I smile at them both politely. “Good evening, Mayor.”
He glances between God and I, taking the hint from God, before holding out a hand to me. At least he’s learning his fucking place. “Good evening, Mr. Gunner. I was just telling your grandmother how much Sabella has grown since she used to play with my Patience.”
I was there too, prick. She was mine then…
I don’t really know the man, but no doubt he knows a lot about me from Patience, and I’m almost certain it’s not the best of impressions. Normally, I wouldn’t give a shit, but I need to win him over if I’m ever going to have a chance with Patience and completing my task.
“Have you heard the mayor’s daughter is back?” my grandmother says to God. “Such a good girl. And such a good heart. Off rescuing Ethiopians from ISIS or something I heard.”
This time, I do bark out a laugh, which is greeted by icy stares from both the mayor and her, though there’s no denying the grin on God’s face.
“I believe it was building wells and orphanages in Uganda, Grandmother. I think ISIS might require something a little stronger than a teenage girl,” I say with humor.
She blushes and fluffs her over-the-top hairstyle. “Yes, well…”
“And where is the lovely Patience tonight?” I ask.
The mayor glares at me. “She decided against coming in once she saw who was in attendance,” he replies sourly, and my grandmother almost pisses herself in exasperation.
Well…fuck.
I only came to this stupid fucking thing to see her, and she high-tailed it out of here when she saw me. It’s almost worth it to see the pissed-off look on my grandmother’s face. Almost. But it makes things more complicated for me. If she won’t be in the same room as me, how am I ever going to get her to fall in love with me?
God’s cell beeps again, and he plucks it out. “You’ll have to excuse me. My father only forces me to attend one of these things a month, and the two hours I agreed to is up.” He smiles and nods at all of us before leaving the three of us in an awkward triangle.
The chief of police decides to join our trio, and the tension thickens at his presence. Mayor Noelle nods his head and greets him with a tight flex of his jaw. There’s friction between them, but I’m done fucking around at this shit gathering, especially since the only reason I came isn’t even here.
“I need to go speak to my sister. Good evening,” I say, exiting the conversation.
I head back out into the hallway where I spotted Sabella. Grabbing her gently by the elbow, she turns in surprise to look at me.
“Sammy?” her eyebrows pull in in concern. “What happened? What did you do?”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Sab,” I huff. “I’m fine. Everything’s fine. I just need to get out of here. Cover for me?”
She rolls her eyes. “What’s going on?” she asks warily.
“Nothing. Nothing bad anyway.”
“No fighting?”
“Jesus Christ, Sab. No, no fighting. I promise.” I gesture around us. “It’s just this isn’t really my thing, you know?”
“And you think it’s mine?” she says with wide eyes. “I hate these things, and these people, just as much as you.” I cock an eyebrow, and she smiles. “Well, maybe not quite as much as you, but my point is, sometimes you just have to suck it up and get on with it.” She groans at her own words, and I smirk.
“Thanks, sis.” I finish off my whisky sour and hand her the glass before leaning in and giving her a kiss on her cheek. “And stay away from these pretentious pricks tonight, yeah?”
She rolls her eyes at me, and I turn to leave. She and I know there’s no way in hell I’m ever going to kiss anyone’s ass, and she knows she lost the argument as soon as she said it.
I head back out of the house with my hands in my pockets. The evening is warm, and the air humid, like another storm is on the way. I have a feeling Patience would have left and gone back home when she saw me, so that’s where I’m going. I’m just pulling my cell out to call for an Uber when the throaty purr of a cherry-red Ferrari pulls up.
“Need a lift?” God says, looking out from the driver’s seat.
I jog down the white marble steps to his car and climb inside. “Sure, but I’m telling you now, don’t be pulling in behind any dumpsters, no matter how bad you wanna give it me.” I wink, and he shakes his head and laughs.
The car is fucking exquisite and drives like a dream, taking sharp corners with ease, her engine fucking purring like a catcall.
“Goddamn. She’s a beautiful car,” I say, smoothing a hand across the dashboard.
