Page 7 of The Austen Escape
I’m in if the offer stands. Thanks for invite. Send me details and let’s get together this weekend.
“Happy now?” I dropped my phone back into my bag. “Or do you have more surprises? Because it’s been a big day and I’m not sure I can handle any more tonight.”
“You need more sleep.” He laid down his menu.
I laughed. A smile and sleep were Dad’s answers to everything—and he was probably right. “What are you ordering?”
He dropped his eyes. “Chiles rellenos.”
Chapter 4
Ipushed my way through Crow Bar’s Friday throng to find Isabel seated, drink in hand, with an empty stool beside her. She’d texted back during Dad’s trés lechés cake that her weekend was packed and tonight was her only chance to meet. She’d wanted HandleBar; I was committed to Crow Bar. She only had fifteen minutes to spare; I couldn’t change my plans. She would try to make it work; I would hurry.
“I’m sorry I’m late. Dad had a new gizmo to shove into my car, then he wanted to see the bats fly out from the bridge tonight. They’ll migrate soon.”
“They’re still doing that?” Isabel pushed off the stool and dodged her head from side to side for her signature double air kiss. On any other Texan the move would seem pretentious, but with Isabel it was just what she did.
“I think it’s hard to get a couple million Mexican free-tailed bats to do anything different. It’s kinda their thing.”
She pushed at the empty stool beside her and glanced down the bar. “I wasn’t going to be able to hold this much longer. Do you know how many guys asked to sit here?”
“Five? Seven?”
“Ha-ha.” She lifted my low ponytail and inspected it. “Did you do something with your hair? It’s different. I love the colors.”
I leaned back to draw it from her fingers. “Nothing new. It’s the usual summer highlights that haven’t faded yet. But you—”
“What do you think?” She pulled a chunk of black curls forward. “It’s a little dark, isn’t it? My colorist says it’s very in, matte black, no variation whatsoever, but I’m not sure.” She widened her eyes.
“It’s dramatic, but good. I like it.”
She twirled the section of hair. “You know me, I don’t really care what it looks like as long as it’s not dreadful, but he was so set on it.”
I dropped onto the stool. “What are you drinking?”
She tapped the base of her martini glass. The liquid inside was clear with bright green flecks and a dark berry resting on the bottom. It looked like fall, but not quite Christmas.
“The guys at the end of the bar, the blond and the stocky one in the suit, ordered this for me. They wanted your stool. I suspect they thought this would get it for them.” She slid it away from me. “I’d share, but the green flecks are cilantro. You hate the stuff.” She stretched up and waved at the bartender.
“I don’t hate cilantro.” I leaned around her. “It just tastes like soap.”
She blocked my view. “Don’t look at them, it’ll only encourage them. Here...” She twirled a finger at the bartender, now standing in front of us. “Hang on, someone’s calling. Order while I get this.”
Isabel pulled her phone out of her bag. I ordered a glass of Prosecco.
“TCG.” Her voice arced, high and flirtatious. “How’s your Friday?... I can’t tonight. I’m out with SK.”
SK. I hadn’t heard that nickname in a long time. So long, I’d almost forgotten it. Part of me was surprised Isabel still used it, another part surprised it still hurt.
“I’ll call you when I get home later?... Maybe...” She turned her wrist, checking her silver-and-diamond watch. “Sure... I’m actually near there... See you later.” She tapped off the phone and laid it on the polished wood between us.
“You call him TCG to his face?”
“Not like that. Never. He saw my contacts list once and I came up with ‘Tall Consultant Guy’ on the fly.” Her fingers flicked air quotes before she reached for her drink again. “He loves it.”
Isabel’s nicknames. Whenever anyone got one, they felt special—initiated into an exclusive club. She fed the image by keeping the translations tightly held secrets, objects of curiosity and mystery. I’d discovered mine years ago and TCG’s more recently, by accident.
“You’re seeing him tonight? Did you upgrade him?”
