“Last night.”
I thought that was splitting hairs, but at the same time, I got it.Something about kicking the day off with a bang was different from ending the day like that.It felt raw and couldn’t be blamed on lowered inhibitions because of alcohol or some shit.
“If you’re hungry, we probably have some eggs downstairs.Or I can get a prospect to run out and get something for you.”
She shrugged.“I’m good with eggs if it’s not a problem.”
Chapter 13
Got Busy
Ivy
Downstairs,thereweren’tanyeggs in the fridge.Instead, Ryan had found a package of frozen cinnamon-raisin bagels and a container of cream cheese.We were sitting at a small two-person Formica table when a tall woman with dark brown hair and hazel eyes walked into the kitchen.
She wore khaki pants and a green polo shirt with a logo for Jacksonville University School of Dentistry.Her head tipped a bit to the side when she locked eyes with me.
Her gaze moved to Ryan and she grinned.“Hey, Nickel.What’s shakin’?”
He looked over his shoulder at her.“Not much.Are you working today?”
“Sort of.I have one class and half a day in the Orthodontics clinic.”
“Cool,” he said, then tipped his head toward me.“This is Ivy.Ives, this is Alexandra, Bluff’s woman.”
I smiled at her.“Nice to meet you.”
She returned my smile.“Likewise.”She cocked a brow at Nickel.“It is so weird hearing you use Rafferty’s road name.”
“You know that’s who he is around here.”
“Yeah,” she said on a sigh and turned to the fridge.“But it doesn’t make it any less strange.”
The back door opened and three older men wandered into the kitchen, all of them wearing leather vests.One had eyes strikingly similar to Alexandra’s, and his name patch read ‘Cal.’
The second man had dark hair worn long and loose with a well-trimmed goatee.His name patch indicated he was ‘Volt’.
The last man’s name patch read ‘Blood.’He too had long hair and a goatee, but his hair was pulled back in a ponytail.He locked eyes with me and smiled.“Do you still have a headache?”
My eyes widened, but I managed to shake my head.
“Good.Nickel called my wife after you two got back.That’s why I asked.”
Nickel shifted to look at the men.“Are we—”
“Church.Half an hour,” Volt said.
I glanced at the time on the stove.I needed to leave by ten-fifteen to get my car and make it to the law firm.
“Um, Ry— I mean, Nickel, I need to leave in twenty minutes to get my car and—”
He sighed.“Can you try to push it by an hour?”
My eyes closed and I took a deep breath.It was difficult enough being a realtor.Add into the mix me being under thirty, and both customers and colleagues had preconceived notions about me being flaky or unprofessional.So I always did my best to keep my appointments —especiallyclosings.It was the best part of the whole process after all.
I opened my eyes.“I’ll check, but it’s just up Blanding from here.”
Alexandra crossed the kitchen to the toaster.“Not to interrupt, but I can take her.I have to go that way for class.I’m leaving in fifteen minutes.”
