Hope, Levy, Marc [good summer reads TXT] 📗

Luke and Josh to the cafeteria to set out her conditions: she would help them with their research, but she wouldn’t accept Longview’s financial aid, or sign any contract other than a confidentiality agreement. She also wanted to be free to end the collaboration whenever she liked. Her final condition was that she would only stay over at the apartment on weekends and Wednesdays, so as to protect their friendship, and despite Josh’s protests, she wouldn’t budge.

That evening, the three friends headed out to a downtown bar to celebrate the partnership.

Hope had one drink too many, and Josh and Luke had no choice but to carry her home. And although it was a Thursday, she made an exception to the rule, falling asleep under Josh’s comforter.

6

Hope was on her third glass of water. Setting the pitcher down, she drained the glass and sighed.

“Just breathe. Try and relax. I’m sure he won’t be long now.”

“They won’t be long, you mean,” Hope corrected him. “And what would you know, anyway? You’ve never met my dad . . .”

She fell silent as the restaurant door opened.

Squeezed into a pencil skirt, a curvaceous woman on impossibly high heels was teetering toward them, as a hushed murmur rippled across the small restaurant.

“‘Ample bosoms that nothing smaller than the universe might contain,’” Hope muttered.

“What?” Josh was transfixed.

“Nothing, just a line from a poem we learned in our foreign languages class. For some reason, it’s what springs to mind.”

“Do you think that’s her?”

“Oh, without a doubt. Dad will have pretended to be looking for a parking space so we can ‘get to know each other’ without him. That’s the kind of ballsy guy he is.”

“He’s done this before?”

“She’s Girlfriend Number Six . . .”

The woman scanned the restaurant, until finally her eyes settled on Hope, her smile widening into a beam.

“The poster girl for understated elegance. It’s going to be a long lunch,” Hope whispered to Josh as her new would-be stepmother sashayed over to their table. “If you manage to hang on until dessert, I’m marrying you.”

“Amelia.” The woman stretched out her hand, her glossy nails catching the light. “And you must be Hope. You’re so much prettier than in the photos.”

Hope was speechless. Amelia bent down to hug her, giving Josh a dizzying glimpse of endless cleavage. Hope kicked him under the table, pulling him back to reality.

“Your dad’s just parking the car. He won’t be long.”

“Oh really?”

“I can’t tell you how happy I am to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you, sometimes it almost feels like you’ve moved in with us!”

“You’re living together already?”

“Didn’t he tell you?” Amelia smiled. “You know, at our age, there’s no time to lose.”

“So how old are you?”

This time, it was Josh’s turn to kick Hope.

“I’m Josh,” he said, offering his hand to Amelia. “It’s a pleasure.”

Hope retaliated, nudging him again with her foot.

“Well, what a handsome young man! You’re adorable together.” Amelia nodded. “I always say it’s important that a couple matches up.”

“That’s so kind of you,” Josh said warmly.

“I have to say, you definitely match up with my dad.”

“Oh really?” Amelia trilled. “I’m so glad to hear it. Just between you and me, I sometimes wonder if your dad isn’t a little serious for a woman like me.”

“What makes you say that? He’s a doctor; you’re a nurse. What could be more perfect?”

“Oh, I’m not a nurse! I work in pharmaceutical marketing!”

Hope looked at her.

“Oh, I get it,” Amelia laughed. “You were teasing me. Your dad told me you had a great sense of humor.”

“Not as great as his, but I get by.”

“And what about you, Josh?” Amelia turned to him. “What is it you do?”

A swift kick from Hope forced him to readjust his gaze.

“I’m a neuroscience student.”

Hope scribbled a few words on a piece of paper she slipped under Josh’s elbow. As discreetly as he could, he glanced down to read the note: You have drool on your chin.

“What’s that?” Amelia asked, catching them in the act.

“Oh, nothing. Hope was just reminding me I have class in fifteen minutes.”

“But you’re skipping it, right?” Hope squeezed his wrist so hard, her knuckles blanched.

“I bet your dad is taking his sweet time so we get the chance to break the ice.” Amelia looked out the window.

“One point to you! You know him better than I thought you would.”

“I wasn’t trying to score points with you. I know a young woman of your age has every reason to be wary of her dad’s girlfriend.”

“‘Young woman’?”

“My parents divorced, too, and I hated any woman who came near him—just because. So don’t worry.” Amelia looked at Hope. “I’m not expecting you to like me, or love me. I don’t even expect us to become friends. But if we could at least get along on—”

“Divorced? My dad’s a widower!”

“What does pharmaceutical marketing involve?” Josh asked.

“Well, I meet doctors and introduce them to the new drugs our laboratory is developing. I talk them through the magic that new molecules can make happen.”

“And their side effects,” Hope added.

“And their side effects. In fact, minimal side effects are one area where new drugs are really standing out. And that’s how I met Sam.”

“Side effects . . . ,” Hope started, but quickly fell silent. Her father had arrived. Finally.

“It’s impossible to park around here,” he said, taking a seat at the table. “Why did you choose somewhere so far away from campus?”

“No reason,” Hope said, staring at Amelia.

Sam appraised Josh before straightening in his seat.

“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?”

“Dad, meet your son-in-law.”

Sam spluttered on his water, coughing to clear his throat.

“Josh. Nice to meet you. And don’t worry, I’m only her boyfriend.”

“Well, what exactly are your intentions with my daughter?”

“Sam!” Amelia shot him a warning glance. “Have some manners!”

Sam shook Josh’s hand before surveying the menu.

“So, what’s good here? The food had better be worth the journey.”

“The special of the day looks good. Drumsticks. Or are you more of a breast man?”

Hope eyed Amelia, but the dig seemed to