Page 1 of Downforce

CHAPTER 1

Annalise

What if I forget his name?

What if I didn’t read that last email from Norm incorrectly?

Did I give the driver the correct address?

“Let me see the purse you’ve chosen.”

“What? Oh.” Allowing my sister’s interruption to break the potential thought spiral before it gets too far, I turn my tablet to an angle that allows her to see the dress hanging up behind me.

Then I move to retrieve the bronze clutch and matching bracelets I plan to wear tonight.

“You’re wearing a plum lip with it?” Chloe asks, her observant eyes moving between the jewelry I’m holding up and over my shoulder to the dress.

“It goes with the dress color without it being too matchy-matchy.”

“Agreed,” she says.

“The entire outfit reminds me of my favorite Shakespeare play,” I comment.

“Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

I smile at the memory of forcing my twelve-year-old sister to watch the old nineties film version of the play with me over and over. I repeatedly had to explain to her who was who in the huge cast of forbidden lovers, magical fairies, royal Athenian court, and more.

“Is that the theme of tonight’s gala?” she asks.

“I wish. No, it’s a masquerade.” I show her the golden mask I’ve chosen for tonight.

“Stunning,” she says. “The lipstick goes really well with that color, and it looks so great on you. Why don’t you wear it more often?”

“Not much opportunity.” Glancing at the clock, I note I still have some time before I need to get ready for tonight.

“You know what you’re missing?”

I inwardly groan at the way Chloe perks up as she asks this question. “Don’t say it.”

“A date.”

“There it is,” I grumble. “Why is my little sister trying to get me to date?”

“Because now that I have one nephew, I’ve decided I want more. Maybe even a niece.”

I chuckle, shaking my head while picking up the tablet before taking a seat on my bed. “You could just ask Travis to have another one.”

Chloe frowns. “We should give Alyssia at least a year in between pregnancies.”

“There’s always Tristan,” I suggest. He’s our other brother, who along with Travis and I make up our trio since we’re triplets. Chloe is younger than the three of us by three years.

Chloe tuts. “Our brother who’s as friendly as an upturned thumbtack on the floor.”

I wince. “He’s not that bad.”

She snorts this time. “You’re only saying that because he’s your triplet.”

“I am,” I admit. “Anyway, don’t get any ideas about me having that niece or nephew for you anytime soon.” I blow out a breath. “Men are … underwhelming.”