Page 43 of Tempting the President

Love you.

Thank you.

Chapter Two

Dear Ashton,

You wouldn’t believe what happened tonight. Well, actually, I think you would. Because I bet you had something to do with it. Didn’t you? Prankster!

Love, Your Big Sis

KC: WAS HE CUTE?

Me: I told you. I didn’t look at him.

KC: You are so HOPELESS.

Me: Oh, you’re one to talk.

KC: Let’s change the subject.

Me: Thought you’d say that. Gotta go now. Eddie’s back and we still need to pack up our stuff.

KC: Don’t forget – lunch tomorrow with Lace.

Me: Yep.

I let my phone fall back against my hip. It was chained to the belt loop of my uniform, my only recourse since my waitress uniform didn’t come with pockets.

Again, I cursed Bobby inside my head.Evil redheaded queen.I was pretty sure she had chosen the uniform with me in mind. Not only was it super tight, the lack of pockets also meant I couldn’t have my portable whiteboard with me.

My teeth gnashed at the thought.Super evil redheaded queen.She always did the most outlandish things just to get me to talk. Thankfully, just blinking my lashes had done the trick for the guys while playing dumb did it for the girls.Take that, queen.I managed not to utter a single word the entire night.

“Aria?” Eddie was looking at me questioningly. “You need me to do something?”

I pointed at the crates at the other end of the industrial-sized kitchen.

His brow furrowed. “Yeah, I see them. So?” Aside from being one of NH’s beneficiaries, the eighteen-year-old also suffered from a learning disability, one that prevented him from processing information as quickly as others.

Realizing that I had to elaborate, I pointed to the crate again and then tried acting my message out by squatting down halfway and clasping my arms over my shoulder.

Eddie’s eyes lit up a few moments later. “Heavy! You’re saying it’s too heavy for you to carry on your own, so you’d like me to help you with the crates?”

I gave him a thumbs-up.

Eddie gasped. “You’resmiling.”

It was my turn to gasp, silently, and I hastily covered my mouth.I was?That wasn’t good!

He said cheerfully, “You should smile more often.”

I tried not to frown. It was only because this was Eddie that I didn’t. I pointed to the crates again.

“Yes, I got it. I’ll get them to the truck.”

I nodded.Good.

“Do I wait for you?”