Page 87 of The Love Wager

Jack:Do you want any edibles?

Hallie:Baby, I’m a shit show on my own. I don’t need help.

Jack:Baby?

Hallie:Weird, sorry, that came out naturally and I’m not being sarcastic.

Jack:Does that mean I can use a pet name for you?

Hallie:Like what?

Jack:Umm... sunshine?

Hallie:No

Jack:Punkin?

Hallie:That’s offensive to redheads.

Jack:My apologies. Um... how about Shortcakes?

Hallie:That’s so Fonzie.

Hallie:OKAY. The reason I was texting was to let you know that I’m heading to the salon, and then we’re getting our nails done and having a special bridal party luncheon.

Jack:When will you be back, Pudding Pop?

Hallie:Probably won’t be, Numb Nuts. Are you okay meeting me at the wedding?

Jack:Of course.

Hallie threw herself into bridal party mania, opting to be the excitedly enthusiastic sister as opposed to the cynical dick she’d been about the wedding thus far. She got her nails done, got a blowout, and pretended a chicken salad was the most delicious meal she’d ever had.

At lunch, her mother waved her over to where she was animatedly chatting with two of Hallie’s aunts.

“Hey,” she said, feeling a little nervous as the trio smiled at her in a weird way.

“Alma has a question about your boyfriend,” her mother said, gesturing toward Hallie’s tiny aunt with flame-red hair.

Uh-oh.Hallie gave a polite smile and said, “Yes?”

“Did he really design the Larsson Center in Zurich?”

“What?” She looked at her senior aunt and had no idea what the woman was talking about. “Zurich, as in Switzerland?”

“Well, of course, Hal,” Hallie’s mother said, looking irritated. “What other Zurich is there?”

“Well, I’m sure there’s probably a Zurich, Indiana, or Zurich, South Dakota, somewhere,” she said, trying to figure out where this Jack information was coming from.

“Uncle Bob was talking to Jack about his job, and after he said he works for Sullivan Design, well, your uncle googled him.”

“He googles everyone,” Hallie’s mom said, and her two aunts nodded in agreement.

“He really does.”

“It’s a problem.”

Hallie said, “Okay... so...?”

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