Текст книги "Dizzy"

Автор книги: Nyrae Dawn

Соавторы: Jolene Perry
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Текущая страница: 8 (всего у книги 13 страниц)

Fifteen

~ Dylan ~

“Eight ball, corner pocket.” I point to the far hole.

“Yeah, right.” Paul does the fake cough-speak thing in the corner, but I ignore him same as Derrick.

This is a serious competition going on here. I never used to beat my brother in pool, just like I never used to get the best out of him when we fought. Times are changing because this time, he’s going down.

We’ve always been competitive. It’s our thing, and I can tell Derrick knows he’s about to lose by the way he’s studying the table. His phone rings.

“Ignore it,” I tell him. “Hit silence. You’re not distracting me from this shot.”

Derrick takes a couple steps back from the table. “It’s Lora.”

I fight a groan. “And we’re almost done, man. You can call her right back. No way am I letting you screw up this shot.”

Derrick pushes the button on his phone, and I’m silently grateful. Eyeing the ball, I line up the shot and take it. The eight ball cleanly drops into the hole. Please don’t scratch, please don’t scratch.

The white ball bounces off the side and lands in the middle of the table. “Hell, yes!”

Paul walks over and gives me props. Derrick rolls his eyes, but he has a smile on his face. Yeah, that’s right. I’m the man now.

“Good game, little brother.”

I nod at him in reply just as his phone rings again.

“Hey, baby,” he says. “Sorry. Dylan was kicking my ass at pool.”

That makes me smile. My brother might have lost his mind, but he’s still pretty cool. I sit on the table while Derrick talks to his girl. It’s not long before he’s hanging up.

“Lora and Ziah are on their way over. Lora’s stoked because there was a cancellation at Vista House. She wants us all to go up there.”

Damn. Wedding stuff again.

And Ziah. I’m still not sure why I’m thinking all these crazy thoughts about her.

“Come with us, Paul. You’re in the wedding, but you’ve somehow escaped doing anything but the tuxes.” It probably makes me a chicken shit, but I’m actually hoping for a buffer. I can’t start losing my head if Paul’s there.

“That cool?” he asks my brother.

“Absolutely.”

Beep. Beep. Sounds from outside.

“Holy crap. That was no joke.”

We grab our stuff and head upstairs. On the way, I grab my hoodie in case I need it. I have a long sleeve shirt on, but you never know with the weather here.

Lora’s in the driver’s seat of my brother’s car, which is weird as hell, and Ziah’s heading to the back when we get outside. Paul nudges me, his eyes brows raised as he cocks his head toward her. “I still can’t believe it’s the chick from your party.”

“Shut up,” I mumble. He also wouldn’t believe it if he knew I actually don’t hate being around her anymore. “Hanes, you have to sit in the middle. Last time I rode in the back with Paul, he kept trying to hold my hand.”

“Whatever.” He shoves me, but he’s laughing, too.

Ziah’s eyes catch mine, and she gives me a little smile. Seriously. Future sister-in-laws should not be this sexy.

“You’re lucky I’m in a decent mood today, Dylan.” Ziah gets in the backseat, and I squeeze in next to her. Paul barely closes his door, and Lora totally peels out in the driveway like she’s a sixteen-year-old guy.

“I can’t believe they got an opening.” She sounds like a Disney Princess, and I’m pretty sure she’s going to break into song at any second. “I’ve wanted to get married at Vista House since—”

“You were ten years-old,” Ziah says. “You kept running up and down the staircase in the main window-filled room and singing that one day you’d be there in a wedding dress,”

See? I knew she was the Disney song type.

“Sigh…” she replies.

I don’t get why girls do that. Why they say sigh. Why not just, I don’t know, sigh?

Derrick gives her this sappy look that makes me want to wipe the drool from his mouth. Seriously. It’s bizarre. I don’t get love, and why it changes people so much.

I lean back just about over this convo, but when I do, my knee bumps against Ziah’s. I’m about to move it, but she sucks in a little breath. That makes me keep it there. I mean, if she likes it, who am I to take it away?

It takes a couple seconds, but I feel her relax. I’m pretty sure she’s going to move away, but I could swear her leg pushes a little closer to mine. Warmth rolls off her to me, and I’m seriously feeling… I don’t even know what, but whatever it is, I choose to ignore it.

