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And when I find out who …
“Calm down, fanboy,” I tell him.
“I amnota fanboy,” Brandon scoffs.
There may be bad blood between my brother and his former best friend, but I happen to know Brandon follows Logan’s career almost as obsessively as I do. And one day, I’ll use this knowledge against Brandon. But I’m biding my time.
“Today was fine. Just like any other day,” I say breezily.
It wasn’t. And I know Brandon knows it wouldn’t be. Not for the Appies. And certainly not for me.
“So, is it true—his big NHL ego can’t fit inside the Summit?” Brandon sounds judgy. It’s an older brother characteristic I’m quite familiar with.
Mel hands back my debit card and my bag of groceries. “He waded through a metric ton of paperwork and a bunch of meetings in the morning. I’m sure he just had an administrative hangover. He’ll be fine tomorrow.”
“And how was today foryou?” Brandon asks, dialing the judgment up by a few thousand notches.
I pause. Because I have to answer this particular question with the utmost care and diplomacy. Like writing a peace treaty between two warring nations.
On my way out, I wave to Mel, who’s already returned to the age-old Betty and Veronica love triangle. I’m Team Betty, for the record.
“Park?” Brandon says as I step outside. “How was it?”
I stop and lean up against the brick building. “Today was fine for me. A normal workday.”
“Same old, same old, huh? Logan’s just another player to you?” His tone is dripping with derision.
“Yep. Exactly.”
“Oh, Parker. If only I believed you.”
I wish Brandon were here so I could whack him with my bag of groceries. But that would squish the loaf of bread I bought.
“I don’t particularly care if you believe me, Brandon. Now, do you have any pertinent things to discuss?”
“Like Dad’s gala?”
I start to sweat under my jacket. We’re walking awfully close to the landmine that is my big lie. “Can we talk about something more pleasant, please? Like inflation?”
Brandon chuckles. “Still in denial about the gala, huh?”
“What gala?”
Brandon laughs. “You know he doesn’t believe you can find a date on your own, right?”
Normally, this would start a verbal lashing back and forth. But right now, I’m just grateful. Because now I’m certain Brandon doesn’t know about my lie.
“Is it so hard to believe?” I ask lightly.
“Not because you’re not awesome, Park.”
“Aw, thank you! That was almost a compliment.”
“It’s because you never date.”
What is it with my family and my dating life today? I SWEAR.
“I date.”
