Page 37 of The Player in New Zealand
“So why don’t you play anymore? I bet there’s some groups you could join in Welly. I’d imagine they’d love to have a pretty girl.”
I bristled. “Yes, exactly why I want to be accepted into a group of dudes playing D&D.”
Tane shifted to look at me better. “You don’t like compliments very much, do you?”
I glared at him.
“Oh, actually.” He rubbed his chin. “It’s only when they compliment your looks. I’ve seen you hit on enough to know that’s the worst thing they could say. You love it when your cocktails get compliments. Your face gets all flushed and you grin like a kid.”
“Do not.”
“Why don’t you like compliments, Claire?”
“None of your business,sir,” I bit out.
We rode in silence for several miles, and I picked up my phone to check it for the first time since we’d gotten into the car. I had a flood of messages from Iris, but with my phone still on do not disturb, I hadn’t gotten the buzzes.
Iris: You drive up to Auckland today, right?
Iris: How big is Auckland anyway?
Iris: Wait, how big is Wellington?
Iris: Google says just over a million and a half in Auckland. That’s New Zealand’s biggest city! CLAIRE. THAT’S TINY.
Iris: Oh, are you going to go to the waterfront?
Iris: You know they have a wine island?
Iris: CLAIRE!!! Did you wake up in time?
I smiled at my sister’s texts and checked the global clock on my phone. Afternoon in Chicago.
Me: I’m alive. I’m on the road. Calm your tits.
Iris: You’re in the car with Tane?
Me: Yes. We are on time, yes, Auckland is bigger than Wellington, and they are both tiny.I read her texts again.
Me: What’s the wine island?
Iris: It’s called Waiheke, and it’s a short ferry ride away. You should totally go!
Me: No time. We have the rehearsal dinner tonight and then Tane’s going to be gone most of the day tomorrow and then we have the wedding.
Iris: You should go by yourself.
Me: *gasp* What’s this? Iris encouraging me to go do things... alone.
Iris: You made it all the way to New Zealand by yourself. I’m so proud of you.
Me: I couldn’t have done it without you.I smiled and changed the subject.How’s Chris?
Iris:Fine. Fine. Working a lot. Babe, gotta go, one last meeting today. XO
I sighed and leaned my head back against the headrest.
Tane had been quiet since I’d shut down our conversation. Without the phone to distract me, I tapped a nail on the door handle to my left.
