Page 13 of Spike

Gemma gasped.“Christine Esther Mitchell, youliedto your mother?”

“I did.” I bit mylip. “I’m going to hell.”

“I don’t knowabout hell, but you’re at least gonna do some hard time at the DMV.”

I groaned.

“Did you lie toher face or over text?”

I dropped my eyesto the table. “Text.”

I lived in the convertedapartment above my parents’ garage. It was somewhat of a compromise they madeto give me a little bit of freedom, and besides, with school, I couldn’t affordrent in Portland, so now that I’d been working and saving for a little while, Ihoped to move fully out within the year.

Gemma nodded to myglass. “Drink more and you won’t care.”

I chuckled,finishing off myfirstmimosa.

“You know, yourbrother’s working at a new shop that’s not far from here,” Gemma said,casually.

“I didnotknowthat. How do you?”

She grinned herevilest grin. “I stalk his Zippypics account.”

“When will yourgross obsession with my brother end?”

“When we’remarried with three kids and five dogs and live in a bed and breakfast inside abasic cable Christmas movie, where I cook pancakes in an all-white kitchenwhile he rams me proper hard from behind.”

“Oh my word,you’re insane. Jens isn’t ready to settle down. I don’t know if he ever willbe.”

Gemma shrugged. “Istill think we should go see him after brunch.”

“You think weshould see Jensoneveryday.”

She rolled hereyes. “Not every day, but we’re right down the road from the shop, so let’s go.Maybe I’ll get another tattoo.”

“If you want Jens,you’ll need to plan a few months ahead,” I reminded her.

“Well, then, wecan check out the shop and I’ll make an appointment.”

I smiled. “Okay,we’ll go. Just no pictures and I need to be back before their lunch is over. IfMom and Dad find out I lied, I…”

“You’ll what?”Gemma challenged. “Die? Get smoted? What?”

“Smoted isn’t aword.”

“Well, it shouldbe.”

I laughed. “Yes,yes, it should.”

Our server arrivedand set the bill on the table which Gemma snatched right up.

“Hey,” I groundout. “It’s my turn to pay.”

“Oops, too slow.”She handed her credit card to the man and he walked away.

What a lot ofpeople didn’t know was that Gemma had money. Like, gazillions. At twenty-three,she was one of the youngest multi-millionaires in the world, having held thetitle since she was eighteen. Trust fund baby, and an honest to goodness ‘lady’to boot.

Once the bill waspaid, we headed down Mississippi toward Jenson’s shop. Since we were barely ablock away, we walked.

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