Page 51 of On the Double

“Um…well, I clearly don’t have a set path in life. I’ve actually gone to school for most of my life. I wanted to be a Supreme Court justice, but that went by the wayside. It was too boring. And then I wanted to be a veterinarian, but I couldn’t stand the thought of working with animals who were dying. I’m fluent in three languages. I can play chess with the best of them, and…” I hesitated on the last one. “I can burp the entire alphabet.”

The last one threw him for a loop. “Seriously?”

I shrugged. “My brother used to take me to parties with him.”

He nodded almost in approval. “And the languages…”

“English, obviously, French, and Latin.”

“Nobody speaks Latin.”

“No, but I found it interesting. When I was little, I wanted to be an archaeologist.”

“And a Supreme Court justice,” he added.

“Well, in my mind, I was going to be the first female on the bench. When I found out there already was one, I was crushed.”

“You…you didn’t just find out last year, did you?”

I punched him in the shoulder, holding back my grin. “No.”

“And since you’re not going to be a justice or a veterinarian, any plans for now?”

I shook my head. “Nope. Can’t figure it out. Maybe I’ll join the circus.”

“I think they have pretty high standards.”

I raised my eyebrows at him. “I can also stand on my tiptoes while I drink an entire beer.”

“Oh, well…why wouldn’t they hire you?”

“Exactly my thoughts,” I grinned, feeling slightly more at ease now that I knew a little more about him. “So, shall we get this over with, Pookie?”

“You’re going to have to stop calling me that.”

“Whatever you say, Pookie.” I grinned and followed him over to my grandparents, who were steeped in conversation with Fox.

Oliver walked over, eyeing my new fiancé as if this was a real thing and they were actually going to be brothers. “Hey, Edu,” he said loudly. “Good to see you again, man.”

He held out his hand and Edu reciprocated. “Good to see you, too…” He narrowed his eyes at my brother and I leaned up to whisper Oliver’s name. “Seriously? Oliver? Doesn’t that sound like a cat’s name?” he hissed.

I punched him in the shoulder again. “Shut it.”

“You know, domestic violence is no laughing matter. I don’t mind calling my friend down at the police station and filing a formal complaint.”

“I’m half the size of you,” I pointed out. “I think that would only earn you a wedgie or two from your friends. Maybe even a swirly.”

“Do people still give swirlies?”

“If I was able to, I know I’d give one to my boss.”

“Well, he’s a douche,” Edu agreed.

“Are you sure you two only know each other from the checkout line?” my brother asked, looking between the two of us with a strange expression on his face.

“Of course,” I said.

“We’ve met a whole…three times.”

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