Page 145 of Ice Mechanic

I shake my head and lug the suitcases into the trunk myself.

Dad and April spend so long admiring and discussing the car that an airport traffic officer threatens dad with a ticket if he doesn’t get moving.

On the freeway, the two continue chatting excitedly. I can’t even get a word in. It continues all the way through lunch on the rooftop of a five-star hotelandwhen dad invites April over to view the rest of his fleet.

My sister is at the house when we arrive, and I’m relieved to see her—if only to remind myself that not everyone in the world speaks in horsepower and car lingo.

Dad quickly makes the introductions but leaves no time for my sister to edge in and take April from him.

“This way, April,” dad urges, leading her down to our third garage where we keep the ‘just for Sunday drives’ vehicles. The two soon disappear, their conversation overlapping in a noisy clamor.

I patter to the kitchen, smiling.

My sister is there, wearing a fancy red dress.

“Your girlfriend’s been kidnaped,” she says dryly, pouring herself a glass of wine.

I shake my head when she offers to pour one for me. “Did you see how April skipped behind him? She’s a willing participant.”

My sister sips and then looks at me thoughtfully. “She’s cute. A little rough around the edges but more sincere than any girl you’ve been photographed with.”

“What do you mean by rough around the edges?”

“You know…” she lifts her fingers.

“I really don’t.”

“It doesn’t matter what I think about her. What doyouthink about her?”

I don’t hesitate to share because talking about April is my second favorite thing. Talking to and holding April is my number one—of course. “She’s amazing. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted. Sometimes, I look at her and she’s looking back at me with those eyes, and I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.”

“Ew. Gross. I’ve never seen you so in love.”

“Get used to it, sissy. April’s not going anywhere.”

She peers at me over the rim of her glass. “Did you really mean all those things you said in the press conference?”

“I did.”

“Does she feel the same?”

I pause. “April’s not someone who makes hasty decisions. We’re both taking this seriously.”

My sister snorts. “So she’s not as crazy about you as you are about her.”

“I’m working on getting her there.”

“Mom won’t help your cause. She doesn’t like any of this.”

“I know.”

“She’s decided to pretend that you didn’t say what you said. That’s why she’s not here right now.”

“I know that too.”

My sister stares at me. “What else do you know?”

“I know she’ll have her claws out at the gala tonight.”

---