Page 96 of Seven Days in June

With that, Shane wrapped an arm around her shoulders and kissed her temple. Preening, she linked her hand in his. They slotted together perfectly, like two puzzle pieces.

Cece’s gasp was heard round the world.Et voilà, the Black book world’s new prom king and queen were crowned. She’d gotten her moment!

She almost burst into applause.

Downstairs, Audre was bored. She was stuck in a big, AC-frigid bedroom with eight children—all of whom were under six years old. They were watchingThe Lego Movieas if it were actually compelling. As if it were somethinggood, likeMidsommar.

Audre couldn’t relate to small children (not even when she was one). Plus, a casual study of the demo showed that they all had mental illnesses. Audre had already diagnosed a handful of kids with OCD, ADD, and attachment disorder. The worst was a five-year-old named Otis. Total menace. Dressed like a tiny rapper in skinny jeans and Jordans, he had put a trash bin up on the dresser and was repeatedly dunking with a kiddie basketball. After every couple of dunks, he’d bust out in an aggressive Milly Rock. And then he’d moon the room.

If these little psychos are inheriting the world, thought Audre,the future does not look promising.

The au pair, Lumusi, had fallen asleep in an uncomfortable-looking accent chair twenty minutes ago—leaving Audre effectively in charge of this preschool.Rude.She hadn’t come to this party to be an unpaid babysitter. In fact, she’d been under the impression that she’d get to be a real party guest! Sipping mocktails on Auntie Cece and Uncle Ken’s terrace while chatting with the cultural elite about politics, art, and world events!

Auntie Cece’s penthouse was Audre’s second home. She shouldn’t have to stay hidden downstairs. She could hear the twinkly, forbidden sounds of grown-up mirth and merriment coming from upstairs—and she’d never experienced such FOMO.

She huffed as Otis ran around in circles, bare-assed. She refused to waste her brain cells and an adorable outfit (a Free People knit minidress) on this upscale Gymboree.

I’m outta here, Audre thought, and headed upstairs.

Chapter 23

That Family Feeling

“EVA MERCY!”

Cece rushed over to her wall-to-wall bookcase, where her dear friend was canoodling with her unofficial guest of honor. “There you are,” she trilled. “There’s someone I’d love you to meet.”

“Right now? Why so urgent?” Eva didn’t feel like meeting anyone. Really, she didn’t feel like doing anything not involving this man and his pheromones.

“Networking is always urgent.” Cece linked her arm with Shane’s and fixed him with a faux cold stare. “Shane.”

“Cece.”

“I’m so mad at you.”

“You’re always mad at me.” Shane’s expression was pure mischief. “What’d I do now?”

“I discovered you.I gave you life.And never once did you reveal that you knew my Eva in high school.”

Eva barely heard this. She was squinting at a cater waitress with a coppery-red bob, who was offering a tray of crab cakes to a nearby couple. The waitress was gawking at her and Shane. Confused, Eva gave her a vague wave. Did she know that woman? She couldn’t place her.

“…and yes, you do have Sebastian’s eyes,” rambled Cece. “Or he has yours, rather. But why would I ever think she’d based him onyou? It’s so far-fetched. Besides, Black men with hazel eyes aren’t that uncommon.” She paused. “Actually, I can’t think of a man. But Regina King has them.”

The waitress was hovering. Cece tapped her shoulder and cleared her throat loudly. With a little jump, the waitress scurried off. Eva squinted, trying to get a good glimpse of her face.

“My bad, Cece—it just never came up.”

“Spare me!”

“No, it’s true,” he laughed, and it was a pure, easy sound. Cece had never seen him so…unencumbered. What had Eva done to him? “High school was hell. Why talk about it?”

“Now is so much better,” said Eva.

“Yeah,” he said.

“Yeah.” She smiled.

Shane kissed her on the mouth with a loud smack. Because he could.

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