Page 20 of Rat

“Not when he’s undercover. What’s happened? Are you okay?”

Rory held his side. “I’m fine.”

“You said you wouldn’t be able to speak to me, possibly for nine months.”

Rory snorted. “I remember, you gave me hell about it. But turns out, there might be a way that I can call you.”

“Seriously? That’s not going to put you in danger, right?”

“No. It’s all good.”

“Phew.” Erica chuckled. “So…how’s it going? You were super shady with the details.”

Rory glanced at a glaring Morris.

“I can’t talk about it. You…you tell me what you’ve been up to.”

“The same old, work, home, repeat. Nothing exciting, not like you.”

Rory swallowed hard. “It’s not been that exciting if I’m honest.”

“Dad would be super proud of you.”

“I’m not sure—”

“He would, Rory. Don’t ever doubt that.”

“Any…dates planned?”

Erica laughed down the phone. “Deflecting, but I’ll allow it, and as it so happens, Stacy and I are going to try out speed dating.”

“Speed dating?”

“You get two minutes with each suitor to see if there’s a sexual connection.”

“Urgh, Erica.” Rory grimaced.

“What?” She snorted. “Does it make you uncomfortable hearing your big sister discussingsexual connections?”

“Yes, it does actually.”

“What if I strike up a sexual connection with two men on the same night?” she said. “Now wouldn’t that be scandalous?”

“You’re terrible.”

“Yep.”

“As long as you don’t end up with someone like Craig… He was horrible.”

“He wasn’t that bad—”

“He used to pick his nose and wipe it on the sofa.”

Erica laughed. “Okay, so that was a bad point about him—”

“And he never paid his share of the takeaway yet ate more than anyone.”

“Yeah, okay, he could be selfish.”

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