Page 31 of Like It's 1999

Almost like… “Alice?”

“Yeah, sorry. I’m driving, and I dropped the phone.”

“They say that’s not safe. You should get one of those Bluetooth earpieces.”

“Ugh. Just something to lose. This damn cell phone is so tiny I can barely keep track of it.” She clears her throat. “Anyway, hello.”

“Long time no see. Or hear.” I put my own headphones on so I can get to setting up my stereo. Can’t really unpack without tuneage to work to.

“Yeah, sorry. I hope it’s okay to call you out of the blue like this.”

“Of course. It’s good to hear your voice. Did Kate give you my number?”

“I didn’t want her to know I was calling you, so I got Will to take a peek in her day planner.”

“Okay… what’s the big secret?”

“Did Kate invite you to this fundraiser she’s having?”

I glance over to the kitchenette where the glossy invitation leans against a bottle of wine on the counter. “The thing on the thirty-first?”

“Yes. On her damn tenth anniversary! What is she thinking?”

“She’s just being Kate. She probably figures she can talk people into giving more in the final hours of the year. You know, the last-minute tax deduction?—”

“Stop with the finance talk. You’re as bad as she is.”

“Guilty as charged.” All I can hear is traffic noise for a few moments, and I’m not sure if it’s outside my window or hers. This place is near the top floor but the building’s pretty close to the Mass Pike. “You there?”

“Yeah, sorry, thought I missed my exit. Hang on.” More traffic noise and more swearing. “Sorry, I’m back. Anyway, I have an idea.”

“A prank?”

“Mm, kind of. But a nice one, I think.”

“Okay.”

“But I need a co-conspirator.”

“I’m in.”

She laughs. “Just like that? You don’t need to know what you have to do?”

“Alice. ‘You had me at hello.’”

MyJerry Maguirequote is rewarded with a laugh. “Well, okay then. Here’s my idea.”

ALICE

I get to my gate in the Charlotte airport with several minutes to spare, so I indulge in my latest bad habit: calling Steve. “Hey, I have a new idea.”

“Hello to you too.”

“Sorry. Hello. How are you? Good? Good. I have an idea.”

He laughs, which sends a wrongheaded fizz right through me. Not going to fall for a married man. Did that once. Never again.

“What’s the new idea? Did you get the email I sent?” he asks.

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