Page 87 of Try Me
He stared at me, frustration straining the corners of his eyes and mouth, making him look tired and older than he was. Then he nodded. “Okay, yeah. Thanks. That’d be great. The movie lets out at six. You can just drop her at the restaurant. Myra brings her kid all the time, so it’ll be fine. She can hang out in the office, and I’ll ask to be cut a little early.”
“No problemo,” I replied, and when he cracked a tiny smile, my heart surged. Then, of course, he spoke.
“Don’t say that while wearing that tie. It gives me secondhand embarrassment.”
But shit, my heart kept right on, and I had to remind myself of all the very good reasons we were making the smart, mature decision for our respective futures.
I flipped the tie out with a flourish, just to be annoying, and smiled back. “You did great on the closing, by the way. Pretty sure that was what clinched the win for us.”
I’d stumbled a little during my opening argument before finding a groove, but Chet had been smooth, start to finish—regardless of everything happening in his personal life, regardless of me and my fumbles. He was a natural, commanded attention effortlessly, and stated his arguments clearly and concisely.
He was going to be an amazing lawyer once he got there. And I’d do everything in my power to make sure he did.
* * *
So,teenage girls were a little different than I remembered them. I squinted through my windshield, staring at the gaggle of them and tried to think back to sixth grade or eighth—whatever Carrie was in. None of the girls I recalled had worn booty shorts or little tops with sparkles and sassy sayings on them.
I picked Carrie out immediately, though. She was slightly taller than the rest, with dark hair and a surly mouth just like Chet’s. I registered the ’tude even from three car lengths away. She didn’t have on booty shorts, but she wore a white tank with black lettering that read, “Don’t bother.”
It felt like an omen.
I liked her immediately and rolled down my car window with a grin, lifting a hand in her direction as I called out her name.
Carrie stared at me uncomprehendingly for a beat, then visibly cringed and made a dramatic show of shielding her eyes and face as she slowly turned away from me and back to her friends. They exploded in giggles, and a few tossed sympathetic or curious looks my way as they leaned into a huddle and whispered.
The shirt had definitely been an omen.
What was this? Some kind of mutiny? Plotting a takeover? What did I do now? Get out of the car and approach? That seemed a little dangerous, or so said the particularly lethal glare a red-haired crony of Carrie’s aimed my direction.
I folded my arms over the steering wheel and considered my options. Ice cream? Everyone liked ice cream.
“Carrie, let’s go. Hop in and we’ll have time to get some ice cream.” I knew Chet had told her I was coming, but she still gave me a horrified look, then brandished her fingers in a cross, like she was warding off a vampire.
“Back off, creeper. Not interested in ice cream or a ride in your perv mobile.” Well. She was gonna do just fine in life. Probably make CEO right out of college.
She tossed her hair and glanced back at her friends, making sure they were witnessing my excruciating takedown. Fuck, I was suddenly glad not to have siblings. Next time I drank, I’d pour one out in honor of all the arguments I didn’t get into and all the shit I didn’t have to share.
But it was time to shut this down.
“First of all, this is an Audi. Incredibly reliable, delightful handling, and capable of going zero to sixty faster than you’ll be able to think up your next insult. People pervforthis car. Second, you can either get in this damn feat of machinery right now, or I’ll go park and get out and follow you around like a personal shame shadow, laughing too loudly at stuff that’s not funny, making terrible dad jokes, and giving it my all to show you what true embarrassment is.” My grin spiked higher. “Have you seen the tie I’m wearing today?” I displayed it with a flourish, and Carrie rolled her eyes. Then she lifted her finger, whirling away for a second to confer with her minions before she shrugged and got in the car.
She flashed them a peace sign as we pulled away. “Which ice cream place?” she asked nonchalantly.
“Thought you weren’t interested?”
“I’m mildly interested with a chance of being more interested depending on the place.”
I shrugged. “I dunno, whichever one you want.”
“Great! Settled.” She beamed. “Go to Slurpy’s on Forrest.”
“Navigating to Slurpy’s on Forrest,” I said in my best GPS navigator voice.
Carrie stared at me. “Wow, are you sure you’re friends with my brother?”
I grinned. “You’re definitely his sister, that’s for sure.”
“He needs to pick his friends better.”