I poke through my drawers and closet for anything else pop-culture related that I could fold into my suitcase.
No, wait. Would a Star Wars devotee arrive wheeling a RIMOWA suitcase? I think not. I pull an old duffel bag from the bottom of my closet and repack.
It won’t be easy to win over Courtney Abernathy, but I never met a challenge I couldn’t overcome and this nerddom will be no exception.
The drive is an hour and fifty minutes today. On the highway, I play Chopin as I bob and weave through long lines of semi-trailers.
“Elizabeth calling,” my car says.
I accept my little sister’s call. “Where are you today? Palm Beach?”
“Your house.”
“What are you doing at my house?”
“I need a place to crash. Do you mind?”
In other words, she doesn’t want our parents to know she’s in town. “Be my guest. I’m gone for the next two weeks though.”
“I’m sorry, what’s this? Has the worker bee finally flown away from the hive for a well-deserved vacay?”
“Not exactly. It’s a work thing.”
Her sigh tickles my speakers. “I should’ve known.”
“Is Bruno with you?” I ask.
“No, that’s kind of why I’m here. I’m avoiding him.”
“Because?”
“Because he’s annoying, and I can’t tell him that without it becoming a whole deal.”
“I can see your conundrum.”
“I don’t want Mom and Dad to know we’re on the rocks. They were hoping for an engagement to announce at their anniversary party and if it doesn’t happen, I’ll be their big disappointment.”
“You and I both know that role is reserved for yours truly.”
“Bullshit, big brother. You’re the golden boy. Knowing you, you’ll be announcing your sole ownership of the firm by the time August rolls around.”
I laugh. “You only say that because you haven’t met the partners at my firm.”
“Are any of them single?” She pauses. “Never mind. I see how much you work.”
I wince. “Ouch.”
“No offense,” she tacks on. “You know I love you, but I wouldn’t dream of setting you up with any of my friends.”
“I’m starting to rethink this whole letting-you-stay-in-my-house thing.”
“Face it, Charlie. You’re married to your job. Who takes two weeks away from the office and spends them at a work event? I hope it’s at least somewhere close to a beach.”
I glimpse the mountains in the distance. “Not quite. Listen, I’m almost there. I should go so I don’t miss my exit. Don’t eat all my pickles.”
“What?” She feigns a poor connection with a hissing sound. “What’s that? You want me to eat all your gourmet pickles? If you insist.”
She hangs up before I can object.
