She laughed from the other room. “It was fine. The girls were just a little worked up, because it was an adult toy party.”
Did she just say what I think she said?
When she came back, she gave him a sticky note pad and a pen with the bank’s name and logo on it. “Do you want anything to drink?”
“Just water.”
“Water sounds good.” Misty left to go to the kitchen.
While she was gone, he glanced around her apartment. He didn’t see any “toys” and wondered if she’d bought anything. He wasn’t about to ask, though.
He hadn’t really looked closely at her apartment before. A bookshelf held not only books, but a vase and some home decor stuff. There was a large photo book facing out. He opened it and saw some pretty pictures of waterfalls, rivers, streams, and lakes.
Misty returned with two glasses. She put one on a cork coaster on the end table and found a second coaster for Gabe’s glass. Then she sat on the end of the couch closest to his chair.
“This is great photography,” he said.
“Yeah. Parker gave me that.”
“Really? It doesn’t strike me as something he’d like.”
“He didn’t. I did. We were kicking around Rockport one Saturday, and I wanted a souvenir. While I was looking around, I thumbed through this book and remarked on how much I liked the photographs, but it was kind of pricey. I don’t know when he bought it without my noticing, but he gave it to me for Christmas last year.”
“Very thoughtful guy, your brother.”
“Yeah. He has his moments.” She smiled wistfully.
“Have you talked to him recently?”
“Not for a few days.”
“Have you told him about the tests you’re having?”
She worried her lip. “I will. Probably as soon as I get the official diagnosis and prognosis.” She waved away the air in front of her. “I don’t want to think about that now. There’s nothing I can do until Thursday.”
“What’s Thursday?”
“Another appointment. No biggie. You don’t have to come with me.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. Hey, let’s play this game.” She leaned forward, like she couldn’t wait to get started.
“Okay.” He opened the box and dealt ten white answer cards to each of them. Then he placed the smaller pile of black question cards between them. “We can take turns reading a question.”
“Okay. Ladies first?”
“Always.” He smiled.
She peeked at her white cards and chuckled. He surveyed his too. Oh boy. He forgot how politically incorrect this game could be. Hopefully she wouldn’t be shocked. Or if she was, maybe that meant she wasn’t the right girl for him.
She pulled the first black card from the top of the pile and read, “What gets better with age?”
Misty picked an answer card and held it out, ready to plop it down at the same time he picked his. He found one that fit, and they both showed their choices. Hers read, “A bucket of fish heads,” and his read, “Not wearing pants.”
They both laughed. Misty decided his answer was funnier since hers was just gross. He marked his column with one awesome point.
He pulled the next black card and read, “And the Academy Award for blank goes to blank. Oh, it’s a pick two.”
