Page 75 of Ice Darling
“What?”
“Is it a guy?”
“So what if it is?”
I guess that’s my answer.
I notice that she’s still frowning at her hands, so I go into my bag again and take out the baby wipes.
“Is it a date?” I offer the wipes to her.
“Absolutely not.” She seems horrified by the thought. Which is enough to put me at ease until she follows that up with, “But I should probably leave now. I need to figure out what I’m going to wear.”
The bitterness in my stomach doesn’t feel particularly warranted.
Or healthy.
“Why do you need to worry about your clothes if it’s not a date?” I ask as naturally as I can.
She wipes her hands as her eyes dart to everythingbutme.
I’m overstepping my bounds.
Cool it, Renthrow.
“He’s the project manager for the company’s domestic investment team. He’ll be Mom’s liaison for the Lucky Strikers. I’m representing my mom and the company, even if I’ve changed jobs.”
She’s pulling words out of her backside. Or maybe she thinks I’m an idiot.
Whoisthis guy that she’s dressing up for and blushing about?
Professional. Fake. Relationship.That’s what she and I have. That’s all I need to know.
But the more I think about her sitting across the table from some bozo in a business suit, the more annoyed I feel.
“Well”—Cordelia swallows hard in the middle of our awkward pause—“I’ll tell Gordie bye and then?—”
Reaching out, I wrap my fingers around the leg of her chair and drag it flush against mine.
Cordelia stumbles into me. Her hand on my chest and her head tilted up, she asks breathlessly, “What are you doing?”
Who knows at this point?
“I’ll drive you.”
The crease between her eyebrows loosens, and she exhales a nervous laugh. “It’s fine. I’ve taken enough of your time. I’ll catch a taxi and?—”
“Tonight.”
The Bambi eyes get bigger, and her mouth gapes wider.
“You said you’re going as your mom’s representative? I’ll go as a member of the Lucky Strikers team.” I sit her upright and rise to my feet. “What time do I pick you up?”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Cordelia
Viking Renthrow is trying to seduce me.
