“Let me get your watch.” Unu picked up her golf bag and moved it toward the door. He checked her watch. “It’s seven forty-six,” he said, then passed it to her.
“Thanks, babe.” Casey picked up her garment bag. “Oh, damn. Forgot my toiletries. Where is my head?” She ran toward the bathroom and stuffed things into her cosmetics bag.
At the front door, she checked to see if she had everything with her. The thought of getting away made her feel elated.
“I think I have everything.”
Unu said nothing, looking more sober than usual.
“Hey. You okay?” she asked. “You miss these silly boondoggles? I can’t believe Hugh calls them idea roundtables. Such a crock—”
“I got rid of my car and my watch yesterday.”
“What?” Casey put down her keys.
“Yeah. I had to pay Karl, so I gave him the car and the watch.”
“Your bookie? Oh, my God. I didn’t know.”
“How could you? Just happened last night.”
“I’m sorry. Do you need money? I have some money. Here.” Casey opened her wallet. She pulled out a hundred and twenty dollars in cash. Her bills were under control ever since she’d been getting these large summer intern paychecks. “Do you need more? I’ll give you whatever I have.”
Unu pressed her money back into her hand. “No. I don’t want this. I’m fine.”
“You told me that was the watch your dad got you at graduation.”
“It’s just a thing.”
“Well, yeah, but—”
“Don’t be late for work,” he said, opening the door.
“Unu?” Casey lingered, trying to think of some encouragement.
“You coming back?” he asked her.
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing,” he said. “I’ll miss you.”
“Me too,” she said. This wasn’t the man who had made her nervous on their first date. She remembered calling Ella after she’d spent time with him in Miami. He’d seemed like the perfect guy: Korean, nice family, good education, and so sweet. Their first date back in New York was at an Italian restaurant near Hell’s Kitchen. She was so anxious during dinner that she couldn’t eat her angelhair pasta with clams. Then he’d asked her, “You one of those girls that never eats on dates?” And she’d said, “Is this a date?” He’d said, “Yes, it’s a date. And I am trying to impress you.” She had slept with him right away, because there was something so sexy about him, so male. He’d been both unfamiliar and familiar to her. Lately, they hadn’t been having much sex. Not zero, but certainly not as much as before. What had surprised her was when he had turned down the most recent offer to be an analyst. So what if it was a step down? Wasn’t a job better than no job? And the gambling. What could she say about that? His car and his watch? She knew how much he loved that old Volvo station wagon. This was like watching a building fall into pieces.
“Unu. How can I help?”
“I’m okay. I shouldn’t have told you like that.”
“Do you not want me to go? This weekend?”
“You have to go, Casey. This guy got you your summer job.”
“I know, but you’re not—” She couldn’t say, not doing well.
“I’m fine, Casey. Have a good time. Call me when you can. I should be home.”
“Okay,” she said. She kissed him good-bye.
Thanks to Hugh’s speeding, the drive up to Vermont took half an hour less than expected. As soon as they reached the hotel in Manchester Village, Casey felt like springing out of the car. She was wired from the Big Gulp Diet Coke she’d been drinking, and she was still mulling over what Walter had said. During a rest stop, Walter had asked about Unu, whom he used to cover. “I left a message for Shim-kin last week. Thought I might have a lead for him for an analyst position. Not a bad firm, either. But didn’t hear. He’s probably busy,” he’d said, looking at her carefully for a response.
“Oh? He didn’t tell me,” she said, which was true. Unu hadn’t mentioned it at all. Why wouldn’t he tell her? And why wouldn’t he call Walter back when Walter was great at making introductions for people? It was no small thing to have a person like Walter vouch for you. What was Unu’s problem?
When they finished checking in, it was nearly eleven o’clock.
“Drinks at the bar?” Hugh asked her and Walter.