Cloudburst (Storms 2)

“Oh, let’s stop talking about it. Tell me about Ryder. What did he think of where you live?”

“He was impressed, but he’s been to many impressive places.”

“I bet. So . . . did you get him up in your room?”

“Yes.”

“And? C’mon. Out with the details. This is like pulling teeth.”

“We’re just getting to know each other, Kiera,” I said. I didn’t want to describe our passionate kissing in my closet. She’d only want more and more detail, and unlike her, I wasn’t comfortable talking about it.

“That’s how you get to know each other best,” she said, followed by her little evil laugh. “I described my first date with Richard, remember? I thought he might think less of me at first, but the truth was, I excited him in ways he never expected. And still do!”

“Why don’t you send me a picture of him?”

“Yes. I’ll do that. Maybe a picture with his clothes off.”

“Don’t you dare.”

She laughed. “I’ll see. I’ll expect a picture of Ryder in return.”

I heard a beep on my phone. “I think that’s him calling. You want to hold on while I check?”

“No. Send me an e-mail, a delicious one,” she said, and hung up.

I flashed the line and said, “Hello.”

“Did you get a lecture about me?”

I knew all I had to do was say yes and I’d never get him back or have him have any more to do with me.

“Talk about being arrogant,” I said. “Why do you assume you were the topic of discussion?”

“Well, why did he want to see you in his office?”

“It’s a long story,” I said.

“Right. It was about me.”

“No.”

“Then start your long story,” he said.

Beginning any relationship with deceit was certainly not a way to give it any lasting meaning, I thought, but in this case, stretching the truth a little would be better.

“The Marches are having a hard time with Kiera.”

“Still?”

“She’s seeing someone seriously at college, and she won’t tell them how serious it is. Donald and Jordan know I exchange e-mails with her. They wanted me to tell them what I know.”

“Donald? It’s Donald now?”

“Yes, he asked me to call him Donald instead of Mr. March.”

“More progress. Maybe he will agree to adopt you. Okay, I want some quid pro quo, too.”

“What?”