She groaned louder and waved me off. “Don’t remind me. Who told me to take that last shot? Oh wait, you did.”
“I told you to sip it, not bathe in it.”
She rolled her eyes behind those blackout shades. “Whatever. All I know is my soul left my body somewhere around shot number four, and I still haven’t found it.”
As we walked toward the office doors together, our heels clicked in rhythm on the concrete.
“Pray for me.” She winced. “If I make it to lunch without throwing up or cussing somebody out, it’ll be a miracle.”
I giggled as my phone rang in my purse. When I dug it out, I saw the screen lit up with a video call from Jeremy.
I wiped my hands on a napkin, grabbed the phone, and hit accept. Jeremy’s face popped up on the screen with a big, mischievous grin.
“Hey, boo!” I greeted.
“Hey, Avi.”
Hearing his voice, Mia quickly snatched the phone from me. She smiled into it. “What up, nephew?”
“Tee Tee Mia, what’s good?”
Mia and Jeremy caught up for a minute. “All right. I’ll let y’all talk. Love you, J!”
“Love you too, Tee Tee,” he said before she handed me back the phone.
Mia hung back, waiting for me to finish my call before she went into the building.
“What’s up, Jeremy? What are you doing calling me so early?”
“You think you could spot me twenty dollars?”
I raised my brow, looking at him through the screen. “Twenty dollars for what?”
He leaned back, like he was trying to play it cool. “Me and some of the guys from the basketball team are going to Buffalo Wild Wings get something to eat after school.”
I wasn’t so sure. “Basketball team, huh?”
“Yeah.”
I narrowed my eyes, still skeptical. “You sure about that? I heard you’ve been hanging with some other folks.”
“I promise, Aviana. I’m just going with the guys from the team.”
I sighed, shaking my head but smiling. “All right. I’ll send it, but don’t have me looking crazy if I find out you’re with somebody you’re not supposed to be around.”
Jeremy grinned. “Thanks, Aviana. You the best.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know,” I said, laughing. “Go have fun, but be smart, okay?”
“I got you. Love you.”
“Love you too, J.Be good.”
Hanging up the phone, I followed Mia through the doors of Dream Realty.
Alfred and Antoni were in the lobby surrounded by the entire office staff, already beginning our morning briefing.
Alfred’s welcoming smile beckoned us forward. “Ah, Mia, Aviana, right on time. We were waiting on you.”
