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“If she’s a fraction as great as you keep saying she is, then I’m sure we’ll like her, too, man,” I say. “Don’t worry too much about it.”
“Right.” He nods. “You’re right. It’ll be fine.”
“It’ll be fine,” I repeat, mostly to myself.
“Tonight’s not about me, anyway. It’s about her. It’s about Heidi. It’s my little sister’s birthday.”
I turn away from the mirror, finally satisfied with my appearance. “That’s right,” I say with a nod. “Speaking of, is everything in place?”
“Everything is in place.”
“Everything?” I repeat.
“The hand-drawn map you gave me was a little dorky, but yeah.” He smiles. “Everything.”
“Thanks for doing that for me, man,” I say. “I would have set it up myself, but?—”
“But Nora’s going on maternity leave soon, and you were stuck at the office because you’re learning how to fill her glorious Jimmy Choos,” he says. “Yeah, I know. Gloat more about how a billionaire is leaving you in charge of her empire for months.”
I laugh. “You think I can pull off Jimmy Choos?”
“You’ve got the calves for it, sure.”
I exhale hard, my latest attempt to shake off a few nerves as I glance at the clock on my wall. It’s nearly seven. Heidi gets off from the museum soon. As much fun as it would be to stay here and banter with Seth...
Now is the time.
“Okay,” I say to myself. “I’m going to head over there.”
Seth raises a fist. “Delta Xi,” he says.
I raise mine, embracing a battle cry we still use this long after graduation. Once a Delta Xi man, always a Delta Xi man.
“Delta Xi,” I say, ready to go.
CHAPTER 54
HEIDI
I am so late.
I swing into the driveway and park my car next to Drew’s. Of course, he’s here on time. I try not to think about it as I gather my sketchbook and bag and make my way into the house.
Jenna’s loud cackle rises from the kitchen as I bolt inside. Kicking off my shoes as I walk, I shuffle toward the sound with my excuse primed and ready to use.
Drew sits at the kitchen table with Jenna, dressed to date night perfection in a neat black blazer while I probably look like a frumpy hag.
“Hello there,” Jenna says as she pushes out of her chair in her tank top and shorts. “I was just entertaining your gentleman caller for you instead of getting ready for my date because that’s how good of a friend I am.”
“Thank you,” I whisper as she passes around me toward her room. “Are you early?” I ask Drew. “Or am I late?”
Drew checks his watch. “Both, actually.”
I wince. “I am so, so sorry.” I spin around and quickly march down the hall to my bedroom. “First, the museum wanted me to stay late and then there was this huge crisis that had nothing at all to do with me and then there was a traffic jam which was totally not my fault?—”
Drew grabs my elbow from behind and spins me around to face him, stopping me in my tracks. “Heidi...” he says, smiling. “Relax.”
I take a deep, purposeful breath and blow it back out.
