“Smother Pucker. I knew it.”
“I wanted to make sure you were ok with this.”
She snaps her head back up to look at me. “Of course I’m ok! I love this!”
“How are you feeling about signing with her?”
“I think she’s the one for me. She’s already set me up to meet with Grant after Labor Day about a project I’m in love with. She said she’d go with me even if I don’t sign with her. Classy.”
I roll my eyes at the mention of Grant. I’m still not convinced he isn’t interested in Blair. And he’s way too old for my sister.
“I’m sure Grant can’t wait to meet with both of you.”
“What’s that?” Sophia points her fork at me.
“What?”
“You’re jealous.”
Fuck yeah, I’m jealous.
“I can see you thinking. You are totally jealous.”
I roll my eyes and stand to clear off the table. It’s my cue to Sophia that it’s time to wrap up this visit and get back to work.
“Did you have a chance to look at the contract Blair sent over?” Sophia asks me.
I hesitate because I’ve had an idea brewing but it could blow up in my face. I don’t think Sophia should sign with Blair right now with the uncertainty of TWA and her name on a list of departures. But I can’t really suggest it without context, and both Sophia and Blair will want to know why.
“I haven’t yet,” I say, “but I will.”
“Thank you, big brother.”
“Soph… Do you think…”
“Spit it out.”
“Nothing. I was just thinking about how it might be better timing to sign once this TWA merger is done.”
“You think I should wait?”
“I think you should trust your instincts. If you feel good about Blair, sign.”
Sophia gives me a look that says she knows better. “I think you are working on this merger and you know something you can’t tell me.”
I wrap my sister in a quick hug and promise to send her over some options for dinner next week, but she doesn’t let our conversation go just yet.
“Maybe you need a little more time to review the contract?” she asks. The undertone of that question tells me that she understands what I’m suggesting.
“Yeah, maybe.”
She nods, and I take off before she can question me anymore. I’ve already said too much, and Blair would kill me if she found out I was influencing Sophia’s decision in the slightest.
On my drive back to the office, I think more about Blair. I definitely don’t want anyone else touching her. I don’t think she is seeing anyone else. I just assumed that since we were hangingout so much, she wouldn’t have time for anyone else, but now I need to know for sure.
As I pull into my office, I realize that I’m fucked.
I am totally jealous, and I don’t want Blair to be with anyone but me. The idea that she might be interested in someone else makes my heart feel like someone has reached in and wrapped their fingers around it and is squeezing it as tightly as possible.
