“Honestly…no clue,” I say.Idon’t know this Ebony.“I think I’m just going to play it by ear. Observe. See how she acts. Take my cues from her, and be professional. Live.”
Dom’s face is twisted into an emotional, pleading mess as he comes in for a bro hug with Josiah and me. “See, exactly. What we need is to take a guys’ trip—”
We both duck out of his grip, in stitches.
“Get your friend.” Josiah pokes the ball, freeing it from my arm, and shooting it toward the hoop. The ball soars through the air, descending with an audible swoosh. “Allnet!”
“Mm-hmm.” I laugh. “When no one’s guarding you.”
Dom’s undeterred in his mission to deliver us to the Temple of Doom, though. “Linc, when was the last time you used your money to travel, enjoy life, or buy some shoes that aren’t beat-down work boots or dusty Dunks?”
Bunch of comedianstonight.
Josiah dribbles back over to us, steady bouncing with a huge smile on his face as he eyes me. “Your boy’s not all wrong…”
“Meaning?” I prompt him.
“That it might also be time for you to stop holding your coins so close to your chest.” Josiah’s shoulders are up to his ears. “I’m saying, money-wise, you didn’tneedto take the job—”
I gasp. “Seriously?”
“But…I also know how important Madison Manor is to your family. So, yes, set your mind on finishing the restoration. Hire a backup team to expedite the job, if need be. Establish firm boundaries with Ebony. The less of her you see, the better.”
I shift my attention to Dom, whose smirk is conceding Siah’s point. “At least until the job is done,” he echoes.
I nod a few times.
“So far, the communication has been minimal—texts, emails, plus we’re using that new Mod3Dapp. Honestly, it’s amazing.” I pause, reading Dom’s lopsided posture and how his mouth is open. “To answer your question, I haven’t seen her since we met at the office last Wednesday, but I’m sensing there’s more you haven’t said yet?”
He chuckles. “You sensed correctly. When are you scheduled to see her again?”
I lean over my duffel sitting on the bench, pull out my phone, and bring up the shared calendar Ebony created.
“Looks like…” I keep scrolling. “Next week. Thursday, June twelfth, we’re meeting with Cornelia and Hailey Winston at Madison.”
Josiah tips his head to either side, weighing what I don’t know.
“Not ideal,” he says, tentatively. “But at least you won’t be alone with her. What about the three of us head out this weekend? A short flight or road trip could be great to get you ready, mentally…”
Yeah, physically is another story.
For a beat, I observe my two friends, unwilling to commit just yet.
“I’ll think about it, but, uh…was I right about Jade?” I reach for the ball, but he strong-arms me, holding it out of reach. “Did she finally kick your sorry butt to the curb?”
Josiah bounces the ball off me, laughing as he dribbles to the hoop. He dunks on me, hanging from the rim like he’s Shaq in the Magic days about to tear down the backboard. “You can’t see me!”
“I think everyone in a fifteen-mile radius can see and hear your loud ass.” Dom laughs.
When Shaq 2.0 finally comes down, he’s cheesing like a fool. “So, yeah, I might be kicking myself to the curb. Jade’s hinting around for a ring, and—”
“Ohhhhh,” Dom and I say at the same time.
Twenty minutes later, I’m home, drained, and struggling to find energy to hit the shower when my phone pings from the entry table. The moment I see the name lighting up the screen, I drag myself to the couch and plop down, bracing for battle.
Ebony
Hey, when you get a chance, do me a favor and check your Mod3D messages. I reviewed the updated specifications with planned structural changes, and I sent a few requests for your consideration. Thanks.