Lora and Derrick are going on and on about wedding stuff up front, and it makes me wonder how Ziah’s doing with the whole James and Alyssa thing.

“You okay?” I ask quietly, hoping Paul doesn’t hear. I catch his eye over Ziah’s head and he sort of smiles at me before pulling out his iPod and sticking his earbuds in.

“I finally talked to Alyssa, so yeah. I mean, it’s awkward but better.”

“Told ya. Masta Dylan knows his shit.” I give her a cocky grin and then see the stupid strand of hair fall into her face. I don’t know what makes me do it, but I push it behind her ear.

She does another of those little gaspy-breaths, and it makes me start feeling all sorts of things I shouldn’t for a whole list of reasons. She’s a boyfriend kind of girl. She just got out of a relationship. I don’t trust girls for anything other than a good time. Oh, and our siblings are getting married.

Before I can do something else stupid, I let my eyes find the window. Derrick and Lora are still talking, Paul’s still listening to music, and I’m not letting myself say another word to Ziah right now. Still, I can’t find it in myself to move my leg.

***

Lora and Derrick are on the main floor—a large, round room three stories high with marble floors and the staircase they were talking about in the car. It seriously looks like a castle, which is another Disney thing she has going on.

I wonder if Mom would have liked this place. For a second, I wonder why we never came here, and then I push those thoughts out of my head. I hate thinking about her, and I’m not in the mood to do it now.

“I gotta take a piss. I’ll be right back,” Paul says and then walks way.

“Wanna see the tunnels?” Ziah asks.

Call me crazy, but I didn’t even know there were tunnels. “Sounds cool to me.”

She leads me down the first flight of stairs and then another. The farther we go the more I’m thinking this might not have been a good idea. I definitely don’t need to be alone with her with the way I’ve been feeling. Especially in dark tunnels.

A little bit of light filters in through the doorway we just came through, but there’s just enough to make out some of her features in the dark.

“Isn’t it cool,” she whispers. Her voice is all husky and sexy, and she’s standing way close to me. Damn, I want to kiss this girl. And then I stumble a little bit because I can’t remember the last time I did kiss a girl. That has to be part of it, right?

“You okay? You’re breathing heavy over there.” She clips my hip with hers. I’m pretty sure I groan. Why did she have to do that?

“Eh, just losing my shit,” I say and then regret it.

She grabs my hand and stops me. Or maybe I just stop because I like the way it feels. We’re only about a foot away from each other, and she’s looking up at me. I’m looking down at her.

Step back, step the fuck back, Gibson. But I’ve never really been that good at listening to myself.

“What’s wrong?”

Wrong? When she’s standing this close to me, and the blood is flooding through me like white water rapids, nothing is wrong. “Nothing.”

And then the girl seriously shoves a knife into my gut by licking her lips. I want to lick them too. She looks like she’s deep in thought. I can practically see the wheels turning in her brain and then she’s leaning toward me. Holy shit. Hanes is leaning in for a kiss, and there is absolutely nothing that can stop me from meeting her halfway.

It doesn’t even start out slow. My tongue slips between her lips, and hers meets it. It takes us a second to get our groove, like we’re both too eager to taste each other.

Her arms come up around my neck, and—shit, when did mine wrap around her waist? All I know is I’m pulling her closer and feeling her everywhere. She stumbles as I back her up against the wall.

It’s probably the most urgent kiss of my life. She’s making these little sounds and pulling me closer, and I never would have expected that from her. One of her knees goes between my legs, and yeah, there’s a lot going on down there. I press my hips into her, and she actually pulls my hair.

I let my lips trail down her neck, and my tongue traces her collarbone. She stiffens for a second but then totally melts against me.

“Dylan,” she gasps, and it’s a good gasp. But it also makes me freeze. This is the girl I might have wanted to go on a date with.

Dad pops into my head crying and yelling, and Derrick with red eyes is trying to get me to my bedroom. And Mom… where’s Mom?

“Dylan?” This time, she’s questioning, wondering what I’m doing, and the fact that I almost start to kiss her again tells me I really need to pull away. I can’t do this. Not with her.

“I think we should stop.” I ease away, but it’s like torture.

“What?” More questions in her voice.

The shitty part is I can’t tell this girl what I’m thinking. I haven’t talked to any girl about Mom, and I don’t plan to start now. But for the first time, I feel guilty about that—about hiding that part of me.

