Page 35 of Simply Irresistible
“I wish you’d let Preston help you.”
“Han-”
“I know, I know. You don’t want any help. But I can tell you’re not happy and it’s in my nature to fix that. I can’t help it.”
“You’re a good sister.”
“I’m yourbestsister.”
“You’re my only sister.”
She balled up her napkin and threw it at me. Despite the Town Car and driver waiting outside the restaurant, the powder blue Chanel suit with the Louboutin shoes, and all the matching Tiffany jewelry, my sister was still my sister. She was still that awkward tomboy I grew up with.
And she still couldn’t throw to save her life; the napkin missed my face by a foot. Hannah blushed and muttered a quiet apology to the woman at the table beside us whose shoulder it bounced off.
“Quit messing around,” I playfully scolded, laughing and pointing a stern finger at her.
“You look just like Dad when you do that.”
I stopped laughing, took a sip of my drink.
“Sorry, Ty.”
“Don’t be.” I looked like my father. Nothing to be ashamed of.
“I know-”
“It’s fine, Han.” I looked at my watch. “I have to get back to work.”
“No, you don’t. Roger isn’t even there.”
“I still have work to do,” I told her, taking cash out of my wallet for a tip.
“I know the owner,” she joked.
I stood and walked to her side of the table, giving her a kiss on the head. “I’ll see you for dinner this weekend.”
“Bring Melanie. She’s your meal ticket,” Hannah warned with a smile.
“I will.” I left the restaurant and nodded to Hannah’s driver as I passed by. It was a short walk back to the office, and I needed to feel the crisp, cold air.
I hoped I would be bringing Melanie to dinner on Sunday, but I’d talked to her for all of thirty minutes this week and it was already Thursday. The few texts I sent went unanswered for hours. Two of the three phone calls we had were so late, she’d fallen asleep on the phone. I may have stayed on the line and listened to her soft breathing for a few seconds before hanging up. Creepy as that may be, the truth was I missed her. I missed her a lot. She’d become such a large part of my life in such a short period of time. She was having such a great time, too, doing what she was doing. It stung because she was having that fun without me, and she didn’t seem to mind.
Hannah was right. Iwasbeing a baby.
I pulled out my phone and fired off a quick text, surprised when she replied right away.
Tyler: I hope you are having a good day.
Melanie: I’m having the best day.
Tyler: That’s great, Spice. Tell me about it over dinner this weekend?
Melanie: I wish I could, but Brianna has us booked all through next week. Raincheck?
Tyler: Sure.
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