G'Day USA Read Online Free Page B

bad.
    ‘ Kent. When did you get into town? And Charlie? Jeeze, this is almost a reunion.’
    Kent sat across from me. ‘Yeah. All we need now is butt-fuck Bart.’
    I shuddered. ‘No thanks.’ Charlie was still standing. ‘Sit, man. What have you guys been up to? When did you get here?’
    ‘ Almost two years now. I think we got here not long after you did.’ Kent fiddled with a menu. ‘Charlie a few months after me.’
    ‘ And you didn’t look me up?’
    Kent waved at Emily to come and take his order. ‘Kinda busy. Didn’t think you’d be that interested in catching up anyway. But I’m glad we bumped into each other. You’re on fire now.’
    I nodded. ‘Not doing too bad. Have you been acting? I haven’t run into you anywhere. And I can’t even tell you’ve got an Australian accent.’
    ‘ Small parts here and there. Nothing like Modern Family or that movie you’re in. What’s the name?’
    ‘ Blood Thunder .’
    ‘ Right. Congrats.’
    ‘ Thanks.’ Charlie sat very quietly, almost invisible. ‘What about you. Directing anything?’
    He shook his head. ‘I’ve been out of the business since Beast . That was enough for me. Sweeney did a great job of turning me off the whole industry.’
    ‘ That’s too bad. You were great. Any day Sweeney was in trouble it was you who fixed things up. And when he gave you the Second Unit stuff, hell, some of the best footage in the movie.’
    ‘ Bullshit.’
    ‘ Seriously. You should think about getting back in.’
    He furrowed his brow and looked at me intently. ‘How is it that Sweeney is now out of jail? He said something about you planting evidence. Is that true?’
    ‘ No, it’s not. When did he say that?’
    Kent folded the menu and looked up. ‘Dropped by his place last night. He’s lost a bunch of weight in there. It looks like prison has actually done him well.’
    ‘ Why would you go to his place? Especially after what he did to you.’
    ‘ Come on now. Relax. I - we - just went by to welcome the man back to the land of freedom.’ He grinned. ‘Right Charlie?’
    ‘ He said you fabricated evidence, or something, and that’s why the case was tossed. I don’t like the guy any more than you do, but why would you do that? Are you saying he didn’t kill your roommate, whatever his name was?’
    Before I could answer, Kent interrupted. ‘And you knew about what he did to my foot? And you didn’t tell me?’
    ‘ Whoa, whoa. Guys. You’re ambushing me. Charlie, no. I didn’t fabricate any evidence. I just took what I had to the police. His slime-bag lawyer got him off. And yes he did kill my roommate. His name was Joel.’ I looked closely at him, making sure he caught everything I said. ‘He absolutely killed Joel. His lawyer, apparently, convinced the judge I was pissed off at him because he was hitting on me. Neither was true. I wasn’t pissed off with him until after Joel was killed, and he never really hit on me.’
    Emily came to the table. ‘Food, gentlemen?’
    ‘ I paying for this, Em. My treat. These are old friends from Australia.’
    ‘ It was sounding a bit loud. You okay?’
    ‘ Just friends catching up. We’re okay. Boys, get whatever you want. Her husband is a fantastic cook.’
    ‘ You sure, dear? I can get Henry out here to straighten these two out.’
    Kent laughed. ‘It’s like she said - we’re old friends. Can I get some pancakes?’
    ‘ Me too. And coffee, if you could. Thanks Ell.’
    Emily cocked and eyebrow and looked at the two shaggy surfer types. ‘Yeah, okay. If I hear anything untoward from you lot I’ll have Henry out here with a cleaver to sort you out. Don’t mess with Ellie.’ She looked at Charlie then Kent. ‘Your pancakes will be ready in a couple of minutes.’
    Kent watched her walk back into the cafe. ‘She your bodyguard or something?’
    ‘ Something like that. Kind of adopted me when I moved in. It’s nice to know they’ve got my back.’ I leaned back in my seat. ‘Let’s