The Sunday Arrangement Read Online Free

God,
you’d think I was freaking Jennifer Aniston.
    “Tell
us about the Mavericks!” someone shouted. “What were they doing at Hart Corp
today?”
    “Are
you and Pierce a couple now?” another yelled.
    Their
raised voices bombarded me with other ridiculous questions. I kept my head down
and forced my way through the crowd, all the while praying Kat and I would make
it to the apartment unscathed. “Lauren, keys!” I heard my friend yell.
    Quickly,
I fumbled in the pocket of my red pea coat for the keys. By some miracle, I
unlocked the large oak door, and soon we managed to stumble inside and away
from the flicker of the paparazzi’s lights.
    I
placed a hand over my chest and took a moment to catch my breath.
    “Holy
shit, Lo!” Kat said with her hands on her bony knees. “I feel like I just ran a
goddamn marathon.”
    Despite
the anxiety whirling inside me, I couldn’t help but smile at her. Outside, I
knew it was Kat the second she took hold of my hand. I knew her touch. I had known
her long enough that I could be blindfolded and shake people’s hands and still
know which one was her. This wasn’t the first time she’d saved me from the
paparazzi, and I doubted it would be the last.
    “Thanks
for rescuing me out there. That was crazy.”
    “You
know I’d do anything for you. Though I think you need to grow some balls and
face those bitches. Give them the finger or flash them, ya know? Something
that’ll really fluff their feathers.”
    I
rolled my eyes. “Yes, because that is exactly what I want.”
    “You’d
think you were actually famous by all the people out there! I mean, what the
hell happened today?”
    I
dropped my bag, kicked off my heels, and walked into my small living room. “The
Mavericks came to Hart Corp today. Although with the amount of publicity we’re
getting for one lousy meeting, you’d think some freakin’ strippers were
involved.” I plopped down on my red, comfy sectional and patted the seat next
to me for her to join.
    “ The Mavericks? As in your family’s mortal enemies? Those Mavericks?”
    “Yeah,
they’re the ones.”
    She
grabbed a throw pillow and sat down next to me. “Then I’m confused.”
    “Join
the club. Apparently, Dad now thinks it’ll be a good idea to partner with them
on an upcoming project.”
    “You’re
shitting me.”
    “You
haven’t even heard the best part. Guess who he wants to run it?”
    “I’m
afraid to ask.”
    I
pulled my legs toward me to hug my knees. “You’re looking at her. My new title
will now be Pierce Maverick’s Official Babysitter.”
    Kat
threw the red-and-white floral pillow that she’d been holding to the other side
of the sectional. “I think I need a beer.” She quickly got up from the sofa and
walked across the dark hardwood floor to my kitchen, a scant twenty feet away.
    “I
don’t often drink beer after work, but when I do . . . I drink Dos Equis,” she
quipped, mimicking the bearded man behind the cheesy beer commercials.
    “Kat,
you always drink beer after work.”
    She
made her way back to me, beers in hand. “Ah shit, you’re right.”
    I
grabbed the bottle from her and twisted the top off. I took a long pull from
the cold beer. Nothing was more refreshing.
    With
her one free hand, Kat ran her fingers through her short, blond pixie cut. “So
what exactly are you telling me here, Lo?”
    “I’m
screwed, basically.” I shook my head, still not believing my dad had the nerve
to venture out on this ridiculous project. “It was all Dad’s idea too! That’s
what I don’t get.”
    Kat’s
eyes went big. “What’s he smoking and where can I get some?”
    “Right?
It’s so unlike him. Our families hate each other. That’s the way it’s always
been.”
    Kat
paused a moment, letting my words hang in the air. “What’s your job going to
be?” she finally asked.
    “I’ve
got to make sure the kid doesn’t mess everything up or pull anything shady over
the company, I guess. Though I can