I don’t think I can keep going on like this. Gavin is my enemy and he still gives me more respect as an auctioneer than my own father does.
It might be time to have a talk with Dad when I get back. Or make Mom do it.
And if I can get this sale before I have that conversation, it’ll go that much smoother.
As I go downstairs, I try to recapture the good feelings of the morning, but I don’t have high hopes for getting it back.
“What’s wrong?” Gavin asks me first thing when he sees me. This again? What, does he have my phone bugged? A chip in my brain that lets him read all my thoughts?
“Nothing. I’m fine.”
Gavin gets that look on his face that he gets when he’s about to dig in. A look I’ve only seen him get with me because everyone else gets laid-back Gavin. But then Harrison comes to my rescue and calls Gavin away before he can make good on his look.
I turn and notice Naomi is right behind me. “Hey, Naomi. Were you given any details for today?” I ask with a smile.
“Nope. They’ve kept the details quieter than if they were holding state secrets,” Naomi says. “At least we’re going to find out sooner rather than later.”
“And Gavin didn’t even tell us what to wear.”
“It’s the most annoying part of all of this.”
After that commiseration we stand in a comfortable silence for a few minutes.
Naomi breaks the silence. “How long have you and Gavin been dating?”
“Whoa. No. We’re not dating. We’re just work peers from different companies.” Why does everyone in this family think we’re a thing? We are clearly sworn enemies and no one is picking up on our subtext correctly. Which is just rude, frankly.
“You guys have more chemistry than Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in the nineties.”
I laugh awkwardly. Need to get out of this conversation. It’s time to deflect, deflect, deflect. I rack my brain to find another topic, any topic. I’m debating between puppies dressed up for Halloween and the new fashion lines when Gavin interrupts. “Good morning, Harrison’s house party.”
Thank god, my savior.
“I know you’ve been anxiously waiting for this day,” Gavin says.
Okay, my savior is a little more pompous than I anticipated.
“And I’m going to make sure it’s amazing.”
Alotmore pompous than I anticipated. But I’m being rescued from talking to this lovely infant so I’ll be grateful.
“I rented a yacht for the day to cruise along the North Shore!”
My hopes fall. Damn it, that’s a good day. Maybe just as good as Holi. Maybe more, if the cheers from this group is any indication.
I knew his solution to the problem would be to throw even more money at it than me.
Gavin leads us out the front door to a luxurious minibus parked in the circular driveway. We take our seats, and a man in a suit brings us mimosas. He even hired staff for the bus ride.
This is going to be spectacular. I hate it.
“Hey, Riya,” Gavin says as he sits down next to me.
I flag down the man with the alcohol and snag a glass, taking a healthy swig. “That nickname never gets old.”
“Where’s my affectionate nickname?”
“Oh. Hmm. I should get right on that. How about Super Annoying Entitled Man Who Lives to Annoy Me?”
