“James is back at it. With that blog. You have to do something. He’s going to make street tacos tomorrow, and I’m not going to be home. He says they’re for the kids, but I know someone’s coming over. Who the heck is he trying to impress? I have PTA ... or else.”
I smile to myself. It’s a particularly good post, especially the apron. I can’t help but wonder if it’s for me. Desperate to see if Reid texted back, I want to put the phone on speakerphone but Gabby is in earshot.
“One sec,” I tell my sister.
“I don’t have time for this, Andi.”
I ignore her and look at my phone.
REID: Who you calling geek?
That’s what he texted back.
My smile is even bigger this time.
I think this is what they call modern-day flirting. Right?
“Okay, I’m back,” I tell Delia. “What’s wrong with him making dinner for the kids? They’ll probably like street tacos. They’re good. I bet even Gabbs would eat them.”
“He’s never made dinner for me. And street tacos? That’s a romantic dinner. Right?”
“Oh my God, Delia. You’re letting your imagination run wild. It’s tacos.”
Apparently, not only Americans were sick of turkey. My brother-in-law, James the Brit, was too. I just wish he would focus on a different blogger. Not mine.
“Cut it out,” she calls to her kids, and gets right back to me. “James doesn’t like tacos.”
“Maybe he does.”
“Maybe he doesn’t.”
“Listen, I have to tell you something. The craziest thing happened on Halloween. Gabby and her friend went trick-or-treating on a street we’d never been before, and you’ll never guess who answered the door ... Reid, from said website.”
“What? Oh—shoot, one sec.” Water splashes in the background.
“Did you hear me? I said Reid. Anyway, we kind of kept running into each other. And, well, he made more out of it than it really is, but he forced the issue and we’ve hung out a few times. He thinks we’re dating; it’s probably a phase or something for him.”
“Hung out?” Her voice is slightly raised, and I don’t know if it’s because of the noise in the background or if she’s pissed at me.
“A little. And he had nowhere to go for Thanksgiving, so he came here with Leona and me. And Gabby, of course.”
“And you’re just telling me this now? Sounds like more than a phase to me! After we chatted about the tacos like they were the end-all, be-all, and my husband’s philandering—”
“He’s not philandering, Delia.”
“Whatever. You’re just telling me now that you’re freaking dating the dude? What’s wrong with you?”
“I just wanted to put your mind to rest first.”
“Rest? This is making it worse. When James hears this, he’ll go crazy, and then how will we explain it all? Not to mention, he’s already obsessed with the guy.”
I sigh, knowing there won’t be any reasoning with my sister. Plus, I need to get back to my flirting ... I mean, texting.
“I’ll call James tomorrow and fish around about the tacos and his motivation, okay?”
“Really?”
“Really.”