Has Derrick told Lora?

“I mean, it’s probably smart, right? You just broke up with the idiot, and we’re just starting to be friends or whatever. I think we should just be friends.”

I’m still too close. Still breathing her in. Still remembering her body pinned between me and the wall. And that probably just sounded like the biggest line of all time.

Ten years later, she finally replies. Her voice is low but steady, and I can’t stop wondering what she’s thinking.

“Umm, yeah. You’re right. I mean, like we’d be good together.”

I almost open my mouth to ask her why not, but I don’t. What’s wrong with me? “Well, I’m pretty sure that just showed us we’d be good, but we’re both smarter than this.”

“Yeah. Right. Definitely.” Ziah straightens her shirt, and I’m hoping there’s some deflating going on before we get into the light.

Silently we head back the way we came. It feels like I’m walking the plank or something. I know, I know. That’s sounds stupid, but it’s true. When we’re just about to the end I grab her hand real quick.

“You’re okay?” She seems good, but her sister is marrying my brother. I don’t want to create any drama or anything.

Ziah rolls her eyes. “No, Dylan. Your kissing is so incredible, I’m broken-hearted and ruined for all men in the future. I’m not sure I’m going to be able to go on without you.”

She gives me her angry-girl smile, but something about it is a little different. Or maybe I’m just imagining things.

“Ha. Ha.” See? We can do this. We can go back to normal.

Three sets of stairs later, we’re back on the main floor.

“There you guys are!” Lora calls. Derrick and Paul are with her. “I’ve booked it! We’re ready to go.”

I look at Ziah again, but her eyes aren’t anywhere near me. “I have to go to the bathroom.” She’s already walking away as she says it. “I’ll meet you guys at the car.”

As we head to the Mercedes, I notice Derrick hanging back. Fuck. Definitely not what I want to deal with right now.

“What’s wrong with her? Don’t tell me you fucked with her, Dylan. I’ll kick your ass if you screw with her.” He has this angry face that I don’t even ever get from Dad.

Nice. Love the faith my brother has in me. “What do you mean, what’s wrong with her? She has to pee. Jesus, Derrick. Get engaged, and you turn all paranoid.”

He nods, and I’m pretty sure he believes me. As he jogs to catch up with Lora, Paul cocks his head and raises one of his eyebrows at me. Yeah, didn’t think I could get it past him.

“Don’t ask man. Just do me a favor and ride in the middle, okay?”

He opens his mouth, and I can tell he’s about to argue with me. “I said don’t ask.”

Shaking his head he says, “Whatever you say, D.”

When Ziah comes out, Paul throws an arm around her neck. “Hey, I’m Paul. Have I seen you here before?”

Ziah doesn’t even look at me as she opens her mouth and laughs wrapping her arm around his waist. I watch them as they walk to the car, and for the first time in my life, I feel like really punching my best friend

Sixteen

~ Ziah ~

I know it’s petty, but Paul’s flirtation is the perfect cure for Dylan’s rejection. I laugh with him and play thumb war and grin like an idiot every time he makes a fake move—like yawning to put his arm over me. He even kissed me once on the cheek as a consolation prize when I lost three times in a row.

Our legs are pressed together because he’s screwing around, but it’s not like having Dylan’s leg against mine. Not even close.

Dylan’s silent, but I can’t really see him because Paul’s not a small guy, and the middle seat is up just a tad higher than the other two. Probably best.

I make it all the way home before I internalize what happened between me and Dylan. I’m able to say goodbye to everyone, and I make it up the steps of the porch and through the living room to the stairs and through the door of my room when the whole thing comes crashing down.

He probably kissed me because I was leaning up, and he didn’t want me to feel stupid. Or maybe he kissed me because he’s a guy and will kiss anyone. But then… I mean, wow. Never once in the year James and I were together have I ever felt that way. Like I finally get those movie scenes where they’re tripping over everything on their way to get to the bed.

Oh.

But Dylan wants to be friends. So whatever I was feeling, he definitely wasn’t. How much of an idiot does that make me? I’m not sure if I can handle continuing to be shoved aside like this. It hurts. It hurts like it shouldn’t hurt, because I knew from the first moment I saw him that he was not the kind of guy I should get involved with.

Maybe I should be glad we’re just friends. Only I’m not even sure if he wants that, because I can’t imagine facing him again with that kiss between us. Everything just sucks.

