Page 4 of The Mating Game
“Never a good sign. That’s how you get axe-murdered.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m not going to get axe-murdered.”
“That’s what every person who gets axe-murdered thinks. Noone wakes up thinking, ‘Oh, today I’m going to get axe-murdered,’ but then, before you know it, you’re human firewood.”
“I am officially putting you in time-out from those true crime podcasts.”
“You’ll change your tune when I keep you from becoming human firewood.”
“How about we stop using the term ‘human firewood’ when I’m this close to a secluded ski lodge that I’ll be staying at by myself until my brothers fly in?”
Ada snorts on the other end of the line. “Thomas and Chase are in more danger than you are. They’re pretty, but they don’t have the same hardware upstairs as you. Kyle might stand a chance.”
“Hey, now,” I laugh. “That’s not very nice.”
“I’m kidding,” she says. “You know I love those big lugs. But still, there’s a reason you’re the brains of the operation and they’re the muscle.”
“And cameraman,” I correct, thinking of Kyle.
“And cameraman,” she agrees.
“How cold is it there?”
“Somewhere between frozen toes and cracked lips.”
I can practically hear her shudder. “No thanks.”
“Definitely a far cry from Newport.”
“I’ll think of you while I’m on the beach later,” she says with sympathy.
“That makes everything better.”
“Obviously. How are you feeling? Did you end up going to get checked out?”
I bite my lip, considering. Ada would understand. I’ve never asked for the ins and outs of what she is, but that doesn’t mean Ihaven’t picked up bits and pieces over the years. I’m…not ready to tell anyone yet. Not when I haven’t figured out my own feelings about it. I’m already half panicking enough as it is without her hysterics added to the mix.
“I feel better,” I tell her. It’s not acompletelie. Idofeel better after taking the meds Dr.Carter gave me. “Not dying, at least.”
“Just make sure you get checked out if you start feeling shitty again. It sounded like you were really suffering when I talked to you last.”
“Maybe I ate something bad,” I offer, knowing that’s not the case. Itcouldbe a possibility though, in an easier turn of events.
“Have you heard anything back from HGTV?”
“Not yet,” I sigh. “They said it could be a couple of weeks.”
“Yeah, well, they’d be stupid not to green-light the show. You haven’t had a TikTok fall under a million views in months.”
“My brothers are optimistic, but…”
“You’re the worrywart.”
“That’s me,” I laugh. “It just comes down to the fine print. I don’t want to jump into anything that’s going to make our job not fun anymore, you know? I don’t want to totally be beholden totheirwhims.”
“I get that,” she says. “What does your dad think?”
My hands tighten on the steering wheel, my jaw clenching. With everything happening today, my problems back home are the last thing I want to discuss.
