Single White Female by John Lutz

“I don’t consider you any kind of wimp, Hedra. And your private life’s none of my business.”
    Hedra blushed; it was obvious even in the yellow lamplight. The wind drummed rain against the window. Sounded as if the storm had claws and was clambering to get in. “There’s another reason I said I was meeting a man. I didn’t want you to think . . . you know.”
    Allie didn’t know. Not at first. Then she laughed. “I never doubted your sexual preference, Hedra, or I wouldn’t have chosen you for a roommate.”
    Squirming in her chair, Hedra said, “It’s just that I have trouble meeting men, while you seem to have trouble holding them off. Oh, I mean, I can see why. You have such confidence and style and all.”
    Allie was getting tired of Hedra’s unabashed admiration that bordered on idolatry. It was the one thing in their otherwise smooth relationship that bothered her. “Hell, I’m no beauty contest winner, Hedra. Not even a runner-up.”
    “Beauty comes from inside,” Hedra said solemnly.
    What could Allie say to that? So does a fart? From the corner of her eye she saw that Lehrer was talking with the U.S. Attorney General now. What would the Administration think about resurrecting Devil’s Island American style? Well, it was a possibility. She stood up from the sofa. “It’s a crummy night outside. I’m gonna make a cup of tea. You want one?”
    “Yes, please. No—wait, I’ll help you.”
    “No, you won’t. Stay put.”
    The command had come out sharper than Allie intended. The subdued roommate sank back into her chair and seemed prepared to stay in that position for days.
    In the kitchen, Allie filled two cups with water, placed them in the microwave, and set the timer for three minutes.
    While she was waiting for the water to boil, she wished again that Hedra would stop idolizing her for what she no doubt considered an outgoing if not downright hedonistic lifestyle. Not that Allie wasn’t somewhat complimented by Hedra’s open admiration. Who wouldn’t be? But at the same time it made her uncomfortable. This wasn’t part of the deal. She didn’t want to be anyone’s big sister.
    It was true that word of her and Sam’s breakup had gotten around, and unctuous, curly-haired Billy Stothers from Sam’s office had phoned her several times for a date. Allie had gone out with him once, to a boring off-Broadway play and then a late dinner and dancing.
    Stothers hadn’t tried to bed her that night; he was the patient sort. But he bored the hell out of her with his stock, predictable lies, and she was trying to dissuade him, but nicely. Which prompted the spate of messages on her machine. Actually Stothers and Mayfair had been the only men who’d phoned during the past two weeks.
    Sam was lurking like a persistent interloper in the far reaches of her mind, always with her. How long would that last?
    The microwave timer chirped, and Allie removed the cups and dropped tea bags into them. Waited. Removed the soggy bags and added cream. She carried the two steaming cups into the living room.
    MacNeil/Lehrer ’s all-purpose theme music was on; the program was over. The air in the apartment was warm and sticky, but the storm made tea seem appropriate. A cozy and proper beverage, tea. Veddy, veddy English.
    “You didn’t have to do this for me,” Hedra said, accepting her cup.
    “I know,” Allie said, irritated by all this subservience. She’d just heated some water and dropped in a bag; she hadn’t donated a kidney. “So maybe next time you make the tea.”
    Hedra smiled. “I’d like that. Sort of earn my keep.”
    Hedra, Hedra, Hedra . . . Allie switched off the TV and settled back down on the sofa. “You’re paying half the rent and utilities, remember?”
    “Oh, sure. But I can’t forget this was your place to begin with. I mean, I know how hard it is to get any apartment in this part of town. I appreciate your taking me on as a roommate.”
    “So you’ve told me.”
    “Yeah, I