Page 84 of About Last Night

Greta holds her finger up. “I’m not done.”

“Should I sit back down?”

“Probably.”

I sit on the couch and angle myself toward my sister.

“I want you back in the office,” she says.

I expected Greta to give me a spiel about my responsibilities, setting an example for the other employees, and showing Audrey that she hadn’t crushed me. I absolutely did not expect her to lead with this. I’m too stunned to speak, but Greta doesn’t give me much time to, anyway, before barreling on.

“I miss having you around. You bring a needed energy to Fourteener Sports. Willa makes up for it a bit, but she’s a contractor and will be leaving in a few months. And, she’s not family.” Greta swallows, takes a drink of her beer, and realizes it’s empty. “Maybe I will take another one.” Her voice is a little raspy.

I rise without a word, get us two fresh beers, and return.

Greta takes a long drink and pauses, I think, to gather her thoughts. Instead, she hits her chest lightly with her fist and lets out one of the loudest burps I’ve ever heard. Her eyes are wide when she looks at me. “Sorry.”

I can’t help it, I fall over laughing onto my stupidly expensive, decadently comfortable couch.

“If you tell a soul about that I will deny it,” she says.

I’m not looking at her but I hear the laughter in her voice. I sit back up, and see Greta grinning, with a slight blush on her face.

“Oh, you know I’m going to break that story out when you least expect it.”

She rolls her eyes, but she’s still grinning. “I’m sure you will pick the worst possible moment.”

“Absolutely. What are little sisters for?”

Greta shakes her head, takes another drink. “I’ve hired a Marketing and PR firm to take advantage of this whole Fortune magazine thing, and I want you involved in the development of our strategy, since you’re one half of the new face of Fourteener Sports.”

“Who’s the other? Ned?”

“Yes. Absolutely.” She reaches out and touches my leg. “You’re doing a great job with the adventure division, working from home and on the road. Which is a little surprising, considering your Instagram.” She raises an eyebrow.

“I’ve been wondering when you’d mention that.”

Greta shrugs. “You’ve been doing your job so there wasn’t a point, but I am curious. Are you getting any sleep at all?”

“Yeah, about that. They’re all strangers.”

Greta doesn’t react for a beat. “Aren’t they always?”

“OK, fair. But, um, I don’t sleep with them. Not lately. The women. The strangers. I ask them to take a photo with me, buy them a drink, chat a little, maybe, then send them on their way.”

Greta furrows her brow then laughs. “What? Why?”

“I’m not interested.”

“Did Audrey’s rejection turn you straight?”

“God, no. Gross. I’ll go out, have a beer or two then go back wherever I’m staying.”

“You’re trying to make Audrey jealous.”

I blush to my roots. “I wasn’t at first. I was really trying to move on. But I just…” None of them were Audrey, I think. They didn’t feel like her or sound like her when I touched them. They didn’t look at me like Audrey did, either. Remembering the way Audrey looked at me is what was, and is, most confusing. Not only when we were making love, but when I would catch her at random times during the day. There was always such…the stupid romantic part of me thought love, but now I don’t know what to call it. Those expressions are what torture me the most.

“Toni?” Greta says softly.

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