Page 169 of Finance Bros

Bailey plops onto the beanbag with her phone in hand, thumbs tapping the screen. I get a ping from the group text, and I check it. She wrote:Checking in for tomorrow night. Can I get RSVPs for 6pm?

She looks at me expectantly.

“I’ll be there,” I tell her.

“Put it in writing. Do you want to make sure he’s okay or not?”

I sigh, typing out my response.

Me

I’ll be there

Miguel

All set for 6

Bailey

Mal??

Malcolm

Am I still invited?

She and I both let out simultaneous breaths. She’s the one who responds, though I wonder if it should be me to do it.

Bailey

No rules, right? We can’t do it without you.

I like her response, both on the inside and with a virtual heart in the group text. The bedroom door opens again, and this time, itisMalcolm. I stand immediately and try not to rush him. It’s only when I finally see him that I realize how much I needed to.

I take a few steps toward him as he examines the room full of people, narrowing his eyes at Calyx. “You have a lot of company,” he says.

“I texted you. And called. And went by your apartment,” Bailey says to him.

“Sorry, I was—” Mal glances at me. “At Miguel’s.”

“Why?” I ask cautiously.

“I figured someone needed to talk some sense into me.”

Bailey is still ensconced in the beanbag. “And did he?”

“I’mhere,” he says, matching her snark.

I turn to my surprise guests. To Calyx, I say, “I’ll see you at noon tomorrow.” And then Bailey. “Six. I’ll be there.”

She’s assessing Calyx. “Wanna get a drink with me?” she asks him.

He lights up. “Yeah!”

“Awesome.” She rocks herself up to standing. To me she says, “We need to get a dog.”

I glance at Mal, and he looks slightly pained at those particular words. I had a feeling he was more attached to Stephanie than he’d admit. I kind of was, too. Even Bud is currently sniffing the air for his tiny canine friend as he winds himself around Malcolm’s annoyingly bare ankles.

Calyx, as he’s leaving, drapes an arm around me, planting a kiss on my cheek. I’m pretty sure he’s meeting Malcolm’s eyeswhen he does it given the way Mal’s nostrils flare. “Noon, or I’ll be knocking down the door again.”

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