***

“Ziah, please. This is ridiculous!” James is following me to my car.

My keys won’t hold still for me to unlock the door.

“Ziah.” His hand touches my shoulder, and I shrug him away.

I jerk open the driver’s side door, throw in my backpack, but my resolve to drive away from him starts to fade. I turn to face him.

“I’m going crazy without you. Please, can’t we just talk?” He’s on the verge of tears.

I wonder how we got to the point where he’s still crying over us, and I’m still just mad.

“Fine.” Maybe it’s time to get this over with. I glance around at the students flooding into the parking lot. “Climb in.”

I sit in the driver’s seat and contemplate driving away, but I don’t. Instead, I clutch the keys in my hand more tightly. I watch him walk around the front of the car. He’s so familiar. Familiar like family, comfortable like an old friend, and an asshole just like every other guy who thinks it’s okay to cheat on their girlfriend. What on Earth am I going to say to him?

He sits in the passenger’s seat still smelling like formaldehyde from his last class. He has a free period and uses it to help Mr. Lester teach freshman biology instead of going home early. It’s just the sort of nice thing James does that makes it hard to stay mad at him. But I still want to be mad at him, and that makes it easier.

Wow. Awkward silence.

“You’re not acting like yourself, Ziah.” He angles his body to see me.

Now that we’re in this small space together, I wonder if it would have been better to stand outside. It’s like I’m running out of air.

I just need to get something out, right? “You lied to me, James. And not just one lie, but when you were given the chance to come clean, you lied again.”

“I didn’t lie.”

“Not admitting what went on is a lie! And so not what I expected from you.” It’s what I’d expect from someone like Dylan, right? Why does it all need to be so confusing?

He reaches out and takes my hand. I let him, but almost more because I’m curious. What does James feel like to me? Not like Dylan. Just…just like James, I guess.

“We’re perfect together, Ziah. You know it. We want the same things. We like the same things. Sharing classes when you completely ignore me is like torture. I want to be the guy who makes you smile again. I’ve missed that. I’ve missed being around you.”

Have I missed him? Parts, maybe. But for more than friendship? My feelings are too muddled to know.

“I don’t know if I want to be around you anymore.” But my heart hurts with him here. Do I still love James? Yeah, I guess I do, but only because love isn’t something that just disappears. I still care, but like a friend. I don’t want more, and maybe I haven’t for a while, it was just that we had a routine of being together, and I didn’t want to lose that.

James looks like I just kicked him. “I don’t want there to be awkwardness. Not with us. If you can’t do anything else right now, I understand. The space between us is killing me. You were my best friend and my girlfriend all in one gorgeous package. I go crazy when I think about how that one stupid night shouldn’t have happened. How I’d trade anything to take it back. I’ve berated myself over and over for not going to your mom’s restaurant.”

James is all sincerity. Maybe I’m keeping myself mad at him because I just want to be mad.

“Then you shouldn’t have lied about it.” I shake my head. “There were too many times, and too many opportunities for you to say something.”

His head falls forward, and I know James well enough to know he’s once again struggling not to cry. My first pang of sympathy for how I’ve tortured him hits me hard. It’s been weeks, and I haven’t said a word to him.

“I don’t think she knew who she was kissing, and even then, she kissed me in a way that you never had. Like she really, really wanted it. Me. Even though she didn’t know who it was. I wanted that from you.” He lets his eyes find mine.

I wanted that from him, too. But it just wasn’t there. James and I just aren’t supposed to be together that way.

“Could I take you out? Just once. Just to start over or something?” His hand squeezes mine, and it’s funny because I totally forgot we were holding hands.

“Midterms are in a couple weeks. Maybe we could get together to study or something. But don’t think this means you’re forgiven, and I don’t want to be anything more than friends.” I keep my jaw tight, hoping he’ll know I’m serious.

“Thanks, Ziah. You have no idea.” He runs the back of his fingers down my cheek. I turn away, even though it’s one of my favorite things he does. It just doesn’t feel like it used to. And I still sort of want to be mad.

I take my hand back. “See you.”

He grabs the door handle. “See you tomorrow.” He pushes open the passenger’s side door, and I pull in a long breath when it closes behind him.

