Page 96 of Lotus

“How will you transmit a request for friendship?” I realize technology has advanced a great deal since my return, but relaying mind signals seems out of the realm of possibility.

“Facebook, Oliver. You’d know what I’m talking about if you logged in more than once. All you’ve posted is an off-centered picture of a blurry raccoon.”

“I’m still getting acclimated to the camera feature.”

“You also only have two friends, and they’re both fake accounts.”

“They told me I had funds available in a deceased relative’s account that they would help me retrieve. It sounded promising.”

A sharp laugh hits me. “You didn’t even acceptmyfriend request.”

“You weren’t offering me two-million dollars.”

Another laugh that prompts my own.

Gabe is still smiling, waiting—impatiently hoping I’ll give him some sort of permission to pursue a woman who does not belong to me. “Gabe, you are welcome to contact Tabitha. She seemed a bit smitten with you, anyway.”

“Are you shitting me?”

“No. I saw her looking at you fondly, and then she blushed at the dinner table when I spoke of you.”

He claps his hands together, palms scrubbing up and down, the smile never leaving his face. He points at me before retreating from the bedroom. “You’re the man.”

Poor Tabitha.

“This is fantastic, Oliver. Just phenomenal.” Travis pulls a napkin from his shirt collar, using it to blot his mouth as he groans with satisfaction. “Did you make this garlic-butter marinade from scratch?”

“Yes, thank you. It’s a fairly simple recipe.”

Another sound of pleasure. “Fantastic,” he repeats.

Clearing the dinner table as Gabe and Travis discuss an upcoming golf retreat, I feel a vibration within my front pocket. I startle, almost dropping a dish. I hardly receive phone calls or text messages unless it’s the media attempting to set up an interview that I’m still unprepared for, or Sydney—but even she has been silent lately.

I understand, of course, but the aching void inside of me yearns to hear her voice, hold her hand, and watch her eyes light up like blue skies on ocean waves.

An electronic message greets me as I glance at the screen, and I fumble for a breath when her name stares back at me.

Sydney:I miss you. So much. I’m not mad at you, not at all, not ever. Please, let’s talk. I’m working at the club tonight, but hopefully you have some free time tomorrow. xoxo, Syd

My mouth feels dry as my eyes case the digital message about a dozen times. Tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth, air trapped in my lungs, heart swelling with hope, I turn to Gabe, who is still conversing with his father over the table. “Are you busy tonight?”

Twisting in his seat, Gabe meets my flustered stance in the center of the kitchen. He blinks twice, processing my question, his elbow hanging over the back of the chair. “Busy, as in, you want to hang out? Catch a movie or something?”

“Not exactly. I was considering venturing out to that social establishment Sydney works at…”

His eyebrows lift to his hairline. “No shit? Ready to mingle with some foxy ladies?”

I fidget at his cheeky wink. “Just one, actually.”

“She’s working tonight, isn’t she?” Gabe sighs.

“Yes.”

Travis pops a piece of chewing gum into his mouth as he rises from the dining room chair, making his way to the liquor cabinet. A baritone chuckles rumbles between us. “You know, Oliver, you’re a handsome young man. Gabe tells me you’ve been a bit gaga over that Neville girl and he’s worried you’re going to get your heart broken. There’s a whole lot of fish in the sea—maybe you should swim a little farther than the house next door.”

I’m unable to prevent the scowl I throw in Gabe’s direction, knowing he’s been discussing my romantic entanglements with his father. Gabe swirls back around in his chair, tail between his legs. With a quick clear of my throat, I finally set the dirty dishware into the sink and address my stepfather. “I appreciate your concern, but I’m very fond of this one fish in particular.”

Clinking glass sounds behind me as I switch on the faucet to rinse the plates and Travis hums a jaunty tune whilst preparing his beverage. “I understand the appeal, son.”

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