Sebring(101)

“Finally, your mother and I agree on something,” he stated.

What?

“Sorry?” I asked.

“Dustin Culver,” he answered. “Good match for you. I like it.”

I heard the door to the loading floor open and looked that way to see Gill walking in.

Gill was back.

I wonder what that meant about David.

Dad saw him too because, without another word except, “Good-bye, Olivia,” he walked that way.

I watched him, feeling strange in a way I very much didn’t like and I continued to watch him as he and Gill disappeared through the door.

The noise had just again been drowned out when I heard, “Yo.”

I looked to Georgia’s office door to see her standing in it.

She was looking down the hall.

“Did I hear Dad out here?” she asked the hall.

“Yes,” I answered, and she looked at me. “He took off with Gill.”

“Come in here,” she ordered and didn’t wait, she walked into her office.

I sighed and followed.

I shut the door behind me and wandered to the chairs in front of her desk.

She was already seating herself behind it.

I made a point that I didn’t intend to stay long by standing at the back of a chair and putting my hand on it.

She didn’t seem to care about my point. She was preoccupied, shuffling papers around on her desk like she was looking for something at the same time talking to me.

“A quick brief,” she started. “Our supply is exceeding our demand. I knew it would but our boys have gone without so long, they’re itching to turn product. It’s far too soon for us to challenge Valenzuela territory so Tommy suggested expanding outside Valenzuela’s influence, namely some turf that’s weakly protected in Fort Collins and Greeley. Tommy’s taking off tomorrow with Miguel to look into that.”

“And what did Dad say about all this?” I queried.

My back straightened when she replied nonchalantly, “I haven’t told him yet.”

She had to be joking.

“What?” I asked.

She glanced at me then back to whatever she was looking for on her desk as she repeated, “I haven’t told him.”

“But, Georgie—”

“You’re not going to tell him either.”

“Georgia—”

All of a sudden, she locked her eyes to mine. “You’re not. And you’re gonna quit fucking around and make a date with that fucking Culver guy.”