If before James and I dated, I had been given the choice between him and Dylan, I would have chosen James in a second. He’s the safe choice. Only he destroyed me, so like Lora said, looks are deceiving—he isn’t the safe choice. But also, somewhere in our time together, I sort of lost the excited feeling of being with him. It doesn’t let him off the hook for Alyssa, but it makes me wonder what he’s fighting so hard to get back. And I really wish I knew how I felt about it. I also really wish I knew how Dylan felt about me, because after our kiss, I’m more confused than I’ve ever been.

***

For the past few days, Lora’s been riding on this high of getting her location, and then I learn it’s just for the ceremony. After dragging Dylan and I all over town, they’ve decided to use Mom’s restaurant for the reception, and we’re heading there tonight. My Friday night. A week after my Dylan-kiss, and I’m in NO hurry to see him again. At all.

I call Alyssa in a panic, and she rushes over to make sure I’m appropriately dressed to make an impression without looking like I’m trying. Of course, I have to explain everything about Dylan and our kiss and how I’m completely confused, and she’s concerned and worried about me on the rebound. I try to assure her I’m not interested in getting involved with him. I’d simply like for him to be a little sad at what he turned down.

It’s the first real thing she and I have done together, and it feels good. Better than good. Like we’re talking and doing, and it’s another step in getting us to where we should be.

I step out of the house in Alyssa’s black coat, dark skinny jeans, black boots, a simple black tank with this loose-knit shrug sweater thing that Alyssa brought over. It’s thin, so you can still see me underneath it, and the neck leaves a shoulder exposed. I feel over-dressed, but Alyssa laughs when I say that. So I guess I’m okay.

Now I just need to settle my nerves and get myself in the mindset to be totally normal around Dylan and not think about the kiss.

***

Mom’s restaurant is nearly emptied out at close to eleven. Just the bar is still going, and the second I walk in, I see Dylan and think about the kiss. Not good. My knees get weak when I think about him pressed against me in the tunnel, and I’m the pathetic one who thinks there’s more between us than there is.

Why, I want to ask him, Why? But then I remember that’s exactly what James asked me.

I am pathetic.

I slide off my coat and hang it on the back of the chair, and Lora and Derrick are looking around the restaurant trying to figure out the best way to set it up. Mom has this half wall that looks almost like an outdoor fence, and the main area of the place is like three different levels—not an easy setup to work with.

My shoulders go up as I find room in my pockets for my hands and my shoulder slips out. I’m trying so hard not to look and see if Dylan’s watching, but when I sneak a peek, his head jerks away. Guess we were both caught, and this is as awkward as I thought it would be.

“Can you two stand on that level?” Lora points behind me.

Great. Next they’ll want us making out to make sure the lighting is right.

I take the step up, and Dylan steps up behind me.

“Hey,” I say.

“Hey.” He gives me this weird smile and glances over at my bare shoulder.

Just then Paul steps out of the doors to the kitchen with a huge bowl of macaroni and cheese with bacon piled on top. That definitely looks like a “custom-made” item.

He gives me a howl. “Lookin’ hot tonight, Ziah.”

“Hey, Paul.” I wave and smile, a blush creeping up my cheeks.

“I would weigh five hundred pounds if your mom was my mom.” He grins and shovels in a mouthful as he finds a place to sit.

Dylan crosses his arms, and I swear he’s frowning. But I’m not looking close enough to really see.

Huh. He’s looking at me, and he doesn’t like that I’m flirting with Paul. A little part of me feels almost hopeful again. And then I know I need to crush it for all the same reasons I knew I shouldn’t get involved with him in the first place making me wonder why I bothered to have Alyssa dress me up.

“Scoot to the left.” Lora gestures.

I bump into Dylan, and he practically jumps away. Am I that bad?

“Dylan can take over. I need food.” I walk away and sit down next to Paul.

“Got a bite for me?” I ask, needing to be away from Dylan and out of this situation.

Paul loads up his fork with as much food as he can, grinning the whole time.

I snort. “If you think that you can out-eat me, you’ve chosen the wrong girl.”

“We’ll see…” He holds out the fork. It takes a second, but I get the whole thing in my mouth. Only now I can barely breathe as I chew, and I’m trying not to laugh at Paul’s wide-eyes.

“Are you kidding me?” Lora gives me a look. “I just need you and Dylan to stand in different places so we can check lighting and placement. Please.”

