Page 285 of The First Time
I relax into my seat.
This almost feels like a normal dinner.
Blake turns his attention to Lizzy. "Kat tells me you're a programmer."
"Nothing of your caliber, but yes," she says.
"What languages?" Blake asks.
"Work at dinner?" Declan asks. "You have more game than that, Sterling."
"It's fine." This is one time I'm happy to suffer boredom. I want Lizzy and Blake connecting. I want her on board with this plan instead of tolerating it.
"I mostly do Java and Python," Lizzy says. "But I'm learning C++."
Blake leans over, unzips a bag, pulls out a laptop, and sets it on the table. "You want to see any of the Sterling Tech code?"
Her eyes go wide. "Uh, yeah. If you're sure that's okay."
"We'll call it a family secret," he says.
She nearly jumps out of her chair and kneels next to the laptop. "The chat bot has always been my favorite thing."
"Kat told me you're interested in A.I."
"That's like saying a fish is interested in swimming."
Blake smiles.
I melt.
* * *
Programming talk slows to a minimum.Blake offers Lizzy an internship for next summer. Declan matches the offer. It takes everything I have not to throw my drink on the floor and screamno way in hell is my sister working with a flirting player, but I manage to keep my mouth shut. The guy is nice. Flirting isn't a crime.
It's a nice dinner. Blake and Lizzy actually seem friendly. And the way he kisses me goodnight… I can feel the affection in it. Some of it is real. He does care about me.
Lizzy waits until we're seated on the subway to talk. She shifts in her seat, still bouncing from her caffeine high.
"I can see why you like him." She takes a slow breath. "But you have to be careful. He'll rip your heart out like it's nothing."
