Page 16 of November

“Don’t give up,” India said.

“I won’t. The election is coming up, so I’ll just accept my fate when the time comes. I wanted to help, you know?”

“I think that’s noble,” India said. “We need more people like you out there, trying to do that.”

India took a sip of her coffee.

“The guy I’m running against is kind of a dick.”

India choked on her coffee a little.

“Are you okay?” Maisie asked her.

“I’m good.” India coughed a few more times.

“Soy milk?”

“Yeah. I think I will get this remade, after all.” India set the cup down on the bar, and the guy nodded apologetically in acknowledgement. “He’s a dick?”

“Yes. My best friend called him smarmy. It fits, I think.”

India laughed and said, “Well, with a name like Colter Stone, I’d say so.”

Maisie laughed as two cups were placed on the bar along with a bag.

“Peach tea, caramel latte, and two peanut butter cookies,” the guy said.

“Thank you,” she replied. “I need to get back.”

“Don’t want that tea to get cold,” India teased.

“I’ll see you around?”

“I might stop by later,” India replied.

Maisie smiled.

CHAPTER 6

“To what do I owe this honor?” Colter asked.

“It’s lunch, Colter,” India replied, dropping the burger and fries he had asked for when she had texted to ask him to have lunch earlier on the table.

“It’s lunch with my big sister, who never asks if I want to have lunch.”

“Well, I wanted to talk to you,” she replied and sat down next to him on his office sofa.

“You never want to talk to me. I see you at holidays and funerals,” he said, opening the Styrofoam container, revealing his food. “Where’s yours?”

“I already ate,” she said.

“You asked to have lunch with me, but you already ate?”

“Your burger took about thirty minutes to prepare, so even though I ordered it at the same time as my sandwich, I got bored and ate my food while I had to wait for yours.”

“It’s the best burger in town. It takes time.” He laughed a little.

“It’s also the most expensive. How many ingredients areonthat thing?”