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“So, it matches you up based on DNA?” shesays.
“Your analytic mind is fascinated. I cantell.”
“It’s totally fascinating. Will you send it to me? What’s the algorithm he uses? What computer software?” The anticipation in her voice makes mesnort.
“I dunno, lady. But I told him I’dhelp.”
“Why?”
The sip of coffee turns into a long glug, and it burns the top of my mouth. “Because work’s been a pain. I’m losing clients, and I have to prove I’ve got what it takes to make ithere.”
“You have what it takes. And I like this guy Wesalready.”
“You would. He’s that genius type. And he’s handsome. Like, Jake Gyllenhaal mouth and Bradley Coopereyes.”
“What about the rest ofhim?”
“I haven’t seen it. And I’m not going to.” I get out of my chair fast enough that Scrunchie leaps from my arms to the floor. I go to my room and flip through my closet for anoutfit.
“Really?”
“I’m taking a break from guys. At least of the non-workvariety.”
“That must free up a lot of time.” I’m not offended, especially since it’s true. “What are you doinginstead?”
“Tonight, it’s dinner at the parents’. One big happy family.” I pick a dress and grab it off the hanger. “You?”
“Lita’s playing a benefit concert. We said we’d stopby.”
“You, Jax, andAnnie?”
“Plus Tyler. They don’t go anywhere apart. It’s reallycute.”
“The cute part of teenagerdom.” I think of my brother. “It getsworse.”
“Can’twait.”
* * *
“What are you doing here?”
Those are the first words out of my brother’s mouth when I enter the foyer. He’s parked in the doorway, halfway to—or judging from the box of crackers in his hand, from—the kitchen. Beck’s got longish dark hair that falls over his face and green-brown eyes that change with his mood. Which means they’re always changing. He’s got a couple of inches on me even in sock feet. His jeans might be baggy on his lean frame, and his hoodie’s the latest from some basketball player’s line, though I can’t remember seeing him play thesport.
In fact, I can’t remember what sports he’s been into. I think he played lacrosse in junior high. But when I left for college, he was ten, and we haven’t exactly stayed in touch beyond the obligatory family holidays. Half of which I’ve managed to duck out of under the guise of staying with my friend Haley, who doesn’t have much family tovisit.
“Nice to see you too,Beck.”
“I was talking to the skunk.” I wonder when the high-pitched voice I remember gave way to the gravelly deadpan. “Dad’s going to lose hisshit.”
“Yeah, well, where I go, so goes theScrunchmaster.”
The doorman didn’t blink when I got on the elevator with Scrunchie. People have all kinds of pets thesedays.
After making sure the door is locked, I set Scrunchie on thefloor.
The apartment I grew up in is just west of Central Park. It has three bedrooms plus my dad’s office, though he’s only there at night when he’s finished a day of surgeries at the hospital or his privatepractice.
My mom prefers working at her law firm. Like most things between them, I think it’s a power play, her way of saying she’s too important to work in thehouse.
