Page 70 of The Disasters of Dating
Evan chuckles. “You went to Yale, Keaton. Please tell me you’re notso dense that you don’t know…at least part of the reason I want to talk to you alone.”
“Fine,” I sigh. “Something came up, and I figured if everyone else was calling in, why couldn’t I?” I sound every bit the defensive younger brother rather than the Yale degree-holding president of the company. Another disadvantage of working for your older brother. Some habits die hard.
“Yeah, I saw what came up on ESPN last night.” Evan is trying unsuccessfully to hold back a smile.
“What?” I ask.
“I was watching the University of Utah vs. Stanford football game last night. Imagine my surprise when I saw my little brother—who was supposed to be on a plane headed for Boston—kissing a girl on the kiss cam.”
Well, crap. How had I not realized that Evan would watch the Stanford game? That’s where he’d graduated from. Although, in my defense, I hadn’t planned on the whole kiss cam thing—not that I regret it.
“I’m not sure what you want me to say.” I lift a defeated shoulder. Man, I hate it when he gives me that dad look of his. Why do I care if I’ve disappointed him? Evan isn’t my dad, as much as he likes to think he plays the role part-time.
“Why didn’t you tell me you weren’t coming home last night? If you had these plans, why not tell me about them? Then I wouldn’t have been caught off guard. Especially with the meeting this morning.”
Coming home? I frown at the phrase. When did Utah start to feel more like home than New Hampshire?
I shake my head, my brain a cluster of a dozen different excuses and justifications. I finally settle on owning it. “I should have,” I say. “I’m sorry. It was a very teenage kid response, not that of the president of the company.” I suck in a breath and release it slowly. “It won’t happen again, Evan. I promise.”
He smiles. “Glad to hear it. But I was hoping my question would get me some details.” He tips his head to the side and then wiggles his fingers as he waves them up and down while humming the Scooby Doo revelation song.
I stare at the screen in confusion. “What are you doing?”
He smiles. “I’m changing from your boss into your brother. Remember when you used to tell me everything?”
“You can be so weird sometimes.” I laugh. “Does Shay know aboutthis? You’re probably legally bound to tell her before she follows through with the wedding.”
He smirks at me. “She knows and adores it.” His brows raise. “Now spill it. Who’s the girl?”
“Her name’s Poppy.”
“Poppy? That’s a cute name.”
I nod. It’s not the only cute thing about her, but I’m not ready to go into those details with my brother yet. “The name fits her perfectly.”
“So, how did you come to be on the kiss cam with her? I didn’t realize you were actuallydatingher. And how did you get tickets to the game? I’m kind of jealous of that.”
“Her brother has season tickets and couldn’t go, so he gave them to her.” Discussing the tickets—it’s a great way to avoid some of his questions. “Apparently, they were the same tickets her dad had before he died. It took several years, but they finally became available again, and her brother, Brody, grabbed them.”
Evan nods. “Well done, avoiding the important question.”
“I didn’t avoid anything. That answer should have covered all your actual questions.” I say defensively.
Evan sighs. “Okay, how about answering the questions I alluded to?”
I roll my eyes like a teenager. “We’re not dating. Or at least I don’t think she thinks we are.”
“After watching that kiss cam? I’d disagree with that.”
I twist my lips to the side. “It must have been a slip. Or you saw wrong. She has rules.” I say with a grumble.
“Rules? What kind of rules?” Evan settles back, and I see he’s sitting on the couch in his office.
“She doesn’t date tourists.”
He narrows his eyes. “Why would someone make such a rule? Does she meet that many tourists that a rule had to be made?”
I nod. “Yeah. She works in one of the airport shops.”
