Good.I’m just waiting on the limo to pick us up.
He hesitated, wondering if he should switchlimofor something less pretentious.She’d always had a thing about money and unnecessary spending.Which was probably fair, considering how she’d grown up.Still, the Northwest Ice crew had calculated that six guys would probably fit in a limo more economically than two vehicles for one trip, so it didn’t feel too pretentious to him.
Still, he didn’t want her to think he was a tool any more than she might already, so he swappedlimoforcarand sent the message.
Hope you have fun.I’m waiting on a multi-vehicle collision so need to go.
He winced.
Praying for you.
She didn’t reply.Maybe it was because she’d already left, or maybe it was because she was still a little thingy about matters of faith.Regardless, he’d keep praying for her.
He remembered back in high school when they’d talked about religion.She hadn’t seen the point of it.Neither had he.His parents had always touted that hard work and connections were what saw people get ahead in life, not trusting in an invisible God.God was a psychological crutch, nothing more.And anyway, for them—and yes, him—real success was measured in dollars.His dad’s success in property investments had partly motivated Kyle’s desire to see an equally prosperous life for himself, which had seen him undertake financial studies at college.He’d graduated four years ago with a degree in finance that he’d put to good use, investing in properties, like the apartment Gen had stayed in on Monday night, and another on Bainbridge Island.
But another part of him had wondered if perhaps he could use this success to support a wife and family one day.And now, looking at the message from the woman who might object to him riding in a limousine, he realized afresh what that other motivation had been.He’d wanted to ensure that Gen never had to live in the way she’d grown up, in near poverty.But she would need time to come around to the idea that he cared, to see their differences could actually prove a blessing to each other, not a burden.He frowned.
“You okay there, Tinks?”a voice he recognized asked.
“Hey, Mike.”He slapped him on the back in a bear hug.“I was wondering when someone else would show.”
“We showed up a while ago, but you were so busy checking your phone you didn’t notice.”Mike pointed to a nearby service road where a long white limo waited next to a group of guys.
Oops.Kyle pocketed his phone.Grabbed his bag.
“We called out but you looked preoccupied.”Ryan raised an eyebrow.“Must’ve been important, huh?”
“Yeah.”
He was soon smothered in backslaps and catcalls and tease as various members of the Northwest Ice crew asked just who was on the phone.
“More interesting than us, huh?”
“One guess who.”
Kyle’s cheeks heated.
“Aww.Dude, that’s just adorable.”Ryan smirked.
“I don’t think real men say the word adorable,” he grouched.
“Aww.Someone’s getting touchy.”
He fought to not roll his eyes.“Haven’t you got anything better to talk about?”
“Nope.You’re it.So, how is she?”
“How is who?”
“Okay, play dumb.Your doc.Your lady friend.The woman you’d like to one day be the mother of your children.”
“Would you please stop?”
The others laughed.“Come on.It’s just tease.”
“She needs to get saved first though.That’s right, isn’t it?”Zac asked.
Yeah, that.
