Page 9 of The Flirtation
Franny went back to screaming and Jackie went into the living room. “I take it by the size of the gift that you won’t be attending the party onSaturday.”
“I’m so so sorry—something came up.” I removed six pairs of my sexiest undergarments from my panty drawer and placed them in thesuitcase.
“Something always comesup.”
“Hey man, I was just there on New Years forthree hours!” I removed the sexy undergarments from the suitcase, put them back in the drawer and packed sensible cotton underwearinstead.
“Where are you off to thistime?”
“The Bahamas. It’s anightmare.”
“I think that’s their official slogan. Come to the Bahamas—it’s your worstnightmare!”
I replaced the sensible undies with the sexy ones, and added an extra couple of pairs for good measure. “I have no idea how to pack forthis.”
“What are you so worked upabout?”
“I’m not workedup.”
“Tellme.”
“It’s nothing, shutup.”
“Tellme.”
“There’s nothing totell.”
“Tellme.”
I sighed. “Luke Mason is going to bethere.”
My sister caught her breath and her eyes widened. “Jackson—watch your sister! I’ll be in my office for five minutes!” She retreated to the bathroom and shut the door. “This is so amazing! I mean, you said you were sad because this transatlantic deal was almost wrapped up and you might not have an excuse to Skype with himanymore.”
“When did I saythat?”
“During the unbearable three hours you spent here on NewYears.”
Damn you, wine! When will you learn not to tell my sistereverything?!
“Do you have a sluttybikini?”
I was rifling through my bathroom drawer, looking for a razor, three ounce perfume, and red lipstick. “Why would I have a bikini? I haven’t taken a vacation in tenyears.”
“A tankini? Aburqini?”
“I have noiniwear of anykind.”
She waved her hand, dismissively. “You can get something at the airport. This is thrilling. Why are you so freaked out about seeing him?! He’s basically your bestfriend.”
“You’remy bestfriend.”
“I’m your sister, Ihaveto put up with you. He answers the phone when you call him at four a.m. and sends you your favorite kind of marmalade for your birthday even though you haven’t had sex withhim.”
It was true—I had once mentioned that my local British grocery store stopped carrying my favorite brand of marmalade, and a month later I came to my office on my birthday and found a beautiful gift basket filled with jars of marmalade and crumpets and English muffins. I was able to convince myself that it was a classy business gift and a tax write-off for him, but Jackie instantly proclaimed that he was in love with me or at the very least expected and deserved a picture of my boobs. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to believe, but regardless, it was incredibly sweet and thoughtful ofhim.
“You communicate with him everyday.”
“Not on weekends orholidays.”
