Page 40 of Bobby

“Oh, wow,” I mumble as I take another bite.

“I know, right? Well worth the eighty dollars, I think.”

I choke on my food, reaching for my soda as Bobby pats gently on my back.

“Are you okay?”

“Did you say eighty dollars? For a burger? McDonald’s sells them for a fraction of the price.”

“But these taste better. And I prefer the view I get with it.”

“View?” I’m so confused. Is it even legal to charge extra for a view?

“Yes. I find you immensely better to look at than the back seat of a car when we get drive-thru.”

My mouth pops open enough for Bobby to see it as an opportunity, and he feeds me a fry. I chew on instinct, grabbing the end from him as I look down at my food the second I hear his name called.

“Bobby, baby.”

Okay, that has me looking up. Who the hell calls him baby? And with such a wispy Marilyn Monroe voice with way too much sultry in it, if you ask me.

The woman who somehow magically appears next to him is dressed in a very tight, formfitting dress that dips low in the front. Not scandalizing low, but she definitely picked it to show off her impressive cleavage.

Probably a push-up. I almost sigh in relief that my brain and I are back on track together. I’m not normally a snide comment kind of girl, but if I notice things, I say them. Though only to myself. Never out loud. That would be rude.

Also, I know I’m just being petty. The woman in front of us is beautiful. Sleek black hair cut at a sharp angle along her jaw to draw the designer look and frame her strong cheekbones. She’s slim in a way I’m not, even before having kids. I was never large, but after the girls, I have stretch marks, and some parts just never went back to what they were. My hips are wider, as is my butt, and my once-perky breasts have fallen to the point that there’s a noticeable difference in where they sit depending on whether my arms are lifted or not.

“We still need to get everything completed if you want to get this ready by five. I know your mother would be disappointed if we missed something. Perhaps we could get something to eat after.”

She doesn’t even look at me, but I don’t miss the jab in my direction.

“I told you, Betty Lou, I’m busy.”

I snort at the name and then cough. I grab my drink once more, hoping everyone thinks I’m choking again and not laughing at her name. Bobby looks at me for a second, and I just nod, letting him know I’m all right.

“I agreed to stay on-site, but I still have work. Ms. Frazzer and I are in the middle of our lunch meeting. If you’ll excuse us, we have private details to discuss.”

I don’t look at her as she walks away. And I don’t smile. I might bite my cheek to keep from grinning, though.

We eat the rest of the meal in silence. Well, not complete silence. The surrounding workers make for an unexpected distraction to watch. I focus on both them and the food, not on the man beside me who makes me feel like I can breathe easier and sends a swarm of butterflies into a tizzy in my stomach.

“You going to get that?” he asks as he pushes his empty plate away.

I’m also ignoring my phone. It’s rung three times already. This is the fourth, and I already know who it is.

“No.” I munch on a fry.

“Could be work.” He adjusts in his chair to lean an elbow on the table and look at me.

“Work knows I’m with you.” I put the last of my burger into my mouth.

“Could be about the girls,” he tries again.

I shake my head. “It’s not.”

“How do you know?”

I peek at him, noting his cinched eyebrows behind his frames.