Page 4 of Ripple Effect

What the hell’s happening here? Am I asleep and this is a beautiful dream? Surreptitiously, I pinch my arm. Nope. I’m awake.

“Hey, Libby. Iris. You both seem to be having quite the evening over here.” Cal’s dark voice sends every nerve ending on red alert.

“Well, you know us, Cal. We know how to enjoy ourselves.” As soon as the words pass her lips, Iris looks like she got goose-egged herself when Sam slides into the booth on her side.

He smiles easily at me. “Cousin, do you know what to do with the trouble sitting next to you?”

“Who says I plan on doing anything?” I drawl, earning a loud guffaw from Sam and Iris.

Cal just looks thoughtful.

“I have big news,” Sam announces.

“Oh, what’s that?” I lean forward eagerly. Although I have an older brother, Sam and I being mere months apart in age, we were raised practically as twins.

“I got a job,” he announces proudly.

A thrilled gasp escapes my lips. Suddenly, I’m shoving at Cal. “Get out of my way,” I demand. “I need to congratulate him.”

“Don’t you want to hear what it is?” Cal asks with a bemused expression.

I’m still shoving at his shoulder even as I contemplate climbing over the table. “It doesn’t matter. Look at him.” I beam when I do. “He’s so happy right now, he’s lighting up the room.”

Cal hesitates for just a second, murmuring, “I think that’s you who’s doing that, Libby.” But he slides out of the booth so I can make my way over to Sam to hug him.

“I am so, so proud of you. Was it that government contractor you were telling me about? The one with offices overseas? Confederation?”

Sam chuckles as he squeezes the breath out of me. When did the scrawny boy who used to fish while I read on the banks of the Cooper River grow up? I bury my head against his shoulder to avoid those memories right now, knowing we’ll never have those carefree days again. “Alliance, and yes. That’s the one.”

“When will you tell the family?” He lets me go. I turn to slide back into the booth only to be startled. Cal’s been standing waiting patiently for us to finish. Slipping past him, I sit back down.

It must be my imagination that he slides a little closer when he sits back down himself.

“I wanted to tell you first. I’ll call Mom and Dad sometime tomorrow,” Sam tells me.

“Good.” I flash a grin at him. “I want to be able to tell my parents I knew before they did.”

Sam leans over and tweaks my nose. “What about you? Are you still heading back to Charleston after graduation?”

I nod. I’ve known what I’ve wanted for my life since the first day I ever entered Stafford Antiques with Nonna. Miss Julie gave me cookies and a tour of her store, telling me where all the beautiful treasures were from. And I imagined if I had all the money in the world, where I would put them in my house. It wasn’t long after, I began to redecorate first my room, then my parents’ home, and eventually Nonna’s home on the estate with an emphasis on our family heirlooms.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment since I was six, Sam.” We both exchange grins at the truth of my statement. “It’s time.”

“Time? Time for what?” Cal’s demanding question forces me to turn toward him.

I shrug before picking up my drink. Wrinkling my nose, I attempt another sip. “I’m a dual major, fine arts and business. I’ve got plans of my own.”

Pursing his lips at my nonanswer, Cal plucks my drink out of my hand—my drink! Taking a swallow, he mutters, “You need to be drinking better than this.”

I shrug. “It’s what I can afford.” At least on a student budget, which I’m determined to live on while I’m here.

“I can afford better.” Flagging down a waitress, he orders me a glass of wine—the brand I would normally drink at home. Before she can escape, he asks Sam and Iris, “Anything else?”

Iris holds up her almost empty beer. “I’ll take another.”

Sam shakes his head. “I’m driving.”

“That will do it, then. Thanks.” Cal dismisses the harried woman before turning his not-insubstantial attention back to me.