AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As we walk to the dining room, Yoyo is right behind me. I could feel her in high relief, almost like I can see exactly what she’s doing. Her posture changes: shoulders back, chin down. She’s swishing her hips as she swings those long legs in her expensive shoes.
We walk past the same people and they give me even more disgusted looks. Like I just picked up an extra sexual partner in the bathroom somehow. What is even with these people? We could be on a double date for all they know. We could be cousins.
For half a millisecond I kind of wonder... what are we?
Chance and Jack are leaning toward each other, chuckling about something, oblivious. They catch my eye as I walk up, smiling expectantly, then shifting immediately t
o surprise.
Yoyo pushes past me, her hands waving in front of her excitedly.
“You guys!” she squeals. “Oh my God! Chelsea told me you were here! It’s me, Yolanda!”
Being gentlemen, they both stand up to greet her, smiling in a polished, friendly way and shaking hands warmly. But Chance squints at me suspiciously, sending me a silent question: What is going on here?
I just shrug. Hell if I know.
But as I take my seat again, Jack gives me a pained, confused expression. And I remember our deal suddenly. Our cover story. It seems like he remembers too.
Taking a beat, I lock eyes with him, considering the moment we are at. He did swear to provide cover for our relationship by hooking up with anybody who recognized us. That did happen. Was it a joke?
Sure, but only kind of.
I just take a deep breath and shrug, then shrink back into my chair. Disappointment flashes through his eyes and he pivots, resting his elbow on the table so that he can turn his attention to Yoyo.
Okay, Chelsea, I coach myself silently. You asked for this. You required it. It was your idea.
“Yeah, so what have you guys been up to?” She flirts shamelessly, swirling a lock of hair around her finger. She’s sitting in that girly way of pushing her tits together and swaying back and forth, a proven tactic, like a snake charmer. I can see why men would be helpless in the tractor beam of her cleavage.
“Oh, not much,” Chance says stiffly. “What about you?”
She slaps his arm playfully. “Not much?” she repeats. “I know that isn’t true! Chelsea tells me you guys are some kind of tech geniuses, right? That must be amazing. What is it you do again?”
“We design missile defense systems,” Jack answers sarcastically, nodding like it is the truth.
She widens her eyes, obviously shocked and not wanting to show it, but then tries to cover by nodding solemnly.
“Wow, that is really important work. Like, for the military?”
He takes a deep breath as though measuring his words. “Actually, we probably aren’t really allowed to say. You know… military secrets and all that. Shit! I just said military…”
“But you didn’t say which military,” Chance offers helpfully. “Could be anybody.”
“Right!” Jack sighs with relief. “Could be Libya! Could be Mexico!”
Yoyo narrows her eyes. “Mexico has a missile defense system?” she asks shrewdly.
Jack grimaces. “Actually, we can neither confirm nor deny…”
Yoyo’s smile is tight and strained, but she doggedly continues. “Well, that is really just… It’s amazing! I had no idea you guys were going to be so… I don’t even know what to say!”
Rich, I answer for her silently. You had no idea they were going to end up so rich, Yoyo.
“So tell us about you, Yoyo,” Chance asks, marshaling his attention to try to seem interested. “How are you here? Do you live in Galena?”
As she shifts in her seat, arching her back and flipping her hair in preparation, Chance sends me a warning glare. He wants to know what I expect him to do. She’s coming on to him, and he is sending up a flare for help.
But I don’t know what to say. What am I supposed to say?
