Page 92 of Story of My Life
I felt like a microwaved troll doll by comparison.
“Laura, how lovely to see you on the right side of the tracks,” she purred.
I didn’t care for Nina.
Laura’s laugh was hilariously ungenuine. “Same old Nina. How’s your Jet Ski fuel–scented summer, Madam Mayor?”
“It’s another banner year for Dominion,” Nina said with a sharp smile. “We’re making so much money, I just don’t know what we’re going to do with it all. But I’m sure Story Lake is in the same boat.”
“Lake puns. So much fun,” Laura said, baring her teeth in a phony grin.
“Well, I’d love to stay and chat, but I’ve got a ribbon cutting to get to. Stop by again and we’ll do coffee. Can you believe we’re opening our fourth café? Tell your brother I said hi.”
“Which one? You dated so many of them,” Laura shot back.
I picked up my pitcher of water and drank while enjoying the snarky back-and-forth. Ah, to be that quick in real time. My best insults didn’t come to me until hours later.
“Oh, you.” Nina waved away Laura’s barely veiled insult, her rosy-pink nails catching the sunlight. “It’s so nice to see you still have that wicked sense of humor after everything that’s happened.”
“Some things never change. Although I guess that can’t be said for Cam. Nina, this is Hazel, Cam’s girlfriend. Isn’t thatfabulous?”
Nina’s arctic-blue eyes finally found their way to me. She didn’t bother to hide the arch of skeptical eyebrows. I glued my palms to the table to keep myself from trying to straighten my hair under her scrutiny.
“’Sup?” I said.
“How…interesting. I’m sure you two will be so happy together. Bye now!”
I watched her leave in her annoyingly stylish shorts suit. “She’s like a sexy cartoon villain.”
“’Sup?” Laura repeated on a strangled laugh.
“Shut up! Beautiful mean women intimidate me.”
“’Sup!” She cackled.
“And how did you know I’m going out with Cam? He told me not to tell anyone!”
She went silent mid-cackle.
“Oh shit. You were just baiting her. Ha. Ha. Good one. So funny. Do you want a drink? I want a drink. Maybe I’ll go to the bar and get one.”
Laura’s hand snaked out and closed around my wrist. “You’re not going anywhere. You’re dating Cam? As in my brother? As in Cactus Cam the Grumpasaurus Rex?”
“No! Definitely not. Well, not really. I just asked for his help with some research.”
“Research that involves going on a date?”
“I wouldn’t call it a date. I basically blackmailed him into it. He’s just going to take me out tomorrow for food…probably. Hopefully. But I’m taking my notebook, so it’s definitely not a real date. Because who would take notes on a real date, am I right? And I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone and now he’s going to use this as an excuse to back out of it and I’ll never get this book written.”
Laura sat there in silence.
“What?” I demanded.
“I was just waiting for you to hyperventilate or pass out.”
“There’s still time,” I squeaked. I covered my face with my hands. “Why am I so bad at peopling in real life?”
“Relax,” she said.
