"No longer virgin" - читать интересную книгу автора (Finch R W)

CHAPTER FIVE

Marshall and Wendy drove into Los Angeles and were hurrying to beat the infamous rush-hour traffic. Wendy could see the mountains, had only a vague notion of where the ocean might be, supposed it was somewhere ahead of them still. She knew it was very close by, of course, as she had at least partially chosen Los Angeles as the city to run to because of its proximity to the water.

"God!" she said with some awe. "Just think. Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Disneyland…" and Marshall glanced at her with a smile, seemed to be only half-listening to her, "the Pacific Ocean, mountains, woods, everything! Why would anyone want to live anywhere else?"

"Hard to say," Marshall shrugged. "But, most do, of course. Roots, I suppose. Family and that type of thing."

"Say, listen," Marshall started, and he sounded suddenly very serious, caused Wendy to glance at him. "I've been thinking. You really don't have anywhere to go out here – nothing specific, that is – so why don't you come along and stay with me at my uncle's place? I'm sure they could find room for you. And I'd sure miss the hell out of you if you didn't."

Wendy was silent, did not really know how to answer him.

"Well?" Marshall asked, smiled at her. "What are you sitting there thinking about for so long? It should be an easy decision."

"I can't, Marsh," she looked away. "I'm sorry. I'm going to get a place on my own, I guess."

He drove on silently, was apparently surprised at her answer, had probably decided much earlier that she would go with him and that his asking her was only a formality.

"But, why?" he asked finally. "I was kind of getting to thinking of us as… well, more than just friends."

"We are more than just friends, Marsh. You're special to me. You'll always be special to me. And I'm glad that I'm special to you. It's just that I have to try to make it on my own first. I have to at least try."

"Let me help you make it on your own, then," he said. "Come and stay with me. I'll be working soon and we'll get a place for ourselves."

"I'm sorry, Marsh," she said, realized that he cared for her even more than she'd thought, felt even worse now. "I'm really sorry. I've already made up my mind."

He said after what seemed like a very long silence, "At least let me give you my Uncle Jack's phone number. Then you can call when you're settled and I'll come and see you. Now that I know you, I just can't pretend I never met you."

"Sure!" Wendy said brightly. "Where does your uncle live, anyway? Right in the city?"

"In the San Fernando Valley," Marshall said, seemed cheered somewhat at the prospect of seeing her again. "It's not too far, I don't think." He paused, then asked her, "Where do you want me to drop you? Do you have any idea?"

"Hollywood," Wendy said without hesitation. "I'll get a motel room tonight, then start looking for an apartment tomorrow."

"I'll take you to a motel in Hollywood, then. There's no sense in just dropping you off and letting you wander on foot trying to find one."

"Thanks, Marsh, I'd appreciate it. You've been so good to me, I don't know how I'll ever repay you."

He said, "Just don't forget to call me after you're situated, that's all. That'll be repayment enough, believe me."

"Don't you worry about that," she smiled at him. "I'll call you as soon as I find an apartment. I'll call you right away."