AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You spend more time in front of the mirror flexing your biceps than my sister takes to do her hair.”
“Oooh,” Trey and I catcall, turning to Alfie for his comeback.
“If you had biceps like these, you’d be watching them flex too,” Alfie laughs, shoving up his sleeve and flexing an impressive bicep for Mo to appreciate. Snorting, Mo shoves Alfie’s arm out of his face.
“All right,my body is a temple, you in for pizza, or are you on a fast day?”
“I amalwaysin for pizza!”
“I vote Jimmy pays,” Trey grins, flipping me off. “He’s hosting.”
“Youbroke into my house!”
“Cheap.”
Ignoring his taunting, I turn to Mo and Alfie, but they grin, joining in the chant.
“Cheap. Cheap. Cheap!”
“Fucking fine. I’ll pay for pizza. What’s everyone having?”
THELMA
My phone beeps to let me know my ride is here. Slamming the file shut, I quickly check my makeup in my small handheld mirror. Running my fingers through my hair, I shove the mirror back into my purse and collect my things, hurrying through the mainly empty office and out to where the town car is waiting.
“Ms. Rampwood.” The driver nods to me, holding open the back door. I slide in, pulling out my phone and checking the multitude of messages I have ignored all day.
PETE: My cleaner bailed. Who does your place? I’m just around the corner. They can do my condo too.
PETE: Also, do they do short notice? I’m supposed to be throwing Andy a party and need to do it at my place – his is still a construction site.
ARTIE: DON’T LET HOLS DO CAFÉ PATRON SHOTS TONIGHT! SHE THINKS SHE CAN HANDLE THEM BUT SHE CAN’T!
ARTIE: Don’t tell her I said she couldn’t handle them. She can’t… but don’t say it was me who said it.
MOM: Are you coming for lunch this weekend? You can’t work another weekend.
MOM: I promise no one will mention Rampwood & Stein.
DAD: Call your mother. Lunch this weekend. Don’t blow us off again.
PARKER: Tell Lance it’s his turn to take one for the team. I’m not hosting poker night this week.
LANCE: Themmie. My favorite cousin. Did you want to host poker night this week?
HOLLY: Almost ready. I can’t wait to try out this wine bar. I’ve heard good things!
HOLLY: Also, they do amazing café patron shots!
HOLLY: I’m almost there. You better be on your way.
HOLLY: Bitch, you better not be blowing me off. I had my hair done today and I am looking FLY. I will END YOU if you bail.
Jesus. I shoot Holly a text to assure her I’m on my way. I send Artie a thumbs up – I’m not his wife’s keeper. She wants to do café patron shots… bring it. Copying my cleaner’s details, I send them to Pete – he lives around the corner from me in Belltown. As for the twins… I am not getting involved.
I have just finished sending Mom and Dad a joint message assuring them I will be there for lunch this weekend when the car pulls up in front of the wine bar Holly told me to meet her at…an hour ago. Shit.
Tipping the driver, I slide out of the car, hurrying inside. Holly is sitting next to the curved staircase, her hot pink dress hugging her curves, the color looking amazing against the rich pigmentation of her skin.
