Page 52 of Ace of Spades

Almost instantly, I hear the ding of an incoming message.

“Look who answered back immediately,” his muffled voice says from the other side of the door.

“Julian. Stop. This isn’t funny.”

“Don’t worry, Si. When have I ever led you astray, huh?”

Another swooshing sound. I beat the door again.

“Open this door now!’

He does, just in time for me to stumble inside, mid beating.

“You. Are. Dead!”

He holds the phone out to me so I can see the screen. I snatch it out of his hand to get a better look at the unsanctioned conversation.

Me

Hey. I’m not really sure how to do this except to just do it. Would you like to meet up and chat sometime?

Brody

Hey kiddo! I’m so glad you reached out. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve picked up the phone to say something only to delete it again. I would love to meet up.

Me

Great! How about tomorrow?

He wants to meet.

My dad wants to meet with me. “Oh, wow.” I breathe out. I hadn’t realized how much that had been weighing on me until I saw those words written on the screen.

“So?” Julian says, crouching down next to me. “You still gonna kill me?”

I slap him on the shoulder.

“Don’t ever do that again,” I warn him.

My phone dings in my hand and Julian and I both look down to see his response.

Brody

Depends… do you like hockey?

Julian shakes me by the shoulders.

“Yes! Tell him yes, a thousand times yes! He’s gonna take you to a freakin Thunderhawks game. You little lucky daughter of a billionaire,” he shrieks.

“I don’t know the first thing about hockey.”

“You are an incredible disappointment,” he says, shaking his head. “Don’t you read romance? Those books have all you need to know about hockey.”

“Wait… do you read romance?”

“Duh, Si! Why do you think I’m not a neanderthal like most of the guys out here nowadays? I am well-versed in all things swoony and spicy. Try it sometime.”

Okay, Julian and his romance novels aside, I stare at my phone.

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