“What’s that?” I asked. Rita got off the couch and walked into the kitchen, me following.
“Japanese flavored light alcohol. Kind of like wine coolers, but a lot less geezerish, and some of them are carbonated. Watch how much you put down, the flavor hides the booze well, but would you like one? I’ve got peach, lemon, cassis berry, and a cola one that I hate, but can’t bear to throw out since I had to pay the damn import fees on them.” Rita opened her fridge and squatted down, grabbing one out. “Cassis berry for me.”
“I’ll try the same,” I said, “but my limit is one. It’s still early in the afternoon, you know.”
“Meh, it’s after five in New York. Cheers.”
We cracked our cans open and toasted. I took a cautious sip before nodding. “Not bad. But back to why you think I might have a problem with you moving to Portland.”
Rita shrugged. “I guess. I mean, I know Kade and I were never exclusive, but . . . that sort of thing can get complicated. I’ve seen it happen.”
I laughed and put my arm around Rita, which was somewhat difficult considering I’m four inches taller than her. “Rita, I have no worries about that.”
“Why’s that?” Rita asked, putting her free arm around my waist and hugging tight.
“First, because you and I like each other. You’ve become a friend. Second, you could have sabotaged everything for me. You could have given me all sorts of bad advice, so that even if Kade and I had hooked up one time, it would have been only one time. Instead, you did the right thing, and you acted with nobility and respect. That’s the sort of person you are, even when you aren’t being a saucy, geeky sex kitten.”
“Saucy, geeky sex kitten? I like it, I should get that put on a t-shirt,” Rita said with a laugh.
Chapter 28
Kade
When Vince and I got back, Rita greeted me at the door with a flying hug, which I hadn’t gotten from her in ages. “Congratulations, you big goof!” she said, squeezing my neck so hard that I felt like my head was going to pop. “You sure move fast when you want to!”
“Ack, you’re choking the surgical patient,” I groaned in mock distress. She unwrapped her arms from my neck and plopped down, chagrined. “So I guess Alix told you.”
“Told her what?” Vince asked, carrying two bags. “By the way, we got your cheesecake.”
“Thanks babe. Set it on the counter in the kitchen, please?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Vince said, walking past.
I gave Rita a look, and she smiled back. Ma’am? I mouthed.
Rita nodded. “Alix and I talked.”
“Okay, later then,” I said. “Let’s enjoy some gourmet cheesecake, and you can fill me in on the progress.”
Inside, I found Alix relaxed and comfortable, if perhaps a little tipsy. “Hey babe, you should try this stuff Rita showed me. Shoo-hi.”
“Chu-hi, and I think you’ve had enough, sis,” Rita said. She picked up two empty cans and took them into the kitchen. “Had no idea you’d be a lightweight with this.”
“What? I’m just hungry, that’s all,” Alix said. “Really, Kade, I’m fine. I’m not good to drive, but I’m not drunk.”
“It’s okay,” I said, sitting down. “Just, let’s switch to water for the rest of the night. Okay, Princess?”
“Yes, Kade,” she said, her voice much more serious. “By the way, I asked Rita to be my maid of honor.”
“Okay, guess I know what you all are talking about,” Vince said as he came in from the kitchen. “Congratulations, you two.”
“We can talk about that later,” I said. “I really want to hear about what the progress is on finding Sydney.”
“Hold on,” Rita said, glancing at Vince before turning in her chair to her computer. The printer on top of the desk hummed to life, and seconds later a shipping invoice came out. “He ordered . . . shoes, of all things,” Rita said, handing me the printout after turning in her chair. “Some designer online shop or something.”
“That fits with his mindset,” Alix said. “He’s always had a bit of a thing for really clean, really high-fashion shoes. Let me guess, Italian sneakers?”
“Looks like it,” I said. “And he’s having it delivered to an address in Salinas. That’s up by Big Sur.”
“Big Sur,” Rita giggled, then grew sober. “Sorry, the chu-hi must have affected me too. I think we all need some food.”
“Salinas? Why would he choose there?” Vince asked.
Alix spoke up, all traces of her previous alcohol consumption gone. “He’s from Stockton, remember? Salinas is nearby, and it’s a bit run-down. There’s a lot of people that he could hide with, and he’d still be able to play the big fish in a small pond. Best of all for him is that Salinas tries to put itself forward as a sort of artsy or wine country place. He can go from one end to the other of the Salinas population, and as long as he stays out of people’s business he could keep doing that for a long damn time.”
“That may come to bite him in the ass,” Vince said with a feral grin. “He may know some people in Salinas, but so do I.”
“Come, let’s get some food, and we can talk plans,” I said. “Rita, do you have any real food, or are we just having cheesecake?”