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No Funny Business
Hilary Grossman
Chapter One
“If I wanted to be ignored, I could have stayed home with my kids,” my sister said with a huff.
“Sorry,” I muttered, my eyes still glued to the couple at the end of the bar.
My half-hearted apology must have been sufficient because Mia continued speaking. A few minutes later, she threw a peanut at me and said in a sing-song voice, “Earth to Kara.” When it ricocheted off my forehead and landed on my lap, I faced her.
“Did you even hear a word I said?” she demanded.
Nope.
Not one.
But I could recite every single word the striking woman said to her companion.
“I’m sick and tired of this! You have no respect for anyone except yourself! I sat here like a fool, waiting here for almost an hour… For you! And did you so much as shoot me a text? Nope! I hate to break it to you, but you’re not the only person in the world with responsibilities, you know.”
“Of course I did.” I lied.
My sister had only three topics she discussed. Her elementary school kids and the drama at their school, her husband, and…
Deciding to go with the most likely scenario, especially for a Friday evening, I said, “You were telling me about your trainer, Jacques.” Ever since graduating from college, Mia has been a gym rat. But after moving back to Forest River, the suburban New York town where we both grew up, where she’s raising her family, she’s taken her obsession with staying in shape to a new level. Sometimes it feels like her world revolves around her fitness routine and her trainer, Jack, who uses Jacques as his “show name” to impress the shallow suburban women. If I weren’t friends with him and his husband for years, I’d think some funny business was going on with him and my sister.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Lucky guess.”
I smirked. “What can I say? I can’t help it that you are extremely predictable.”
“Whatever. But seriously, sis, what is so fascinating about that couple? You’ve been staring at them ever since he entered the bar.”
Was I that obvious? I hope he didn’t notice.
I took a sip of my Cabernet. “I have?”
“Yes, you have. Don’t you dare try to play innocent with me, missy. I know you have a nosey side, but usually, you cover it up pretty well. Tonight, you’ve been out of control.”
“Ugh. Probably because my interest is beyond idle curiously. The guy’s no random stranger. I know him.”
“Really? How?”
Before I could reply, Mia leaned over the bar and slowly turned to get a better look.
I smacked her not so gently on the back of the head. “Stop it. Can you be any more obvious?”
“Now you’re worried about attracting attention.” She giggled. “That’s rich. Don’t worry. It’s not like he noticed me. He’s too focused on being ditched by his date to care if I’m checking him out.”
“Oh my god.” I gasped. I felt my eyes grow wide as I took in the scene. “Do you think she’s going to throw her martini in his face?”
“It sure looks that way.” My sister glanced at her watch. “I hope the show is as exciting as this. Broadway’s got nothing on a good domestic brawl.”
“Mmm hmm…”
Mia’s husband had surprised her this morning with tickets to an impossible musical she had been dying to see. Since it had been a while since we spent quality time together, she came to the city early to have a quick drink with me before meeting Michael for the show and dinner.
“Look!” I said as loud as I dared.
