Page 77 of A Break in Communications

Veronica waved him off. “Yeah, yeah. All right, Dean, nice talking to you, enjoy the event,” she said, and I saw him pass through a good two or three stages of grief with the sudden level of rejection from Veronica. Next to me, I saw Kelcey’s expression tighten, muscles in her arms going taut, and I stepped in between them, at least figuring I could salvage five seconds of Kelcey’s life if not my own.

“Veronica—interesting seeing you here,” I said quickly. “You and our parents dropping something off before the event? I doubt you’ve started a career in specialized equipment transit logistics.”

“Nah, just looking for cute people.”

She was dressed to terrorize again, wearing a slim red dress just long enough to be tasteful, with a daring slit up the thigh, red lipstick and nail polish, high heels and everything. And she was going to have no problem finding people to hurt, including Kelcey. I took a big breath, smiling politely. “You know, this is a special kind of event that’sinvitation only,” I said, and she rolled her eyes.

“You said that about the office holiday party too, and that turned out fine. Got someone cute there too.”

You could lead a horse to water, but you couldn’t convince it not to jump in and drown, because Kelcey pushed through the group of us and came past me to face Veronica, who stopped, doing a double take. “If you’re going to compliment me,” Kelcey said, “you might as well do it to my face.”

“Okay, let’s not do this,” I said, but I was outvoted. At this point, even Berg, standing ashen-faced at the side watching, seemed to be captivated with morbid fascination.

Veronica blinked twice before she relaxed, looking Kelcey over. “Damn. I mean, if you’re dressed like that, I guess I will. You have plans tonight, or what, Kelce?”

“Veronica,” I started. “Kelcey—how about—”

Kelcey put her hands on her hips. “Dunno. What would a dumb girl like me be doing making plans?”

Veronica raised an eyebrow. “If you want me to make plans for us, I can. Dinner? Somewhere private so I don’t have to contend with an entire room of people staring at you.”

Kelcey lost her resolution for a second, hunching her shoulders with a half-stifled giggle. “You asshole,” she said, but it didn’t sound like she meant it. “You really think you can take me for dinner again?”

“Sure. You love a chase, don’t you? Sure chased me once already…”

Kelcey swayed, just a little, clearly trying her best not to be charmed. I needed to just pick up Veronica and haul her out of the building, but Mom distracted me by swatting me on the arm rapidly, eyes wide on Kelcey and Veronica.

“Anna—you didn’t tell me Veronica was—”

“Mom, you’re not supposed tobehere,” I hissed under my breath. “Please take Veronica and Dad and go—”

Kelcey’s voice cut through with, “I could go chase someone who’s not a jerk instead,” a little too playful for the kind of resistance she was supposed to be giving Veronica right now.

Veronica grinned. “Sure you could. But here you are, talking to me. You want to be the one to fix the bad girl, don’t you? With a face as pretty as yours, you might be able to pull it off.”

Berg cleared his throat. “Anna,sorry to interrupt, but would you mind—if I could talk to you for just—”

Mom was out of her fucking mind, because she shot Berg a look like she was in charge. “Michael, give us one second,” she said, her voice as stern as if she was talking to a misbehaving child. “My daughter is having an important moment.”

“Oh. Uh. Sorry.” Berg was clearly so unused to being talked to like that that he must have reverted to his childhood behavior, because he stood like a plank, arms by his sides, looking like he wasn’t sure why he was here at his own company’s event.

“An important moment she shouldn’t behaving,” I hissed at Mom, and I tried to speak to Berg, but Kelcey folded her arms and spoke.

“You sure think highly of your chances with me,” she said, and Veronica laughed.

“I’m an ambitious girl.”

Kelcey pinched her lips together, trying not to smile. “You’re a mean girl who likes to break hearts.”

Veronica winked. “I’m a girl who tried to step away but can’t help herself seeing you again.”

“Veronica.” I cut in between them, pushing through the group to interrupt, shooting Veronica a look. “Please… leave… Kelcey alone.”

Veronica laughed, stepping back a little, holding her drink up to her lips. “You’ve got your own girlfriend from the office already,” she said. “No need to be jealous. I’ll be at the reception, Kelce,” Veronica said with a wink, turning away, and she raised a hand in a wave to somebody else on her way back towards the entrance, leaving poor Kelcey watching after her like a lovesick puppy. Because of course she was. Veronica collected puppies like Cruella de Vil.

“Kelcey,” I said, pleading, turning back to her. “Please have enough self-respect not to—”

“I will,” she said, puffing her chest out. “I’m not letting her sucker me back in.”

---