She smiles. “It’s evening. We got back here at eight thirty this morning. I slept until three thirty and I was starving for real food when I woke up, so I checked the fridge. It’s full of fresh vegetables and other stuff that wasn’t there when we left. What is this sorcery?”
“My housekeeper.” I walk over to a cabinet to get a glass.
“Nice. Well, I’m making a huge veggie stir-fry if you’re hungry.”
“I am. Thanks.”
I go over to the fridge and fill my glass from the water dispenser, drinking two full glasses before I sit down at the island.
“Am I supposed to offer to help?”
With a single note of laughter, she says, “Spoken like someone who definitely does not want to help.”
“I’m no good in the kitchen.”
She pops a broccoli floret into her mouth and stirs the food. “Okay, I have a noncooking job for you.”
“What is it?”
“Change Mr. Darcy’s litter.”
I scoff. “Not a chance in hell, Nosy.”
“I was joking. I want you to send a message to Abigail Matthews.”
“Who?”
“The law student who wants to go out with you.”
I groan, not in the mood to be fake friendly until I’ve at least eaten. A shot of whiskey would help, too.
“I’ll tell you what to write,” she says. “Find her on TikTok.”
I open the app. “Abigail Matthews?”
“Yep.”
“This is gonna be a pain in my ass.”
Josie sets a steaming plate of stir fry in front of me. “Why?”
“Because she goes by Abigail. Why not Abby? Same with Tamara. Just go by Tammy like a normal fucking person.”
Josie smiles wryly and makes a plate for herself, standing on the other side of the island to eat.
“Alright, I found her,” I say.
“Write this: Hey Abigail, it’s Dane.”
I look up at her, furrowing my brow. “It’s my account, of course it’s me.”
“So she knows it’s not from one of your people. Just write it like I’m telling you, okay?”
“Fine,” I grumble, typing out the message.
“I’ll be in Chicago in a couple of weeks for a game, want to grab some dinner?” she continues.
“Don’t ask me to use the word ‘cheers’ at the end. I’m not doing it.”