“You have mustard on your face,” I lie.
She wipes her mouth and takes a noisy swallow of champagne. “Of course I do,” she mumbles into the glass. “You want to go shopping, Pepper?” she calls to the dog.
“I don’t think she does.”
“Salinger isn’t carrying you,” she warns the dog. “You can’t go through life being carried.”
My arm settles around Mandy’s waist like it was meant to go there, and I escort her to the auction table.
“I need that.” Her voice is reverent, which is completely uncalled for when you’re looking at a giant painting of a corgi wearing a Renaissance doublet and hat with an ostrich feather.
“I’m not buying it.”
“You have to buy something.” She nudges me. “Do you want another invite?”
“Honestly, no.”
She slaps at my hand.
I ignore her and put my other hand on her waist, fitting my palms under the curve of her ribs. “What’s the smallest and most-inexpensive thing here?”
“This is so adorable.” She holds up a diamond brooch in the shape of a corgi.
“What is America’s fascination with corgis? Also, what part of ‘inexpensive’ did you not understand?”
“It’s a silent auction, so I’m putting your name down for this and that painting.” Her pencil scratches on the card next to the painting.
“No.”
“If you win it, I’ll take it.”
“The fuck you will. You are not putting that up at your desk.”
“We need a third thing.”
“How much did you bid?” I pick up the card. “Fifty grand for that painting? This is criminal.”
“It’s charity. Besides, you have a reputation to uphold.”
“None of this is contributing to my reputation.”
“I’m putting you down for this bag.”
“I don’t need a bag.”
“It’s a dog carrier.”
I pick up Mandy’s dog and hold it up next to the bag. The corgi’s legs splay and its tongue lolls out. “She doesn’t fit. Pick something else.”
“Fine. Tiffany dog collar, it is.”
“Uh-oh,” remarks a middle-aged man with a friendly-looking woman on his arm. “Looks like someone’s been roped into shopping.”
“He works so late, I feel like I deserve it.” Mandy beams up at me.
My heart jumps. Probably those hamburgers. I bet they used that nasty vegan meat.
“Ooh, medicine? Media?” his wife asks.
