Jonah pretended to think on it. “I have just the thing — wanna help me win a bet?”
Chapter Twenty-Four
“It’s a first, ladies and gents. Jonah Klein is last to the party, for once.”
Might as well get ahead of the ball-busting, for once.
Jonah’s announcement caused all heads in Avi and Leah’s living room to turn his way.
“Fashionably late,” Nora called from her spot on the couch. “There’s the Hanukkah suit!”
Jonah ran a hand through his curls, turning to show off the shine of the black velvet; the effect of the neon designs printed on it nearly holographic under the track lighting. Laughter and a smattering of applause broke out from the OG Ballers present.
“Where’s the sweater we bet on?” Avi wanted to know. “This brownstone has three working fireplaces. Imma ready to fire one up, loser.”
“Oh, someone’s been warming it up for ya, loser.”
Jonah reached a hand back. His large frame had been concealing his plus-one to the party. Just as it had first blocked her from the buffet onlookers, starting their whole adventure in motion.
Now, it had come full circle. Literally, as Tzipi gave a twirl in her short skirt.
His ugly Hanukkah sweater had never looked so good.
“Still here,” she said, in her best Kara-as-Vanta voice. Adding the unmistakable pout for good measure. Jonah had made the mistake of kissing some of that gloss stuff off her, and his lips were still on fire.
So worth it though.
Avi’s martini glass dropped to the floor. Luckily, it was practically empty, and it landed with a muted thump on their area rug.
“Is that…that’s not…is she…?”
For once, the rock star had no vocal range. Or snappy comebacks.
“Technically, no. So you can keep your hunnid bucks. Or donate it to charity. But she did stick with me past midnight, so you still have to wear the sweater.”
Tzipi peeled it off and handed it to Avi with a grin. “It’s a little staticky,” she admitted. She ruffled her short locks. The color was still like Kara’s, but she owned the look…reminding Jonah of a bad-ass beautiful Tinkerbell.
He gave her a wink.
Avi Wolfson grumbled good-naturedly, but peeled off his flannel. Tzipi caught a quick glimpse at a flash of tattoos and skin, even though Jonah tried to shield her eyes.
“Ugh, I have to deal with morning sickness and Avi’s abs? Barf!” Nora pulled a face. “Hi, I’m Nora. And this is Talia. But you probably already knew that.” She extended a hand. “Love your look. It’s like Audrey-meets-Sarah Jessica.”
Tzipi had paired her Milly dress – finally – with a pair of thick, patterned tights perfect for a December day in Brooklyn, along with Kara’s knee-high boots with a chunky heel.
“Thanks, exactly the look I was going for.”
She grinned, leaning down and shaking Nora’s hand, then Talia’s newly-engaged one. “I’m Tzipi. And yeah, Kara prepped me a bit.”
“Tell your sister she’s lost her honorary OG status.”
Jay Katz appeared behind Avi, looking relaxed although slightly exhausted. He slowly shook his head, rubbing his temple.
“Dude.” He turned to Jonah. “I don’t even want to know. I probably don’t have enough liability insurance to know. Or to cover your lying ass.”
“How about…what happens on the Matzo Baller, stays on the Matzo Baller?” Jay’s girlfriend suggested, sidling up conspiratorially to Tzipi and handing her a cocktail.
Rebecca – R is for the real captain of the ship – appeared way more at ease too, now that the night was behind them. And that she wasn’t having to wrangle drunk movie stars and other bad actors.
