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And earns herself my instant startle.
The words themselves aren’t the issue. They’re typical Kell. But everything they’re wrapped in…it’s not her usual sleek and smirking package. She’s issued it as an order. A serious one, at that.
I have no idea how to rebut it, except with a follow-up challenge. “So, you’re just wearing those pretty shoes to start a new fashion trend?”
“Was considering it. But then my phone buzzed, and I had to get fake-whiny about some residual pain flaring up in my leg. Piper came to my rescue. She’s filling in for me. For you two, as well.”
“Huh?” I blurt.
“Why?” Maximus demands at the same time.
“Because the text on my phone was from Doctor Doug.” She swings her head to directly meet the new surprise in my gaze. “He’s in town. And he wants you to see him right away.”
CHAPTER NINE
MAXIMUS
We’re able to leave the event with no more major hiccups, and I’m glad about that. What I’mnotbreathing easier over is the ongoing weirdness in Kell’s demeanor, which Kara seems to be absorbing at an exponential rate.
Finally, after pretending to be interested in all the stretch limo’s fancy features, I swing a pointed glance between them both.
“Okay. What memo did I not get here, ladies?”
Kell cocks her head and narrows her eyes. “Maybe the same oneIdidn’t get. Kara? You holding out on us, sister?”
“Hmmm?” Kara looks up and around as if a fog bank has invaded everything between us and the sliding divider. “No. Of course not.”
But she’s saying one thing with her syntax and another with her testy tone. A direct callout on it won’t be my wisest choice. Instead, I wrap a hand around one of hers and gently murmur, “This is supposed to be a happy thing, right? Isn’t that still the general consensus for new baby news? Did I get it wrong? Are you feeling otherwi—”
“I’m fine, okay?” she bites out. “Let’s just…get this over with.”
Apparently, I’m out of touch about the proper definition offine, as well. It’s not remotely what she sounds like, but I shelve the point for the greater good. And, frankly, my own. Reconnecting to my inner calm and strength will ensure I can help her in whatever way she’ll need. Or, more accurately, allow.
Our driver turns down a side street, heading south off Sunset. Our route zigzags at Santa Monica and then San Vicente Boulevards, taking us past the different-colored behemoths of the Pacific Design Center buildings. In the buildings’ reflective glass, I can see details of the early evening scene in the neighborhood. Guys on bikes, girls on phones, dogs tugging at their leashes in the park across from the Center. But what’s still so dark for me is the source of my woman’s tension.
She was less fidgety than this during the approach to the party. But I’m resigned to my pledge. Silent support and steady strength. Bombarding her with needless questions makes me no better than the mob back at the Pendry, especially that glammed-up douche in the cologne he probably got in a press junket goodie bag. What was his name?
“Gentry.” I grunt at myself. It’ll have to stand in for the self-inflicted backside kick. “Damn it,” I mutter with a triple underline of apology. “Didn’t mean to say it out loud. Just…remembering.”
Kell arches a brow, exposing her glitter-covered eyelid to a flash of gold streetlight. “You mean trying to shoo the bug out of your brain so you can flush it for good?”
I’m still determining how to match the excellence of that metaphor when Kara erupts with a giggle. Not a huge one, but just as amazing to hear.
“Unbelievably, Gentry did dial back on the obnoxious,” she says to Kell. “At least a little bit.”
“Not what I heard,” her sister grouses. “Piper had barely entered the building before he cornered her with questions about her dad.”
“Oh, my God,” Kara utters. “I should have guessed there was a reason for the bump in his preening game.”
Kell’s face contorts. “Can we bribe Hades to takehimback to hell?”
“Why was he even allowed to stay at the party? Didn’t Piper report him?”
“Oh, she tried,” Kell mutters. “But he started citing constitutional rights. He played back video footage, told them he hadn’t harmed Piper physically, and was justdoing his job.”
As soon as Kell tacks air quotes around her last three words, Kara looks ready to throw her own free hand through one of the windows. Thankfully, she ramps things back to a silent fume, glowering out at the busy city streets as we close in on Beverly Grove. I connect the dots, imagining we’re headed toward one of the medical buildings near Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where Dr. Doug’s office is likely tucked at the end of some discreet hall.
The conclusion supports the subject my brain has tracked to—one that does deserve a few words of conscious voice.
