‘Don’t we have to settle the bill?’ I hover beside him. He waves a hand. ‘All done. While you were out.’ ‘Jas…’ I start. ‘What? Not this again. I told you it was my treat.’ I sigh. ‘But not dinner and the phone calls and breakfast and…’ He shrugs. ‘Doesn’t matter. It’s just money. Don’t worry about it.’ He picks up a copy of GQ and starts reading. I stand there for another second or two. ‘OK. Well, um, thanks.’ I pick up a magazine as well, and go to sit on the couch opposite him. Just money. I shake my head slightly behind my open magazine. I wonder if Jas realises any more how much normal people have to think about ‘just money’ on a daily basis. About ‘just money’ to pay the electricity and the phone, ‘just money’ to buy groceries and fix the car with. It’s the rock star thing again. Jas puts down his magazine now and gets up from the couch. He starts pacing around the lobby and I watch him with one eye, the other fixed on my reading material, as he makes his way around the room.
