Chapter 17: The Business of Pleasure

Sex, Life, & Hannah::Volume 2, Spring Season (Chapter 17)

17. The Business of Pleasure.

The clouds have parted; the sun is beating down; the temperature is hot; and even though summer doesn’t start for ten days, it smells like it has. It’s the perfect afternoon for a well-deserved powwow on the patio of Rosa’s. Ireland flags down the waiter and tells him to bring us another round of Margaritas; then she launches into her tale of Justin Terrance Stone.

Last Saturday at approximately two p.m., Justin Terrance Stone walked into the Saddle Ranch—where Ireland’s been picking up a few day shifts—and sat in her section. “Justin Terrance Stone,” Ireland repeats. “Producer of the new Adult Swim phenomenon: Space Chicken.”

I stare at Ireland blankly.

“It’s a channel for men channeling their prepubescent years,” she explains. “Anyway…”

Ireland goes on to tell me how Justin Terrance Stone tipped her a fifty-dollar bill on the $9.99 Original Cowboy Burger and then ordered a beer. Ireland looked at this kid—wearing ripped jeans, a brown corduroy sport coat with green elbow patches, and some Techno Viking t-shirt—and carded him. The kid actually sulked, and then admitted he wasn’t turning twenty-one until November. Then he took out his wallet, handed Ireland another fifty-dollar bill, and asked if she could make an exception. Ireland grabbed the fifty, but still refused to serve him alcohol.

“Here’s the greatest part, though.” She licks some salt off the edge of her glass and wraps her lips around the straw of her fresh Margarita. “He lives in Bel Air, on this huge estate”—Ireland leans in—“in his parent’s pool house!”

Ireland explodes with laughter and scoops up some salsa with a chip.

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