Page 13 of Flick

Tonight, if he could, he’d kick his own ass. Why, oh why, did he think he should push his best friend to date? If he hadn’t pushed Beth, she wouldn’t have set him up with that woman tonight. Oh, and no, she couldn’t have a nickname. He needed to refer to her as Rosalinda Agnes Patrick. Could a woman be any more full of herself?

He wasn’t sure where Beth knew her from, but he would be finding out. He finished washing and shut the shower off. He was exhausted, and it wasn’t even that late. He dried off, crawled beneath the covers, and turned out the lights. What a colossal waste of time. He really hoped that Dex and Beth had a better date than he did. But honestly, how could one be worse?

Chapter Nine

Beth walked in, and Phoebe, her sister Winnie’s oldest, came running up and grasped her fingers, pulling her toward the corner. Once Phoebe had her there, Blake walked over too.

“Can we do surveillance today in the clubhouse? The boys are whispering and won’t tell us what they are talking about?” Phoebe asked.

Beth glanced around the room. Grant and David were whispering to each other.

“Hmm, let’s talk through this. If Grant and David came to me and asked to use my listening equipment to hear your conversation, what would you hope I’d say?” Beth asked, biting her lip as Phoebe frowned at her.

“I’d want you to say no, but this is different,” Phoebe grumbled.

“Is it?” Beth asked.

Phoebe huffed, grabbed Blake’s hand, and stomped off. “Fine,” she called. “I’ll just find out myself.”

Beth grinned and giggled.

“I’m glad one of us can smile,” Flick muttered.

“Who peed in your cornflakes?” Beth asked.

“That’s disgusting, and you did,” he said.

“I did?”

“Yes, the blind date yesterday. She was horrendous,” Flick said, glaring at her.

“Nah, there’s no way. She is the sweetest person. What did you do?” Beth asked.

“Seriously! Don’t be blaming me. I was a perfect gentleman, and after she insulted my job, she proceeded to only talk about shopping,” Flick said, raising his voice.

Beth couldn’t believe the woman she’d picked for Flick would act that way, and now everyone was tuned into their quarrel.

“Don’t be raising your voice at me. Theresa would never act that way,” Beth said.

“Theresa? Who the fuck is Theresa?” Flick growled.

“Good thing he’s got the subscription,” Phoebe yelled.

“Theresa, your date. The coordinator for the Nelson’s apartments I set you up with,” Beth said slowly because she was starting to think Flick had some type of brain injury. How could he not remember his date’s name?

“My date’s name was Rosalinda Agnes Patrick, which she reminded me about multiple times as if her name could make the evening any better,” Flick said.

Beth held up her finger because she had to know how this had happened. She called her friend who’d set it up for her.

“Hello,” Violet said.

“Hey, Violet, I’m calling with a question,” Beth said.

“Tell Flick I’m really, really sorry, but you know I have a hard time saying no. Especially if someone is really forceful, and Rosalinda is. She was in the office when you called and demanded that she be his blind date. She even took my phoneand typed everything herself. Then she threatened that if I told you or him ahead of time, she’d have her dad fire me. I need this job,” Violet whispered.

Violet’s tear-filled voice cut through any anger Beth had.

“Do you like your job?” Beth asked, then glanced behind her when Remi’s hand touched her shoulder. The room filled with people who were all listening.

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