Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 91461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“What social cues did Kola miss?” I asked, girding.
“At this very moment, there is a stunning man outside who Kola invited to this party, who brought his best friend along with him so she could finally meet Kola.”
“Finally meet? Why were there air quotes around finally meet?”
“Because apparently, this man, who is also in his first year of medical school, in the program with Kola, thinks he and my brother are a thing.”
“I’m sorry?”
“His specialty is going to be plastic surgery, but he’s not gonna be the nip-tuck kind of Bel Air doctor, but instead the kind that does skin grafts on burn victims and fixes cleft palates on small children for free.”
“Ah. I see. You’re telling me he’s awesome.”
“Seems to be, yes. He would be the kind of man you would love to have your son engaged to if he wasn’t already spoken for.”
It had taken me a second to parse what she was saying. I blamed the red wine. “Oh no,” I said again, because the night was just weird.
“Oh yes. His friend’s name is Hazel, who’s in law school, by the way, and the first year’s name is Cody. The thing is, Kola already won her over because he remembered Cody saying how much Hazel loves grapefruit juice, so he made sure that Greyhounds—which I didn’t even know he knew what that was—would be one of the drinks that we could mix up at this party tonight.”
“That is thoughtful.”
“Sure is,” Hannah said cheerfully.
“And? I feel like there’s an and.”
“Well, she thinks Finn is drop-dead gorgeous and would love to get his number.”
“This is getting worse by the second.”
“She actually asked him for his number and suggested they double-date.”
I groaned.
“It’s not…great.”
“Yes, but the most important part is this—Finn’s not mad at Kola, is he?”
“He’s not mad,” she hedged. “But I think he’s thinking that Kola might have given this guy mixed signals.”
“Which he probably did, through no fault of his own.”
“Exactly. But Finn’s point is that Kola needs to be more aware of his effect on people, but I pointed out to him that there was no way in the world that could ever work.”
“It’s true,” I agreed.
“I mean, this is Kola we’re talking about. Is he supposed to become the kind of person who thinks everyone wants him? There’s no way. That’s simply not in his nature.”
“Then what’s the solution?”
“I think, much like Uncle Duncan, Kola might just need a big-ass ring.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Duncan asked.
I waved him off. “So what are Jake and Harper doing at the moment?”
“They’re explaining all the things Finn knows already, that Kola loves him and, much like Dad, doesn’t even see anybody else who––”
“What?” Sam called over.
“Shhhh,” Hannah hushed him, not even turning to look. “And they’re also explaining that this is why, years from now, when we’re in some really scary place, about to die at the hands of either murderous gun-toting locals or poisonous snakes, someone will come driving up, with serious backup, and save us, because at some point, long ago, Kola was kind to them. I have every faith that this will actually come to pass.”
“That sounds terrifying.”
“But we’ll be okay because Kola made friends.”
We were both quiet a moment.
“That doesn’t help with the situation we find ourselves in at present,” I muttered.
“No it—oh!” she exclaimed, jolting at the same time, which used to freak me out but never did anymore. When she was younger, and had an epiphany, sometimes she yelled. That still happened, but I remained calm. “Uncle Aaron,” she said, turning to him, “may I please borrow a case of Dom Pérignon if I replace it on Monday?”
“It’s your champagne for your team or your clients,” he replied, smiling. “So yes of course, but why?”
“Because Kola would never want to hurt anyone’s feelings.”
He thought a moment. “Nope, I have no idea what that means, but you do as you see fit. Also, you know you don’t have to ask to take something from your own office.”
“Yes, but transparency in all things.”
“It’s a good rule,” he stated.
She beamed at him and then looked over at the couch, moved her elfin sorceress sleeves and motioned for, I assumed, Jake. He was across the room in seconds.
“Yes, my lady?”
“I need you to keep Finn in here, and send Harper outside to keep an eye on Kola, because I’m leaving with Wick.”
“To go where? To do what?”
“I need a case of champagne from my office, and he drives like he’s trying to qualify for the Indy 500, which you know I love and appreciate.”
“Which I hate,” he told her, then closed his eyes for a second, before sighing deeply. “Ask George to bring it. He has to come by and drop off that strand of pearls for you anyway, since you have that event tomorrow at the Garfield Park Conservatory.”