I took it.
Then, she handed me her phone. “And this.”
“Okay.”
Then she handed me her drink.
I looked at her. “Is this the test?”
“Hold this.”
“No. I’m tying my shoe.”
She bent down, adjusted her heel, and stood up, laughing. “You’re going to question everything I do tonight, aren’t you?”
“Your father has destroyed my ability to recognize normal behavior.”
For the next hour, Georgia teased me by pretending to make ridiculous demands.
“I’m tying my shoe.”
She asked whether I could convince the DJ to play a song that didn’t exist.
She complained that the punch wasn’t cold enough.
Then she requested a chair facing exactly northwest.
I finally said, “Georgia, I can offer north or west. The budget doesn’t cover both.”
She complained that the punch wasn’t cold enough.
Madison laughed so hard she nearly dropped her cupcake!
For the first time all evening, I relaxed.
Then, a woman approached our table. “Brent?”
I stood. “Yes?”
“I’m Evelyn. Georgia’s aunt. I’m one of the chaperones.”
I relaxed.
She shook my hand. “So you’re the young man Sheldon keeps talking about.”
I glanced at Georgia. “Hopefully, nothing terrible.”
Evelyn smiled. “He says you’re excellent under pressure.”
I frowned. “Does everyone in your family discuss my job performance?”
Georgia covered her face. “Aunt Evelyn!”
“Hopefully, nothing terrible.”
Evelyn laughed and walked away.
But I couldn’t stop thinking about what she’d said.
Later, Georgia and I stepped outside for some air.
“Okay,” I said. “Enough games.”
She looked at me. “What?”
I stepped outside for some air.
“Your dad keeps asking me strange, unexpected questions at work. He wants you to test me tonight. Your aunt apparently knows my entire employment history.”
Georgia sighed. “He’s been thinking about something important.”
“Yes, and?”
“Something involving the company.”
My stomach tightened.
“He’s been thinking about something important.”
“Is he selling it?!”
“No.”
“Am I getting fired?!”
“No, calm down. It’s definitely not that.”
“Then what, Georgia?”
She hesitated. “You’ll know soon.”
“Am I getting fired?!”
I shook my head. “Your family’s exhausting.”
She laughed. “Imagine growing up with them!”
Before I could respond, Madison appeared. “Georgia! Group pictures!”
My date grabbed my arm. “Come on!”
“Your family’s exhausting.”
As we walked inside, I noticed something.
Georgia had stopped acting annoyed with me.
Whatever her father was planning, she seemed to be on my side.
That made me feel slightly better.
Only slightly.
I noticed something.
The photographer arranged us beneath a balloon arch. “Couples, stand together!”
Georgia moved beside me. “Put your arm around me,” she whispered.
I hesitated. “Another test?”
She rolled her eyes. “Brent, it’s a picture.”
“Right. Sorry.”
“Another test?”
The photographer raised his camera. “Smile!”
My phone buzzed a few seconds later.
It was a text from Sheldon.
“Everything going smoothly?”
I showed Georgia.
She grinned. “Tell him I’m being difficult.”
It was a text from Sheldon.
I typed, “Georgia has requested a chair facing northwest. Negotiations are ongoing.”
Sheldon replied immediately. “Interesting. How are you handling it?”
I stared at the response.
Georgia peeked over and started laughing.
I typed, “I’ve offered her a north-facing chair and a complimentary napkin.”
I stared at the response.
Three dots appeared.
Then:
“Good thinking.”
I shook my head. “Your father needs a vacation.”
