Page 30 of Darn Knit All
“You make one Christmas gift….”
Linc pinched the bridge of his nose. “You’re sure you want to do this?”
“Absolutely not,” I replied cheerfully. “But Mai needs me.” The cramping in my leg eased, the heat of the wheat pack calming the frantic muscles. I leaned back in my seat. “And I promised.”
“I still find it strange she asked you. Why not Flo or Frankie or Annie?”
I didn’t feel comfortable telling him about my new loved-up status without first speaking to Mai. I wanted to protect her from the scrutiny our fake relationship would bring for as long as possible.
I held up my hand, ticking off the short list of names on my fingers. “Flo doesn’t sew and has her own business. Annie hasthe twins and you, not to mention this.” I waved a hand around to encompass our office.
“There’s still Frankie.”
I snorted. “Frankie is an awesome individual, don’t get me wrong. But she also has her own business, clients, her podcast, and TV show, and do you really think Jay would let her go away for six weeks to a place where he can’t reach her? This is a no-contact situation.”
Linc shrugged. “If the guy thought Mai needed her, sure.”
“Well, she asked me.” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“Doesn’t she want to win?”
Buddy, you have no idea.
“I assume so.” I spread my arms out. “And who says I can’t be useful?”
Linc’s eyebrows rose. “Have you ever made anything?”
“There was that one shirt.”
“If memory serves, didn’t it disintegrate on the first wear?”
I waved my hand dismissively. “It was meant to do that. I like to call it recyclable fashion. You get to reuse the fabric and turn it into something new after every wear.”
“Uh-huh,” Linc said, looking utterly unconvinced. “That explains why it fell apart mid-dinner.”
I shrugged. “Prototypes always have some kinks to work out.”
“You’re determined to do this?”
I nodded.
“Well, fuck.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Guess I better see about replacing you.”
My tension eased. “You sure?”
“No. But I’m gonna do it anyway because I love your annoying ass, and you haven’t asked for a day off in three years. You took on the bulk of operations for the business after the twins were born, and I appreciate that. The least I could dois support you to do whatever the fuck it is you think you’re doing.”
I chuckled. “Look I didn’t say it was a good idea. I expect we’ll be eliminated the first week, but either way, I have to try.”
“Have to or want to?”
I shrugged. “Mai asked, so I’m gonna do it.”
Linc crossed his arms over his chest, his gaze considering. “It’s like that, is it?”
Jesus, what was it with people wanting to drill down on my relationships today?
“I would ask ‘like what’ but” —I stood, tossing him the heat pack—“I gotta get going. There’s a lot to organize before I leave for God only knows where.”
