is　directing　it；”　she　said；　as　if　she　were　a　kindergarten　teacher　explaining　to　a　five…year…old　why　she　couldn’t　have　two　snacks。　“It’ll　really　be　great；　Hollis。”　Stacy　smiled。　“Now；　let’s　keep　going。　So；　we　get　them　to　Reykjavík；　and　then…”　She　trailed　off；　glancing　around　the　room　for　the　next　pitch。

“Then　I　guess　I’m　not　needed　here。”　Vanessa　stood　up。　Tears　were　dangerously　close　to　flowing；　and　she　would　not　cry　in　front　of　them。　She　walked　toward　the　door。　Hollis　was　still　sitting　on　the　edge　of　his　chair；　leaning　his　elbows　on　the　table　as　if　he　couldn’t　wait　to　hear　Stacy’s　latest　absurd　idea。

“Hollis？”　Vanessa　asked；　her　voice　shaking。

“See　you　later；”　Hollis　called　distractedly。　He　turned　back　to　the　table。　“I　think　it　might　be　cool　if　one　of　them　got　involved　with　a　Dutch　girl　from　Amsterdam；”　he　mused。

At　this；　Vanessa　froze。　Her　hand　was　on　the　doorknob；　but　she　felt　paralyzed。　What　was　Hollis　doing？　How　could　he　betray　her　like　that？

“Zach；　can　you　walk　Alyssa　out；　while　we　hash　out　the　Amsterdam　plot　twist；”　Stacy　asked；　mistaking　Vanessa’s　pent…up　rage　for　confusion　over　where　the　exit　was　located。

Vanessa　swallowed　her　anger。　She　was　going　to　head　back　to　the　apartment；　pack　her　stuff；　and　then　go　straight　to　Ruby’s。　If　Hollis　thought　she　would　continue　to　live　with　him；　he　was　dead　wrong。　“Hollis　is　great　at　plot　twists；”　Vanessa　managed　icily　before　she　closed　the　door。

The　best　endings　are　the　ones　you　don’t　see　ing。

the　marriage　of　two　minds　works　better　over　beers

Dan　lit　up　a　Camel　as　he　stood　outside　Doma；　the　busy　café　on　Perry　Street。　It　was　already　almost　dark；　even　though　it　was　just　four　in　the　afternoon。　The　café　looked　warm　and　inviting；　with　people　reading　tattered　paperbacks