At least five hundred million could buy a lot of damn blankets. He began to run, pumping up the treadmill to a breakneck speed. Maybe he’d buy one and smother Levi’s smug face with it.
***
“What’s your day look like today?” Bianca said, frowning as a cat nudged her hand over breakfast two days later. “Can’t you make these cats behave?”
“That is behaving,” Edie said, reaching out to pet Sleepy before pulling him down off the table. “I’m actually pretty impressed he’s so spry considering he’s missing a leg and has arthritis. Besides, you know downstairs is cat territory.” Their shared apartment was split into two territories—Bianca had the entire upstairs, and Edie claimed the downstairs. It suited them both just fine most of the time, because Bianca got the deluxe bathroom with the tub and Edie only had the guest bathroom with the teeny tiny shower. The kitchen was downstairs, though, and meals were always a bit contentious, because Edie’s seven cats tended to be underfoot.
“I’d prefer for him to be less spry around meals,” Bianca said, tossing her hair. “It’s unsanitary.”
No more unsanitary than Bianca constantly flinging her hair everywhere. “Cats are clean. It’s because you have cereal. He smells the milk.”
“Forget the cat. We’ve been asked to go back to New York for another round of coaching with Cujo.” Bianca gave Edie her prettiest smile. “Get ready to make more money!”
Edie blinked. “Really? Back to New York already? Magnus has barely had time to get the things I suggested.” She thought of his stark room and frowned. “Actually, I’d almost bet he didn’t get that stuff. He didn’t seem to care much. That’s so weird.”
Bianca gave her a coy little smile. “I don’t think it’s so weird.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s clear the man was flirting with you.”
Edie paused, spoon midway to her mouth. “You’re . . . kidding, right?”
“Not kidding.”
“He can’t stand me!”
“Mmhmm.” Bianca gave her a knowing look.
“I—no! Seriously. He hated every suggestion I gave him. Didn’t want to listen to any of it. I can assure you, the man does not like me.” It was weird to even think about it.
“Oh, Edie, you’re so blind to these sorts of things,” Bianca said in a pitying voice. She arched an eyebrow at her sister. “Let’s analyze this, shall we? Here we have a man who you met at a party and sat next to all night—”
“Neither of us speaking to the other, I should point out.”
“—and a few days later, this man acquires a random cat he knows nothing about.” Bianca extended a finger, counting off. “This man immediately contacts you to come and work with his cat, even offering to pay extra so you’ll come despite the long drive.”
“Oh, but—”
“Did he leave the room while you were there?”
“No, but—”
“Did you notice that I disappeared? His brother kept me busy with questions about the business and our billing. You don’t think he was seriously that interested in it, do you?”
This time, Edie had no excuse. She had wondered where her sister had run off to.
“Did he ask about you when you two were alone? Things like what made you who you are? Personal things?”
“Of course not,” Edie said, flustered. It was ridiculous to think about—
So what made you decide to become a cat expert? Her brain reminded her using Magnus’s voice.
Edie’s eyes widened. Surely not. “I . . . Uh, are you sure, Bianca?”
“I think I know what it looks like when a man is trying to let a woman know he’s interested. And I’m pretty sure he was interested in you.” Her smile became encouraging. “It’s obvious he got the cat as a means to get closer to you.”
That was so . . . strange. Edie thought back to the party at Gretchen’s house. She’d overheard their boorish male conversation in the kitchens, and both she and Magnus had been dismayed to see they were sitting together. They’d taken a seemingly instant dislike to each other, one that had carried through all night.
And yet . . . everything Bianca pointed out had a grain of truth in it. Pieced together like that, Bianca’s suggestion made sense. It was a weird situation and there was no logical explanation for it, unless it was that Magnus really was trying to get Edie’s attention.
But . . . why go for Edie when Bianca was right there? Edie knew she wasn’t the pretty sister. She wasn’t dog-ugly, of course, but she wasn’t as into hair and makeup as Bianca was. She wore jeans and T-shirts when Bianca wore skirts and blouses. Edie’s brown wavy hair was chopped at the shoulders and usually kept in two short braids tucked out of the way behind her ears. Bianca had perfect, smooth hair the color of champagne and cut in a heavy fringe across her forehead that made her big brown eyes look even bigger. They had the same heart-shaped face, but Bianca had a tiny, sweet mouth, whereas Edie just had a normal-sized one that was never sweet.
And Bianca didn’t limp. She was graceful and delicate, unlike Edie.
And Bianca wasn’t a raging bitch to everyone, unlike Edie.
“I . . . Are you sure he doesn’t like you instead of me?” Edie asked, completely puzzled. She’d called the man dickface . She’d insulted his house, his looks, and shot down every friendly word he sent in her direction.
“Please,” Bianca said daintily. “He barely spent two seconds in my presence. He was too busy focused on someone else.” Her mouth curved into another tiny, knowing smile. “And he asked you back today.”