now push off. We’re trying to have coffee.”
           Opening and shutting his mouth like a fish, he went beetroot colour, then Rick stormed out of the café.
           Toni grinned at her friend. “You’re terrible. I actually almost felt sorry for him!”
           “He should grow a backbone then,” I said, routing around for my menthols.
           “What a good judge of character you are,” Cari said stoically, sending me a sly wink. “Right, are we going to Waterstones or not?” She pulled a book list from her bag. “I’m halfway through that contract assignment, and that second year who lives above me told me a really good book to get.”
           Toni and West exchanged looks, then Toni said, “We have stuff to do first. Why don’t you go on with Pierce and I’ll meet you outside Topshop in an hour?”
           Cari laughed. “Honey, it won’t take that long.”
           West wrapped an arm around Toni’s shoulders, “Ah, but we will.”
           I smelled a set-up, but Cari was so glorious, I didn’t altogether mind.
           “Whatcha say?” She turned to me, blinking slowly. As my stomach dissolved in what felt like fear, I knew she definitely did that on purpose.
           “Go on then,” I said with a put-upon sigh. “Let’s go. I need nicotine.”
           She took another sip of chocolate, then put the lid on, leaving it on the table. She tucked her arm through mine as I popped a Marlboro in my mouth. She took out a box of matches I noted were from a well-known members club and touched a lighted one to the end of my cigarette. We turned and waved to West and Toni, who looked like proud parents. We rounded the corner, where I hailed a taxi to take us down to Piccadilly Circus. I know it was lazy, but it wasn’t my money. Cari let go of my arm, and we drove off. She breathed out slowly and rested her head on the back of the seat, that lock of hair falling once more