Page 70 of Best Frenemies

She nods. “A writer and an anesthesiologist.”

“Wait… Are you saying your sister would come in and speak?” I can hear my own volume rising exponentially.

“It’s for sure happening on April twenty-second?” Sammy asks, pointing to the flyer.

I nod.Not that Mack knows that’s the date I chose yet.

“I’ll double-check the date with her, but I know she’d love to. Though, I should note that she has a medical condition that involves a service dog. That’s not a problem, is it?”

Not only would I get to meet Brooke Baker, but I’d also have two speakers lined up? This is the best damn news I’ve heard all week.

“Of course not!” I’m nodding like I’m an actual bobblehead toy you get at a baseball game. “I honestly think that would be a great learning lesson for our students.”

“And the anesthesiologist specializes in pediatrics. So, he’s great with kids, and I’m sure he’ll know just what to talk about to keep them entertained.”

“That’s perfect,” I respond, and I find myself leaning forward to hug her. “Seriously. Thank you. You have no idea how much you’re helping me out, Sammy.”

She hugs me back, but she also laughs. “Oh, trust me, with all of the trouble Seth has caused this year, I am the one who owes you.”

Mack

The hallways are empty and quiet as I walk from the front office to the auditorium. It’s a quarter till four, and pretty much everyone has left the building for the day. There may be a few cleaning staff left in the classrooms, but by and large, the school is abandoned.

A perfect situation, if you ask me, for my little “emergency meeting” with Katy.

I haven’t had any one-on-one time with Katy since I dropped her off at her apartment on Sunday night, and despite my attempts to dispatch a meetup via text, I still don’t know when this unfortunate stretch is going to come to a natural end.

So, instead, I’m ending it myself with a little white lie about an emergency with Career Day. As if that could even be a thing?

My in-person flirting has been more successful than my texts, as her scowls have been half-assed at best, and on more than a few occasions, I’ve even gotten secret smiles and laughs out of her.

It’s a far cry from the way things used to be, back when she hated my fucking guts, and it’s only emboldened me further in my pursuit of her.

I step through the doors of the auditorium and note there’s only one light on beside the stage. The room looks massive when it’s this dark, and my footsteps echo off the walls as I make my way up the tiled center aisle and find a seat near the front.

I pull my phone out of my back pocket to check the time. The screen showcases 3:55 p.m., along with a few missed text notifications. With five minutes to spare until Katy is supposed to meet me here, I decide to open up my inbox and tap the first unread message.

Kai: A good buddy of mine owns a motocross track about forty minutes outside the city. Even has two bikes we can borrow. Want to put your money where your cocky mouth is, City Boy, and have a little race when I’m in New York at the end of April?

Yes, I’m still text buddies with Katy’s dad. Two days ago, we had a banter-filled back-and-forth about motocross racing, and I might’ve told him I could take him.

Me: Bring it, Old Man. Name the time and place, and I’ll be there.

Frankly, my motocross experience is minimal at best, and I’m ninety-nine percent sure Kai will kick my ass. The man is a retired professional, for fuck’s sake.

But I’ve never been one to back down from a challenge.

Kai: HA. I knew I liked you, kid.

I tap the screen into the next missed message in my inbox and find a text from my big motherfucker of a cousin.

Thatch: Investor meeting. Next Friday at 4 p.m. My Manhattan office.

Me: I’ll be there.

Thatch: Your ass better be. I’ve already had to reschedule this fucker twice.

Me: Technically, I was ready and able to be there for both meetings. The first time, you told me to stay in Florida because of something you read in a book. Monday, you didn’t even give me a reason.

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