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“And I don’t have contacts in publishing?” Cap asks, offended “You do realize I’ht? I havepots”

Evan chuckles “Yeah, well, I don’t want your dirty-fucking-hands anywhere near my baby sister”

“I still don’t see why I can’t help little Miss Maybe out…” Cap grins a devilish s”

The mere idea of Cap and Maybe within 100 feet of each other ut churn

“Mr Ives,” Clara’s voice chih the intercom “Your nine-thirty is here”

“All right, well, I’d like to say it was great talking to you bastards, but I prefer not to start off my Monday with lies”

Evan s Maybe out”

“Of course No problem”

“And what about h

“What about you?”

“Don’t I get a thank you? A lunch date? So for all of the hard work I’ve put in for you dicks?”

“Aw, you feeling left out, bud?” I ask in a sugary voice “How about I take you out to lunch next week? Will that make you feel better?”

His pout turns serious “Somewhere nice?”

“Don’t worry, sweetheart I know you’re a five-star restaurant kind of lady”

“As long as we’re on the sae,” he retorts, and I click end on the call before he can rope me into another ten minutes of ridiculousness

But in typical Cap fashion, before I even have the chance to let my nine-thirty appoint additional last words via text

Cap: Why don’t you go ahead and bring Maybe along? I’d love to meet this off-limits sister of Evan’s…

I roll my eyes Always the shit stirrer

Me: Lunch is canceled on account of you being a dirty bastard

Sadly, ive , it’s a stark rerown-up Maybe since the first time I saw her

If anyone’s a dirty bastard, it’s me

Maybe

After a short ride on the E train to SoHo and a five-block walk through a quiet side street of unique storefronts, I spot the sign for Charlie Bird—a cool, new-American eatery that Lena chose

I locate her quickly, seated at an outdoor table with a half-drunk glass of white wine sitting in front of her I nod htfully weird new friend

“Looks like you already got started withoutand sit down in the seat across fro There was a delay on the E”