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Kiara silences her phone, her attention on me. “Sure, what’s up?”
“About Vanessa’s birthday…”
* * *
The reception area is empty when I enterBright Haven. I close the door and make my way to the open office behind the front desk. Vanessa is sitting in her office, her back turned to me.
I lean against the doorway of Vanessa’s office and knock gently. “Hey, there.”
Vanessa turns in her chair instantly, her eyes wide. “You scared me!”
“Maybe you should be turned the other way then?” I chuckle.
“I would, but then my attention keeps wandering, and I don’t do half the things I should.” She tilts her head to the side, observing me. “What are you doing here? Isn’t basketball camp tomorrow?”
“It is.” Pushing from the doorway, I go toward the chair opposite hers and pull it out.
“Then what are you doing here? Dressed in a suit no less.”
I make a twirl. “You like?”
“You look fine.” Vanessa’s lip twitches, but she bites the inside of her cheek to stop from smiling.
“Just fine, huh?”
“Okay, I guess better than fine. Handsome. Although, seriously, is that even questionable?”
“No,” I laugh, taking my seat. “But I wanted you to say it anyway.”
“Of course you did.” She rolls her eyes. “So, what are you up to?”
“I had a job interview.”
“Oh.”
I put the bag on the table. “And then I figured, why don’t I stop to grab something for lunch.”
“You brought me lunch?” she asks slowly, as if she can’t wrap her mind around it.
“Yes.” I open the bag and pull out two carton boxes, giving her one.
Vanessa carefully pulls it closer as if she’s afraid the box will explode. She sniffs softly. “Is that…” Her head snaps up, her eyes big. “Chicken club with mushroom and sour cream sauce?” She flips the lid open, her eyes going from me to the food and back. “How did you know?”
“A lucky guess?” I smile. There is no way I’m admitting I saw Kiara, and she was the one who told me.
Thank you, Kiara.
I owe her big time. And not just for lunch.
“That was some guess, all right.” She takes one of the fries and pops it into her mouth, her eyes falling shut as she chews. “I swear they have the best fries too. So crispy.”
“Yeah?” I open my own box, the smell of bacon hitting me in the face instantly. “I guess we’ll see. I don’t think I’ve eaten there so far. We kind of stuck to campus. Moore’s is our go-to place.”
“I’ve heard of it, but I don’t think I’ve ever been.”
I look up at her. “No? How do you live in Blairwood and haven’t been there?”
Vanessa shrugs. “Like you said, it’s a college bar, and since I didn’t go to Blairwood, I just kind of avoided it. It didn’t seem like a place for me.”
