“I . . . I don’t think friends hold hands,” she stammered as she pulled away.
“Depends on the kind of friends.” My voice dipped into a husky rasp as I held her gaze. There was still plenty of hesitation, but she wasn’t looking away this time.
“Mommy, I don’t feel so good,” Jack whined as he came closer and fell into Ellie’s legs.
“I don’t even want to think about what he ate today,” Ellie sighed as she shut her eyes.
“Go; I’ll clean all this up.” I dropped Ellie’s wrist and motioned to the door.
“I can’t do that to you.” Ellie’s nose crinkled.
“Sure, you can. You did enough. Get home and guzzle some Pepto, dude.” I patted Jack’s back.
Ellie giggled and grabbed her purse. “Thanks, Nick. See you Tuesday, I guess?”
I nodded. “Tuesday.”
“Say goodbye to Nick.” Ellie nudged Jack as she led him out of the gym. “And thank you.”
“Bye, Nick. And thank you.” Jack’s little green face made me laugh.
I let out a long sigh as my eyes tracked Ellie as she made her way out of the gym.
I couldn’t give up if I tried.
“EXCUSE ME, SIR?Would you like to order now?” Even our friendly waitress couldn’t hold in her exasperation. She glared at my date, Chad, as she adjusted her kimono and she pressed her pen into her order pad. It was now the third time he waved her off and muttered we weren’t ready. I never met anyone so enamored with his own voice.
“So, Elle, as I was saying—”
“Ellie,” I repeated, again.
I was going to kill my sister. Planning her slow demise was the only thing distracting me from the arrogant man sitting across the table. She invited me to dinner at our favorite Thai restaurant and even offered to pick me up. When I called Paige, she was all too willing to drop everything to babysit Jack. I should’ve known something was up.
When we arrived, I was shocked to see a man waiting at our table. Chad was the brother of a business associate of hers and just moved to New York from out West. Shortly after introductions, Kate had a rare evening “work emergency” and told us to enjoy dinner before bolting out of the restaurant.
I was the victim of a bait and switch, and now I was stuck.
“It’s a beautiful evening.” My struggle to make small talk and deter the conversation from how much he made in commissions last year from his job as a stockbroker was becoming more exhausting by the second.
“It’s a good night for a boat ride, but I have mine docked in New Rochelle.” He pursed his lips in a disgusted frown.
“New Rochelle is nice. I love the marina there.” I smiled to keep the conversation light, but everything he was saying and how he was saying it grated on my nerves.
“The marinas on the West Coast are a lot nicer. I suppose I’ll get used to it.” He shrugged as he sipped his brandy. He gave me the impression that everyone and everything in this new city he lived in was beneath him. I doubted anyone would miss him if he left and went back.
“You’re pretty.” He nodded with a surprised frown on his face.
“Thank you?” I wasn’t sure whether that was supposed to be a compliment.
“I don’t usually date women with short hair, but I could tolerate yours.”Tolerate?Why the hell was I still here? Oh right, I had no ride home. My choices were either enduring the torture or walking across the street to the Italian restaurant to wait for a cab.
Chad looked the part of a disappointed, aging surfer. His face had an orange glow from an obvious fake tan, and his styled-to-death blond hair fell below his ears.
“Excuse me for a moment.” I rose from my seat and headed to the ladies’ room. Gritting my teeth, I leaned against the sink and shot a text to my sister.
Me: God, you’re so dead.
Kate: You would never have agreed if I asked you. Think of it as me owing you a favor. Can you at least try to enjoy yourself?
