With that being the case, I go to my best friend’s office. Devon’s nickname is Reckless. One of his hidden talents is finding a chick for every occasion.

“You owe me a few. I’m here to cash in.”

Devon clicks his computer mouse a few times and then turns his attention toward me. “What did you do now?”

“We agreed you wouldn’t watch porn during business hours,” I say when I look at his locked screen.

He rolls his eyes. “It’s research, and the computer is on an independent internet connection. You don’t pay for it.”

“As long as you deliver, I don’t care what you do. Just be discreet.”

“So, what do you need?” he asks, crossing his arms and setting his feet on the desk.

I tell him about Lola’s wedding and my mother’s latest attempt to hook me up with yet another one of her acquaintances.

“Dude, just man up.”

“It’s not about manning up if I can’t get her off my back. You know how she is,” I say, as I take a seat in front of him.

“Yeah, your mom is something else,” he says, exhaling deeply. “I bet she’s already choosing the colors for your wedding.”

“Tell me about it. I don’t know what to do.”

“Call one of your hookups,” he suggests.

“The few one-night stands I’ve had lately are nameless. And the few female friends I have aren’t available this weekend.”

“Roni?” he asks, referring to one of my best friends from college.

“Mom wouldn’t buy it, she’s married, and her wife is Lola’s friend.”

“Is the wife hot?”

“Evans, focus!”

He taps on the armrest a few times and says, “I know someone who might say yes, but she’s not cheap.”

“I’m not hiring a hooker.”

He tosses his head back and laughs.

“That’s fucking hilarious. Annalise would have your balls if she heard you called her a hooker. She’s someone I see from time to time. Works as a freelancer, so she wouldn’t have a scheduling conflict.”

“She’ll charge me?”

“Not exactly. If you’re taking her on vacation, she’ll expect the best. First-class tickets, a five-star suite, and maybe some spending money to buy clothes for the trip.”

“Can you call her?”

“Yeah. Send me the flight information and the details.”

“Thank you,” I say, wondering if what I’m doing is worth it.

“You owe me,” he reminds me as I leave his office.

I turn around and say, “I’ll take a few favors off your debt.”

Two

Claire

“Just a few hours, Claire,” I say excitedly, as I search through my closet for a warm jacket to carry with me.

It’s April, mid-spring, and yet the weather calls for another storm. Could we get a little more sun and a lot less snow?