My Stingy Childhood Friend

I, Isaac Cameron, was munching on tortilla chips in a restaurant when I heard Shane Lawson’s voice before seeing him.

"Hey, Isaac! Dinner's on me tonight!"

His voice was loud and booming. It sounded like he wanted everyone to hear him.

I stopped eating. A tortilla chip dropped onto the table.

I knew Shane far too well.

We'd grown up in the same old apartment building. We were close childhood friends, and he was also the most calculating person I'd ever met.

Back in school, Shane mooched off my meals every single day. Not once did he miss a free meal.

He borrowed my bicycle, game console, wrenches, and screwdrivers. I never saw any of them again.

Later, we partnered up on a few small construction projects. Whenever it was time to split the money, Shane always managed to calculate things so that his share somehow came out a little bigger.

Once, I asked him to buy two cases of tiles for me. He charged me double the price and called the difference a delivery fee.

Two years ago for Thanksgiving, Shane showed up at my house empty-handed for dinner. Before leaving, he even walked out with half a case of unopened beer.

Another time, I lent him 500 bucks when he was in a tight spot. He promised to pay me back the following month. It took him two years. When he finally paid me back, he only returned 400 bucks while claiming the remaining 100 bucks counted as negative interest.

That was the kind of person Shane was. So when he suddenly slammed the table and announced he was treating me to dinner, I could only wonder if hell had frozen over.

Shane strode in three steps at a time and waved at the waiter. He then called out in a booming voice, "I want a serving of everything good on the menu! And bring out a bottle of the good stuff. Don't hold back. Put it on my tab!"

He then slammed a brand-new set of car keys down in front of me. The keys slid halfway across the table before coming to a stop.

"Bud, this is the car I just bought. Take it and drive it whenever you want. Consider it yours."

I looked at the keys but didn't touch them.

The warning bell in my head started ringing.

A man who would haggle over every last penny suddenly wanted to treat me to an expensive meal and hand me his brand-new car. I didn't buy it.

Our old classmates and neighbors at the table immediately started cheering.

"Whoa, Shane's really made it big!"

"He still cares about his old friends even after getting rich. That's our Shane!"

"Isaac, you two grew up together. Now that he's made bank, he definitely won't forget you."

Shane held his wineglass up. His face was flushed with excitement as he raised toast after toast. "Of course! Isaac and I are best friends. Who else would I help?"

As he spoke, he slapped me on the shoulder. It looked like he was being genuine about what he said.

I smiled and played along, but I silently looked around the table.

Shane had ordered nothing but expensive seafood dishes. Everything on the table added up to at least 200 bucks.

He had on a designer jacket that had just hit the market, and there was a new watch on his wrist that glistened under the lights.

I did the math in my head. The dinner, the watch, and the car together had to cost at least 30 grand.

More than anyone else, I wanted to know where Shane had gotten that kind of money.

"Shane, did you hit it big recently?" I asked with a smile. I was careful not to let any doubt show in my voice.

Shane laughed and waved it off. "It's not a big deal. I just made some money.

"Bud, I recently landed a major project. That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about tonight."

"Oh," I murmured softly without revealing anything. "What kind of amazing project is that?"

Shane smiled at me mysteriously before lowering his voice. "I can't talk about the details yet. Just know it's a huge opportunity. Come work with me. I guarantee you'll make more than you ever could running your own company."

He raised his glass again to toast me. I held up mine but didn't drink. I merely swirled the wine in my glass.

"Shane, is this project actually solid?" I asked again.

"Solid? It's bulletproof!" Shane thumped his chest. "Come on, look who you're talking to. Do you really think I'd screw you over?"

He paused before adding earnestly, "Bud, if I didn't think of you when an opportunity like this came along, what kind of friend would I be?"

I smiled and nodded. "All right. I appreciate you thinking of me."

My gaze had already turned cold.

I barely touched the food that night.

I knew Shane too well. Whenever Shane suddenly behaved like a generous person, it was never because he wanted to do something nice. He wanted something in return.

I just needed to figure out exactly what he was after this time.

Halfway through the meal, Shane put down his fork and leaned close to me. He then lowered his voice. "Next Friday, I'll introduce you to someone important. You'll realize how great a friend I am to you.

"It's a rare opportunity. You have to come."

I agreed without letting anything show on my face.

When we left, Shane slapped my shoulder again. "Bud, you're the only person in this world I can count on."

I smiled but said nothing.

Once I got into my car, I gripped the steering wheel and watched the taillights of Shane's new car disappear into the night. The feeling that something was wrong intensified.

That dinner definitely meant more than it looked.