Driver
-Oh Alice, thank you! This means so much to me, Betty beamed at the café . I promise, we'll have an amazing time.
Alice mumbled noncommittally into Betty's hair, patting her sister's back awkwardly before extracting herself from the embrace.
Ednin looked to Alice and Betty.
-You girls want a ride back to Zed's place? It's on our way back to my place, Ednin said as she took Carla's hand.
Alice took a deep breath and nodded grudgingly.
-Fine, yes, we accept your offer, Ednin. Thank you.
-Shotgun! Carla yelled out excitedly.
-You don't have to call shotgun babe, we're all grown-ups, Ednin laughed.
Betty linked arms with Alice as they headed for the door.
-And don't worry, Ali, Betty said quietly. Ednin and Carla dropping us off was purely coincidental and convenient. I wouldn't presume to invite guests without discussing it with you first.
-Maybe it's ok if they come, Alice said quietly.
Betty stopped dead in her tracks.
-Are you serious, Alice? Betty asked. You’re not messing with me?
-I'm serious, Betts. I think having them there might not be the worst thing, Alice said carefully.
Ednin turned around with a smile.
-We don't have any plans that aren't more fun with more people, she said.
Ednin opened the back door of her SUV for Alice and Betty to get in, before opening the front passenger door for Carla.
-So is ride-sharing one of your side hustles, Ednin, or are you, like, a driver driver? Betty asked as she watched Ednin put on her driving gloves.
-A little ride sharing. I work as a professional chauffeur for VIP clients primarily, but I do occasionally offer rides to friends, Ednin chuckled as she settled into the driver's seat.
-You have so much class driving, Betty said with a little awe in her voice.
Alice rolled her eyes at Betty's obvious admiration.
-Don't be so starstruck, Betts. It's just a nice car driven by someone whose job it is to drive rich people around, Alice muttered, glancing out the tinted window at the rainy streets.
-What is it you say, Alice? Carla asked as she turned around from the front seat. Sharing is caring?
Carla reached her arm through the partition to offer Alice a gentle squeeze on her knee.
Alice jumped slightly at the unexpected contact, eyeing Carla's hand on her knee like it was a venomous serpent.
-I believe what I said was that possession is nine-tenths of the law, Alice corrected frostily. And I don't recall granting permission for you to lay your grubby mitts on my person.
-Just showing you I care, Carla said with a chuckle.
-Now, now ladies, let's keep things friendly, hmm? Betty interjected quickly. Carla honey, I know you meant well, but Alice has expressed that she's not comfortable with physical overtures from you right now.
Carla rolled her eyes.
-Look at that, Ednin said, changing the subject and pointing at a station wagon parked in Zed's driveway up ahead.
Betty recognized it as Flower's.
-Oh, Flower's already here! Betty smiled. It seems our little gathering grows even cozier.
Ednin slowed down as a man approached the SUV. Alice and Betty recognized him as Jammer, Deb's boytoy companion.
Alice scowled.
-Great, just what this circus needs, Alice muttered under her breath. Another one of Deb's floozies.
Jammer knocked on the backseat window and Betty rolled it down for him.
-What's going on Jammer, did you miss me? Betty asked flirtatiously.
-I lost Deb last night and I think she's in there, Jammer said, pointing at Zed's house. She had some choice words for me, then told me she was going to go hide in a linen closet.
-Did you knock buddy? Ednin asked Jammer from the front seat.
-I knocked, yeah. No one answered so I'm just waiting, Jammer responded.
-Jammer baby, why don't you keep waiting out here, Ednin began. We'll go inside and check everything out.
Alice took a deep breath before fixing Jammer with a look.
-Fine, we'll go play search and rescue for your ditzy girlfriend, Alice sighed. But I'm doing this because my idiot sister has apparently adopted you as her latest charity project.
-Hey now Alice, Deb is our sorority sister too, Betty chided.
-Yes, yes, I know, Alice huffed impatiently, reaching for the door handle. Fine, let's go find our sister.
-And our Eskimo sister, Carla tried to add helpfully.
Alice froze with her hand on the door handle.
-Excuse me? Alice's voice was deadly quiet. You did not just say that aloud, you vapid little homewrecker.
-We're building a home, not wrecking one silly, Betty said as she booped Alice's nose.
-Booping my nose won't charm your way out of this mess! Alice yelled. These two are playing us, manipulating us!
-Oh relax Alice, Ednin said with a laugh as she pulled a key from under a rock. No one’s manipulating you. Come on, let's see what the rest of the family is doing in the home.