Unbroken (31 page)

“I have a talent where alcohol is concerned.”

“I know,” Amber said dryly. “I've held your hair, so to speak, while you puked off a hangover or ten.”

Lark made a face. “Sick. I've never had a hangover.”

Cade shrugged. “That's because you live timid. I don't.”

“And you're all busted up to prove it,” she said, knowing Cade would rather joke about his condition than say anything weighty about it.

“But I've lived. Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. Indeed.”

“STFU, jackass,” Lark said.

He put his hand on her forehead. “You're starting to speak lolcats. Get off the computer once in a while.”

“You don't even know what lolcats is.”

“Something to do with cats and cheeseburgers. Amber texts me crap like that all the time.”

“At least she tries to modernize you,” Lark said, shaking her head.

“How did this become a commentary on me? At least I come out into the light every day.”

“Look,” Lark said, holding her—admittedly pale—arm out in a shaft of sunlight. “I don't even sparkle!”

“Suspicious. I'm suspicious. Seriously,” Cade said, “I worry about you, in your cave all the time. You've got to live life, Lark, or it's going to pass you by.”

“Are you seriously giving me advice?” she asked. “Name one thing in your life that's organized, or settled, or . . . aspirant.”

“Fun, Lark, I have fun. With real people. Outside. Look around you; it's in high-def.”

“You're an idiot, and also, I have a life.”

“Virtually.”

And if that didn't count as having a life she was screwed. She bit the inside of her cheek. “Annnnd?”

“And maybe you should get hungover, is all I'm saying.”

“But maybe have enough class not to go drinking all the champagne at a wedding to accomplish it,” Amber said, somewhat pointedly.

Yeah, if Lark did that here she really would look lovelorn and pathetic.

“Then I'll hold off. Anyway, you don't know everything about me, Cade.”

“Beg to differ.”

“You don't.”

“If I checked your browser history I would.”

“Nuh-uh.” No one touched her computer but her, but even so, she didn't leave certain things lying around on it. Secret shame was secret.

“Witty comeback,” he said. “Witty indeed. Why don't you go talk to someone? Meet a guy.”

“Right. Meet a guy. Cole would be interrogating him before a full greeting exited my mouth.”

Cade shrugged. “You take the good with the bad.”

“You're both mostly bad,” she said, not meaning it at all.

Amber rolled her eyes. “Have fun,” she said to Lark. “And catch up with us later maybe? You can help me haul his drunken ass to his room.”

“I say we leave him on the lawn.”

“Fair enough,” Amber said, turning and following Cade down to the table laden with drinks.

Lark bent back down and took her phone from her bag, trying not to think too much about her brother and his comments. Look what “living” had gotten him. And anyway, a hangover was hardly her definition of living.

She didn't have to drink herself into a stupor to feel like she'd reached the heights.

She opened up her mail app and saw another one from Longhorn HR. She opened up the message.

The money offer had doubled, and the length of the contract was for six weeks, with the possibility of extension. And attached was the contract, to be returned as soon as possible.

She knew exactly what her answer was.

She fired off a quick reply and the promise to fax over the signed contract that night.

There. It wasn't much. It was a local contract, and she would still be able to live at home while she fulfilled it. But it was something. A decision made on her own. A step toward meaningful independence.

She put her phone back in her bag and stood up, taking a deep breath. Then she headed over toward where the bride and groom were standing, by the cake.

She was going to offer her congratulations and sincerest well wishes. She wasn't feeling quite so left behind anymore.