Page 81 of The Checklist
“Which one?”
“Better question: Why do you know so many?”
Dylan looked over at her sister, who met her gaze with benign kindness etched on her face.
“Nicolas.”
“I really have.” Dylan sighed, sinking back into herself. When Neale didn’t fill the space, Dylan felt her thoughts slide out of her mouth. “The problem wasn’t really the suit. It was that his personality was his suit. A gray attempt at purchasing class.”
“Dylan, that was very biting of you. I’m proud.”
“Thanks. I wish I could say it was intentional.”
“Okay, but here’s point number two, which is out of order and wasn’t actually a point I was going to make, but now seems like the time for hard truths.” Neale scowled at her own digression, shook her head, and continued. “Anyway. You need to take credit where it’s due. The second suit guy. Where the hell is he? You should have a whole team for this job. Instead he sent you and some vague promises about turning up. You deserve credit for all of the good stuff you did at Technocore.”
“Easy for you to say.”
“Stop it. You being good at your job doesn’t make you responsible for Jason being bad at his,” Neale said.
“Jared. But yeah.”
Neale shrugged at his name as if it were an unimportant detail. “Honestly, just because I don’t get your job doesn’t mean I can’t tell you’re good at it. If Kaplan can’t see that, do you really want to make partner there?”
“You’re right.”
“Damn right I’m right.” Neale grinned. “Tell me when I’ve been wrong?” Dylan opened her mouth to start a list, but Neale held up a hand. “Rhetorical question.”
Dylan smiled, feeling the dried tears on her cheeks stretch and crack with the unfamiliar movement. “Anything else?”
“What?” Neale asked, staring at a stain on the ceiling.
“You said that was point two. Are there more?”
“You know there is. Don’t play.”
Dylan felt her neck tighten again. She had been hoping to avoid a discussion where her faults were on greater display.
“Standing up your work friends, even when you are terrifically surprise busy, isn’t cool. But the real question is, Why did you make those promises in the first place?”
“I just wanted to keep a lid on everything. Keep people happy. That’s my job.”
“Bull. Your job was to improve Technocore’s image and operations. How does overpromising and underdelivering serve that goal?”
“Okay, enough with the tough questions. Are you going to be a consultant now?” Dylan arched an eyebrow at her sister.
“It looks like Kaplan may be hiring.”
“Ouch.” Dylan flinched.
“All right, that was mean. I’m sorry, Dylan. Too much tough love?” Neale leaned her forehead on her sister’s shoulder, as if the closeness of the gesture would take the sting out of her words.
“I just finished snotting everywhere. Maybe proceed with caution for another fifteen minutes?”
“All I’m trying to say is that you wanted to fix things so badly you made it worse. It’s okay to say no. Especially when the request is unrealistic given the other variables.”
“God, you sound like me at work.”
“No need to sling insults. You know how I feel about nine-to-five.” Neale giggled, lifting her head off Dylan’s shoulder to look at her sister. “Ready for the superhard stuff?”
