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Adam freezes.
My heart pounding, I drum up a polite smile. “There’s something I have to take care of. Something… private.”
His eyes flash with an emotion I can’t name, but he hides it quickly. Flashing me the charming grin that I’ve seen melt women into literal goo, he nods. “Sure. You worked hard, Nova.”
I dip my head and hustle out of the building, calling Lyra back.
She answers with a yawn. “Hey, bigsiiiis. Ready to talk?”
“Where are you?” I ask stiffly.
She gives me directions and I catch a cab to the café.
Lyra is sitting around a booth, eating a burger and a giant plate of fries. She’s got her hair closely cropped with the back full of waves. The top is spiky and dyed red and white. Giant hoop earrings with the term ‘goochie’ in the middle swing along with her head.
“Nova!” She raises a hand and yells so loudly the entire café turns to look. “Girl, over here!”
I cringe a little and slide into the booth across from her.
“Mm.” She gives me a head-to-toe scan while sucking on each of her fingers. “Don’t you look tidy andofficial. Like those old ladies at the church mama forced us to go to. Remember? The ones with the big hats and the pressed white skirts and the pantyhose… wait a minute. Let me see if you’re wearing a pantyhose.” She scoots down like a worm and peeps under the table.
I pull my legs back and cross them at the ankles.
“You are!” She bursts out in loud guffaws.
More eyes dart over to us.
Heat flares in my cheeks and I press my fingers together.
“You look like such asquare, Nova.” Lyra grabs three fries at once, dips them into ketchup and pops them into her mouth. When she’s done, she wipes her fingers on her cleavage-baring halter top that looks like she fished it out of the trash.
“I sent you all the money I could,” I say calmly, holding my head up. “If you’re here for—”
“It’s not enough.”
My eyelashes flutter.
Lyra takes a sip of her soda and talks with her mouth full. “But I ain’t worried ‘bout that. Can you get me a job?”
“A job?” I choke.
“Yeah. A job at your fancy office. Your boss left the whole thing for you to run, right? I’m sure he won’t have a problem.”
My nostrils flare, but I keep my tone calm. “What is this about, Lyra? Since when were you interested in engineering?”
“I ain’t gotta do that.” She speaks with exaggerated head-bobbing. “I can be a secretary or sum’im. Like you.”
That feeling I’ve been having lately—like there’s a noose around my neck and it’s pulling tight, increases. I take a deep breath and then another. “I’m sorry, Lyra. I can’t help you.”
“It’s because you’re ashamed of me, ain’t it?” Her eyebrows slash low over stormy brown eyes. “You don’t want anyone to know we’re sisters.” She points an accusing finger. “You think if you talk perfect English and dress like the white folks, they’re gonna accept you? Nah, fam. At the end of the day, blood is thicka than anything.”
I lift my eyes to the window and think about my to-do-list.
Leroy Foster wants to set up a meeting with Vision Tech to cement future collaborations.
The top-ten winners from the competition today will receive free access to parts and equipment for next year’s competition. I need to talk to the manufacturing companies to oversee that process.
Adam has a meeting with the board and, if he plans on pitching the hover-bag, I need to prep the board for that. They rarely welcome his outlandish ideas with open arms…
