Page 117 of The Best Shot

“Because I’m his aunt, no matter where you live.”

She looked from me back to the elephant, and her hand came up, resting lightly on its head.

“Still doing too much,” she said softly.

“Planning ahead,” I said.

She snorted.

We turned back toward the register.

33

“GOOD NEWS?”

YASMINE

Diana called while I was standing in my kitchen eating peanut butter straight from the jar.

“You’re welcome, by the way.”

I lowered the spoon. “For what?”

“I’m going to let you enjoy these last few seconds of ignorance.”

“You know normal people just say they have news, right? You sound like a Bond villain.”

Diana laughed. “As your agent, I’m allowed a little theater when I’m about to change your life.”

I straightened. “Okay. Now you have my attention.”

“Antarctica. Emperor penguins. Full creative control.”

I stopped breathing.

“Yeah,” Diana said. “That’s about the reaction I expected.”

“You’re fucking lying.”

“You said you wanted real work. Well, congratulations, bitch. The penguins picked you.”

“Diana.”

“Check your inbox.”

I pulled the phone away from my ear and opened the email with my thumb.

National Science Foundation. Six months. Field research. My name sitting right there in black and white.

“Oh my God.”

“There she is.”

“Di. This is it.”

“Obviously. So I’m hearing yes?”

“Yes. Jesus. Yes.”