Right when Olivia finished, Alexa dropped her chopsticks.

“Oh my God. I just realized something. You said he’s in town for a fundraiser?” A wide smile spread across her face. “I’m pretty sure that the mayor of Berkeley—and his chief of staff—will be at that same fundraiser tomorrow night.”

Olivia dropped her head onto the table, barely missing the chow fun.

“Oh no. Oh no oh no. Is this some sort of anxiety dream? My little sister is going to be at the party with my boyfriend tomorrow and I can’t go?”

Alexa looked gleeful.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be good. I promise.”

Drew stood up to go into the kitchen.

“Hold on. I think we need more wine for this conversation. I’ll be right back.”

Alexa jumped up.

“Oh, wait, I know just the bottle, I’ll help you find it.”

While they were gone, Olivia checked her phone, which she hadn’t done since she’d gotten in Alexa’s car.

At dinner with these tech dudes; almost done, thank god, they’re so annoying. Can’t wait to see you soon. I hope you’re having fun with your sister!

She looked up from her phone to find her little sister pointing and laughing at her. It felt like she was back in high school.

“What are you laughing at?” she said to Alexa.

“Oh, nothing,” Alexa said, with that same smug look she’d gotten since she was a toddler and was telling on her older sister. “It’s just that gooey look on your face makes it very clear who you just got a text from.”

It was even more annoying when her sister was right.

“I don’t …” She was about to say “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” like she would have said twenty years ago, but realized that was ridiculous. They both knew exactly what Alexa was talking about. So instead she just let her smile get as gooey as she wanted it to. “He says he’s almost done with his dinner and hopes we’re having fun.”

Alexa’s whole face softened.

“Oh, that’s so nice.”

Olivia sighed and dropped her phone on the table.

“He is so nice, that’s the problem with him, Lex! He’s so nice! He’s smart! He’s generous! He’s attractive! He’s rich! He’s funny! He’s perfect!” Now she rolled her eyes at herself. “Okay, fine, that’s an exaggeration, but you know what I mean. What happened to me?”

Alexa put her hands down on the table.

“Are you telling me that in the three or whatever months you’ve been dating this man, you haven’t discovered any of his flaws?”

Olivia took the glass of wine Drew handed her.