Page 86 of The Flirt

I threw my head back, laughing.

"What? It's true. I don't think I'm explaining it too well."

I cleared my throat, straightening up. "You're not, but I still understand what you're saying." Taking my cup, I walked backward, pointing at her with my other hand. "I'll see you tonight, sugar."

She nodded. "I can't wait."

I felt on top of the world. Once I went out to my office, I checked my phone and realized I had a missed call from Zachary. I’d called him yesterday, but he didn't pick up. I returned the call as I stepped inside the office.

"Good morning," he said. "We need to be quick because I'm about to go into a meeting.”

"Sure. Listen, I want us to buy a boat for our grandparents and—”

"Get rid of that old shit boat?" Zachary finished for me.

"Yes, exactly."

"Good call.”

“They’ll kick our asses for basically overriding them, but it's time," I said.

"So what exactly did you want from me?"

"I'll take the hit and actually buy the boat, but I need you to smooth things over when the time comes."

"Dude," he said, "I can manage situations, but I can’t perform miracles."

"If there's one LeBlanc who can do it, it’s you.”

"Fair enough. When are you planning this?"

"I'm thinking this week, since they're gone anyway."

There was a pause, and then Zachary said, "You know there are waiting lists for boats, right?"

"I know how to pull strings to get what I want," I reminded him. “I’ll put Anthony on it.”

Anthony had a thing for boats. He owned several, which made it all the more frustrating that my grandfathers insisted on going out on the bayou in a piece of rusty metal.

"Keep me posted on the when and where, and I'll do my best."

"That's all I ask for," I assured him.

After I hung up, I debated diving into work. But since the day was already getting away from me, I figured I might as well start the boat project, so I called Anthony next. He wasn't an early riser, but it was already somewhat late in the day, so he might be up. He answered a few seconds later.

"Chad?" he said.

"Hey, I know Monday is busy for everyone, so I'll be quick. I need your help with something."

"Finally decided to forget that stupid idea of celibacy and need someone to be your wingman? Because I'm your man."

I jerked my head back. "What the hell? How do you even know?"

"Sazeracs. Julian. You can put two and two together.” He laughed. “Sorry, that's not what you need help with. I apologize. First of all, your idea had merits. But just because an idea has merits doesn't mean it doesn't suck. The two things aren't mutually exclusive," Anthony pointed out.

“I’m not even going to dignify that with a response. But in any case, I wouldn’t need a wingman.”

"Are you sure? You've been out of the dating world for a while. Although, judging by how you behaved with Scarlett at the bar, you do have some game left."

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