Page 40 of Game Change

Amira and Makayla put their heads together and talk amongst themselves. Relieved not to look at a stranger’s wedding pictures, I flag the server and order a drink.

The guys chat with Raven, but I ignore them and Colin. At least I do until everyone gets up to dance, leaving me and Colin at the table. I look around for someone else to talk to, determined to ignore him, but a thick brunette comes to our table. She’s pretty with blue hair and gems in her dimples. She asks him to dance, and he gets up, takes her hand, and walks away. I’m both relieved and irritated at him for ignoring me. I’m the one who should be ignoring him, not the other way around. Thoughtless jerk.

“Brynneka Barber,” I hear a voice say. I blink a few times and smile into the face of an old friend from high school and the neighborhood.

“Sherman!” I stand and we hug. He sits down next to me and we talk after he orders a drink.

Chapter 20

Colin

I eye my nephew Heath up and down. I never saw him much when he was a kid. I wasn’t close to his mother due to the age gap, but whenever I saw him, he'd follow me around like a shadow. When he was older, he would ask to spend time with me. My sister would leave him with me for weekends, and when I was away in California, she’d visit with him a few times per year.

Me and Heath’s mother, Marilyn Conroy, still aren’t close, but she encouraged my relationship with her son. He’d spend entire summers or school breaks with me in San Diego. The first time he did, he cried when it was time to go home. He’s always been a good kid, though I think he lacks the killer Kincaid instinct we’re expected to have.

He’s not even dressed appropriately for an office. He has on dress pants that look about two sizes too big and a blue cardigan with hummingbirds sewn on it over a plain gray tee. He puts a large coffee on my desk before he comes around to my side. I stand and take him into a hug. He’s a tall, lanky kid, but he’s strong because he lifts me off my feet.

“I’m so glad you’re back, and I get to work here.” He finally puts me down. “You and Uncle Milty are my favorites in this family.” He runs a hand through his dark hair. “Mom says hi, by the way.”

Heath’s mother and I haven’t seen each other in a few years. In that time, our interactions were limited to holiday and birthday cards and gifts.

“How is she?”

“Uptight, anxious, and scared of her own shadow. Uncle Colin the First asked me to move into the big house. He claims he’s retiring, but who knows? He asked me to work for him about a dozen times.” Uncle Colin the First is what the nieces and nephews call my older brother. “Like I would ever work for him, but my uncle Paddy Cake is totally different. I’m here for you, my guy.”

I shake my head at him, but I’m happy to have someone in my corner for the first time since I got here. And if that person is my twenty-three-year-old nephew, I’ll take it.

“I’m not Uncle Paddy here,” I warn. “I’m Colin. And no one knows you’re my nephew. Let’s keep that to ourselves.”

He rubs his hands together and grins. “I love it. We have secrets already.” He grabs his iPad and says, “Don’t worry,Colin.” He winks at me, and I wink back. “I worked as Cousin Frank’s assistant while his was on maternity leave. If I can survive six months working for that taskmaster, I will shine here. Once I have my login info, I’m going right to work.”

“Let me show you to your cubicle.”

He claps his hands like an over-eager tween girl. He tries to wrap his arm around mine, and I pull away.

“Oh, right.” He does an over-exaggerated wink. “We’re strangers.” I sigh and wonder how long it will be before everyone knows he’s my nephew.

Ernestine and Brynne come to the large conference room together. I stand at the front with Heath, and once I introduce him as my new personal assistant, Brynne and Ernestine both cross their arms. Ernestine looks Heath up and down as if trying to size him up. I think Brynne has lost all interest in the meeting and leaves before it’s over.

“As our way of welcoming Heath,” I announce, “breakfast will be arriving shortly and will be placed in the kitchen. Lunch will also be ordered today.” Everyone seems to be appeased by that. I expect Ernestine to leave immediately, but she doesn’t. She chats with another employee while eyeing Heath from across the room. After a few more minutes, she approaches him with a fake smile.

I stay close.

“I’m Brynne’s personal assistant,” she says to Heath. She looks him up and down again, and he does the same, not put off or intimidated by her stare.

“And who the hell is Brynne?” he asks.

“Brynne is who should have been running this business.”

“Well, that’s wrong because my unc—” He stops and clears his throat. “Colin Kincaid is the boss.” Heath stands straight and looks down at Ernestine.

“Hm,” is all Ernestine says.

“Hm, what?” Heath puts a hand on his hip, clearly put off by Ernestine’s attitude.

“Is there a problem, Ernestine?” I ask with my voice raised.

“No, sir,” she says, sarcasm oozing.

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