Maggie Stiefvater - Sinner / Маги Стийвотър - Грешник: Първа глава: Коул

In the car beside us, a guy in Wayfarers caught me gazing at California and gave me a thumbs-up. I returned it.

#52

“Is this interview on the radio right now?” Leon asked.

#53

“That’s what they tell me.”

#54

Leon ran through the stations. He blew right by “Wait/Don’t Wait.” I shook his seat a little until he backtracked.

#55

“This one?” He looked dubious. My voice crooned through the speakers, coaxing listeners to remove at least one item of clothing and promising them — promising them — it would be worth it in the morning.

#57

“Doesn’t it sound like me?”

#58

Leon looked at my face in the rearview mirror, as if looking at me would give him his answer. His eyes were so very red.

#59

This, I thought, was a man who felt things deeply. It was hard to imagine being as sad as he was in a place like this, but I guessed I had been sad here once, too.

#60

That felt like a long time ago, though.

#61

“I suppose it does.”

#62

On the radio, the song drew to a close.

#63

f live: So there we are, people. Remember now? Oh, the summers of rocking out to NARKOTIKA. Okay, Cole. Are you there, or are you conducting another study on dogs?

#64

cole st. clair: We were musing on fame. Leon has not heard of me.

#65

leon: It’s not your fault. I just don’t listen to much else but talk radio, or sometimes jazz.

#66

f live: Is that Leon? What’s he saying?

#67

cole st. clair: He’s more of a jazz guy. You’ d know it if you saw him, Martin. Leon’s very jazzy.

#68

I jazzed my hands for the rearview mirror. Leon’s hooded eyes regarded me for a sad moment. Then one of his hands crept off the gearshift to do 50 percent of jazz hands.

#69

f live: I believe you. Which album of yours are you going to tell him to start with?

#70

cole st. clair: Probably just that cover of “Spacebar” that we did with Magdalene. It’s jazzy.

#71

f live: Is it?

#72

cole st. clair: It’s got a saxophone in it.

#73

f live: I’m blown away by your knowledge of musical genres. Say, let’s talk about that deal with Baby North.

#74

Have you worked with her before?

#75

cole st. clair: I had alw

#76

f live: I wonder if everybody knows who Baby is?

#77

cole st. clair: Martin, it’s very rude to interrupt.

#78

f live: Sorry, man.

#79

leon: I know who she is.

#80

cole st. clair: Really? Her and not me? Leon knows who she is.

#81

f live: He is jazzy. Does he want to sum it up for the listeners at home? I mean, if he’s not in danger of crashing?

#82

I offered my phone to Leon.

#83

“This is a hands-free state,” Leon said.

#84

“I’ll hold it for you,” I offered, expecting him to refuse. But he shrugged, agreeable.

#85

Sliding behind his seat, I held my phone to his ear. He had one of those haircuts with a very defined ear shape carved into the side of it.

#86

leon: She’s that lady with the web TV shows. The crazy one. It’s Sharp Teeth Dot Com, but she spells it strange.

#87

With numbers, I think? Sharp t-three-three-t-h dot com? I don’t know. It might be ones instead of ts.

#88

f live: Do you watch any of her shows?

#89

leon: Sometimes in between pickups, I watch on my phone.

#90

She had that one last year. That drug lady with the baby?

#91

f live: Kristin Bank. That’s the one that put sharpt33th .com on the radar for most people. Who knew serialized rehab pregnancy could be such a draw? Did you like it?

#92

leon: I don’t know if they are shows that you like or don’t like. You just watch them.

#93

f live: I know exactly what you mean. Okay, let’s have Cole again. You might be wondering why she’s interested in putting him on an original web TV program. Why do you think that would be, Cole?

#94

I was not an idiot. Baby North was interested in me because I came with a built-in audience. She was interested in me because I had a pretty face and knew how to do my hair better than most guys. She was interested in me because I overdosed on the stage of Club Josephine, and then vanished.

#95

cole st. clair: Oh, my great music, probably. Also, I’m super charming. I’m sure that’s it.

#96

Leon offered a limp smile. In front of us, the cars sluggishly shuffled like playing cards.

#97

The sun rippled thickly off mirrors and reflectors. The palms lining the highway were lanes and lanes away. I couldn’t believe I was here in California, looking right at it, and yet couldn’t touch it yet. The interior of this car still felt at least two states away.

#98

f live: That sounds true. She’s known for her taste in music.

#99

cole st. clair: I get that. That’s a joke.

#100

f live: You are a quick one.

#101

cole st. clair: I’ve never actually heard that before.

#102