“Thanks,” she said from the kitchen. “Beer?”
“Yes, please.”
I stretched out as she twisted the cap off two bottles and handed me one. She did it without wincing or making a face, too. It raised her stock another couple of points… and her stock was already high.
“So what movie are we seeing?”
“Whatever’s not sold out,” I laughed. “Sorry, I really should’ve bought us seats already. This is the busiest time of the year for—”
BEEEEEP.
Holly’s eyes suddenly narrowed. She walked over to her intercom and pushed the button.
“Uh… hi?”
“Hey it’s me!” a voice called up from the street. It was hard to hear it over the sound of the pouring rain. “Could you unlock the door? I’m getting soaked!”
Holly glanced back at me hesitantly as we both recognized the voice.
“Brody?”
“Yeah! C’mon, I’m swimming out here!”
Quickly she buzzed him in. I rose from the couch, looking back at her quizzically.
“Did you know he was coming?”
“No, not at all.”
I paused. “Was he supposed to—”
“Not until Tuesday.”
We heard the sound of footfalls on the steps outside, and Holly opened the door. Brody pushed his way in, dripping water everywhere.
“Oh man!” he said, peeling off his jacket. “It’s NUTS out there! Have you ever seen so much—”
He suddenly stopped cold. Holly took his jacket as his eyes locked on mine.
“What’s he doing here?”
“I invited him.”
Brody stared back at her, totally bewildered.
“I mean… it’s not your date,” she said quickly. “Not tonight. We’re not supposed to see each other until—” She halted long enough to push him backwards, onto the welcome mat. “Stand there a second, you’re dripping.”
He stood where he was told, dripping away. While he did that I tilted my beer back and took a long, casual pull.
“This is my night, young gun,” I said with half a smirk. He looked to Holly, who nodded her silent agreement. “Seems like you fucked up.”
Brody returned my look with one of his own. “Not according to the text she sent me.”
He slipped his phone out of a very wet pocket and pulled up a message. “Right here,” he said. “You sent me a message two hours ago. You’re coming at six, right? To which I replied: Sure.”
All eyes fell on Holly. She was shaking her head. “I—I sent that message to Donovan. I wanted to be sure of the time.” She glanced at me. “Did you get it?”
I shook my head slowly back and forth. Brody’s smile grew wider.