Page 22 of How Dare You
Bea stays behind with Sadie as Allie and I walk back into the charity event together.
“Fuck that guy, for real,” Allie says, not waiting until we’re out of earshot.
“I loathe him,” I agree.
We pass by the silent auction tables where Rhett is inspecting one of the entries with his lean, muscular back toward us. His sun-streaked hair hits just above the collar of his shirt, the tan skin of his neck peeking through between the strands. In one slick motion, he flicks the pen he’s holding around his fingers before bringing it down on the paper to write a bid.
“What were you two talking about?” Allie asks at a volume no one could miss, nodding toward Rhett as he drops an unmarked envelope into an acrylic box with a slitted top.
“Work,” I reply with a distilled version of the truth.
“That’s it?” she asks, poking me playfully with her elbow.
“He likes to pester me.”
Allie turns to face me as we approach the elaborate display of hors d’oeuvres set out on the custom tables crafted by Rhett at a level no one else in town could have pulled off. “Does it count as pestering if you love it?”
“I don’t love it.” My voice comes out unconvincing.
“Sure, you don’t,” Allie laughs, pulling a compostable bamboo plate from a tidy stack. “I meant what I said before, by the way; I think you’re working too hard.”
“Sometimes that’s the only option.” Between her, Bea, and even Sadie, I’m getting the message loud and clear. They don’t understand that focusing on work allows me freedom. My life is changing around me, Allie starting a new business and moving in with Luke, Sadie moving in with me. No matter how happy I am about the changes, change in general makes me uneasy. Friday West, the quality of my work—those are things I can control. I’m most comfortable when I’m buried deep in work.
“Remember last year when you made me take a few days off?” Allie asks, stacking her plate high with carb-filled appetizers.
At the time, getting Allie to commit to seventy-two hours off work didn’t feel like enough. She was about to snap. Now, the idea that I might take that same amount of time off is unfathomable. “It was a fun weekend,” I answer.
“I might have to force you to take a break soon, too, Dev. I’m starting to get worried.”
“Your birthday present came in today.” I change the subject to something I know she can’t resist. Her birthday was last week, and the custom charm necklace I ordered was delayed in shipping.
Allie narrows her eyes, her round cheeks filling out her face in an almost comical version of a glare. “I see what you’re trying to do. This isn’t the last of this conversation.”
“You aren’t curious about your present?” I ask.
“Fine, but we’re coming back to this.” She shakes her head. “You do always get me the best things,” she says, reaching across the table for soft pretzel bites to add to Sadie’s plate. “And I know you helped Luke.” She looks to me for confirmation, but I keep my face blank. “He got me way too many things, and I can believe he found most of them on his own, but there’s no way he’d know where to find me a dress I liked that much.”
“You deserve to be spoiled,” I say, filling a large cup of water from a curved glass dispenser.
“Couldn’t agree more,” Allie’s boyfriend says, wrapping an arm around her waist and kissing her forehead. “I need to borrow you, sweetheart.” He tilts his bearded jaw toward the auction tables. “It’s time to close the auction.”
Allie pulls my wrist up to check my watch, making me smile. She’s never worn her own. “Oh, shit! I’m late.” When I move to help, Allie scolds me, “Nope! You need to enjoy yourself.”
I take the alcohol-soaking snacks from Allie. “I’ll see if I can retrieve Sadie and Bea.”
“Okay! We’ll be doing the announcements in five minutes,” Allie says. Luke holds up two flat hands behind her, mouthing, ten Allie’s been my best friend since we were kids. I know when she says five, she means ten or fifteen. It’s endearing, if not slightly irritating, to see him figuring out her patterns too. I give him a short nod of acknowledgment and walk back to find Sadie and Bea.
Thankfully, Sadie’s quick to finish the glass of water I brought her and starts on the snacks with enthusiasm. I’m happy to hold her hair back when she needs me, but with the Azul Lounge meeting in the morning, I’d rather not spend my evening that way. After a final pep talk and some help with touch-ups, Bea convinces her to leave the office with the temptation of meeting all the dogs next door.
“If you were going to take one home, which would it be?” Sadie asks, staring longingly through the windowed wall.
“That’s a dangerous game, Sade.” I shake my head.
Sadie points a cake pop accusingly toward my nose, “You’re no fun.” She swivels to her other side where Bea stands. “How about you? Hypothetically, which dog would you take home?”
They look through the glass wall, discussing the perceived personalities and particularly adorable eyes, ears, and paws of each prospective adoptee.
Bea points through the window to a fluffy white dog, wagging its tail and pouncing on a rubber toy. “That magnificent little dandelion of energy. That’s the one I’d want.”