Page 40 of Negotiating Tactics

“No. Because Aunt Clem wants to talk to you without me here,” Birdie said.

I looked at Aunt Clem, waiting for her to deny what Birdie had said, but she just shrugged. “This is not a conversation for married women,” Aunt Clem said.

I laughed nervously as I eyed Aunt Clem, not having any idea what was coming next.

“Do I need to run out of here?” I asked Aunt Clem as Birdie laughed, the sound trailing behind her down the hallway.

“No, you just need to sit here and listen to your auntie,” she said.

She was leaning into the old lady thing, burrowing into her blanket and trying to look frail.

I didn’t buy it for a single second.

“Yes, ma’am,” I responded.

I could already feel the contact embarrassment, but on the other hand, I treasured Aunt Clem.

Even after all these years, I missed my mother so desperately it sometimes took my breath away. Aunt Clem helped with that, and I would be forever grateful for having her in my life.

“So what’s going on with you, girl?” Aunt Clem asked.

I shrugged, laughed. “Well, you know about my apartment. Plus, I’m going to buy that building?—”

“Don’t play with me, Alex,” she said.

I laughed again at her narrowed eyes. “I’m not playing. Can you spell it out for me, Aunt Clem?”

“Who is he?” she asked, leaning forward and whispering conspiratorially.

“Who is who?” I asked. I blinked, trying to project innocence, but Aunt Clem just stared at me.

“I don’t have a job, and the next bingo tournament isn’t until Tuesday. So I can sit here as long as I need to,” Aunt Clem said.

I leaned back, still smiling even though I faced my second defeat of the day. “What gave me away?” I asked.

The ridiculousness of having this conversation with my best friend’s aunt was not lost on me, but I was genuinely curious.

“Can’t say for sure,” Aunt Clem said, leaning back in her recliner and studying me, her eyes assessing.

“Maybe it’s just having been alive for so long, but somebody’s caught your eye,” Aunt Clem said.

“And?” I asked, wondering how Aunt Clem could tell. It wasn’t like I was wearing a neon sign, though I couldn’t pretend that Noah hadn’t been constantly in my thoughts.

I smiled when I looked at Aunt Clem, realizing I had drifted off and was no longer surprised that she’d known something was up.

She gave me a knowing smile before she answered. “I’m going to tell you to go for it. You’re young and beautiful, so why wouldn’t you?”

“So, I’m supposed to just be out there with whoever?” I asked Aunt Clem.

She shrugged. “You’re grown, so why not if you want to be? But this is more than you being out there.”

“What do you mean, Auntie?” I asked, letting out a nervous laugh.

“I mean I know you, Alex, and if somebody has your attention, he’s worth looking at, and maybe touching too,” she said with a wink.

I started to blush but didn’t deny it. Because even now, sitting here, thinking about Noah had me on edge.

“Aunt Clem, I don’t know if this is the advice the elders are supposed to give,” I said instead of acknowledging the not at all surprising direction my thoughts had taken.

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