Page 36 of Thanks for the Memories
“That’s our boss, Carl,” I interject.
“Yeah, yeah.” She waves her hand. “Tell us what it’s like working with my little sister.”
“Yeah, I’m curious about that too,” Bethany chimes in.
“I’m sure he wants to get back to his run,” I say pointedly.
He looks at me, and his mouth curls up into a smile. “I’m actually almost finished. I’ll swing by my car and grab a shirt on my way back.”
“Excellent,” Kennedy says as she watches Jeremy take off down the path.
What just happened?Did he take my sister’s question as an invitation to join us?
“I can’t believe you work side by side with that man every day,” Bethany exclaims after he’s gone. “How do you concentrate?”
I shrug as I fumble over my words. “I guess I don’t even think about it. He’s—Jeremy.”
And that’s exactly how I felt up until a few days ago. Jeremy, my funny friend who also happens be very attractive.
“Are youclosefriends?” Bethany asks, her tone sharpening a bit.
“I—sort of, but not like you think. I mean, we workcloselywith each other because we both do marketing.”
“I like him,” Kennedy says. “And he has a nickname for you. Very telling.”
Ah … the stupid nickname. First Amanda and now her.
“Does he have a nickname? You should call him Mr. Abs,” Bethany suggests.
I shake my head. “No way. That’ll go straight to his head, and I’ll have to work with his already enormous ego day in and day out.”
“Reagan likes Jeremy,” Bethany sings teasingly.
Seriously? Are we suddenly back in elementary school? Is she going to pass me a note that asks me to check a box yes or no?
“I think he’s better looking than the chef,” Kennedy blurts out.
I feel all the color drain from my face. Bethany’s eyes grow wide as she looks back and forth between my sister and me.
“Wait. Are you talking about Dante?”
Say something, Reagan, quick.
“Yes. Kennedy is constantly asking about Dante and me,” I shoot her a warning glance. “I’ve told her we’ve all been friends for years.”
This isn’t a lie. Hopefully my sister picks up on my hints.
I can practically see the lightbulb come on over Kennedy’s head.
“Well, he’s single, you’re single, and you have a history. It’s a valid question.”
“Reagan used to have a massive crush on Dante, but that’s ancient history,” Bethany says, taking a mirror out of her handbag. She fixes her hair and puckers her lips. It doesn’t take a genius to know she’s checking herself because Jeremy’s coming back. “Although everyone had a crush on Dante—he was cute, sweet, and he could cook.”
She’s right, and Dante still has all of those qualities, which is probably why I’m still so attracted to him.
I listen as my sister and Bethany chat about Dante’s restaurant.I’m trying to stay engaged in the conversation, but my mind is all over the place. Actually, it’s in two places—on Dante and now in this weird twist of events with Jeremy.
Speaking of which,Mr. Absreturns in just the nick of time to join in the conversation about Golden.