“Thanks for the food.” I smile at Paul as I move to where Lora’s pointing, and then some sappy love song comes over the radio. Is that…Elvis?

“What is this?” Dylan and I say at the same time. It should be funny, and he should say jinx. But he doesn’t because it’s awkward, and suddenly I just want to go home.

“Our wedding song,” Derrick says. “There’s meaning. Keep your comments to yourself.”

And then the song hits me. “I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You,” by freaking Elvis. I was right. There has to be a story behind that one. Because…just because.

I bite my tongue and wait for further instruction. Derrick’s at the edge of the room next to the dimmer switches adjusting the lighting, while Lora points here and then there. Dylan and I stand where she wants us to. Or we sit where she wants us to.

I’m afraid to look at him, and we don’t talk. This couldn’t be more awkward if we tried.

Derrick’s making notes on switches, and I can’t look at Dylan. I don’t even know how to talk to him anymore. And I feel like once again, I just lost a friend. But this time it’s because I was the one who needed a kiss.

I’m such an idiot.

“Okay. I think we’ll use the lowest part as the dance floor, right babe?” Lora looks over her shoulder.

“Sounds good.”

“So, you two. Right here.” Lora points to a spot in the middle of the floor.

We weave around a few tables to get there, and I look longingly over at Paul, who’s finishing his mountain of macaroni and cheese. My favorite.

“Face one another for a sec.” Lora backs up, but I don’t know where to look.

I can smell him. It’s so good. So good. All the parts of the kiss come back to me. The feeling that I’d never get enough. His mouth on mine. His hips (and other things) pressed against me, and his hands across my back.

Just…

My phone buzzes in my pocket. I jump, thankful for the distraction. My eyes catch Dylan’s, and he’s staring again.

He shouldn’t be staring. He’s turning me into a wreck.

ALYSSA: HOW’S IT GOING?

ME: AWKWARD

ALYSSA: U CAN USE ME AS EMER IF U WANT

“I gotta run.” I shove the phone back in my pocket.

“What?” Lora and Dylan ask at almost the same time.

“Alyssa’s got some kind of emergency, and we’re just back on speaking terms. And I…” I’m really trying to look desperate.

“You should go then.” Dylan looks more like himself than he has since before the kiss.

“Fine.” Lora sighs. “I’m crashing at Derrick’s anyway, so you can take the car.”

“See you, Paul.” I give him a wave and wish Alyssa’s fake emergency wasn’t so urgent, because I really want some food.

***

Now that the locations are settled on, Lora and I are at the flower shop putting together the final order. We’ve gone over the paper a million times for how many tables and bridesmaids and groomsmen and the large arrangements and center pieces and and and…

My eyes hurt. I’m about done.

“This is an insane amount of money to spend on flowers. You realize this, right?” The total on the bottom of the page is enough to buy a car.

Lora sighs. “I get that you don’t approve of how extravagant everything is.”

“I don’t get it.” I set my pen down and look at her.

“When he asked me, and I said yes, he said, ‘We’re going to have the biggest, most kickass wedding ever.’ So it’s not just me. Derrick wants a big thing, you know? He keeps saying, ‘We’re only doing this once, baby, let’s make it good.’ And that’s what I’m trying to do. I admit it’s a little thrilling to have such a big budget, but with it comes pressure.”

“I get that.” And for the first time, I do. I get it. And it makes me like Derrick a little more that he’s into this, too.

She sits on the corner. “Okay. What’s going on with you and Dylan?”

I stare at the page. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, you do. And it’s not just you. Dylan was a big pile of mope all weekend.”

I scoff but am a bit pleased. “Well, if he’s moping, it’s his own damn fault.”

“Spill.” Lora kicks off her shoes and slides onto the bed.

I know she’s not going anywhere, so I tell her everything, about how I knew I should’ve stayed away, but I couldn’t help how I felt. I tell her about the kiss and the friend thing, and how I know it’s the smart choice. And that I like him more than I should. I have to blink back tears, probably because it’s all too soon after James.

“You’re not going to school tomorrow. We’re going to do a girl day.” Her smug face is on, and her arms are folded in front of her.

“What about the wedding?” I ask.

“Derrick can take care of it. He just needs to give the invites place a final signature on everything.” She leans back with a smile, knowing she’s going to get her way.

“I don’t do girl days.” I scowl.

“You do now.”

And I know Lora well enough to know it’s final