“I can’t believe this is it,” Zoe said. December 1 marked beta-release day, also known as the big freeze. Appropriately, the first flakes of snow were falling, leaving white triangles on the office windows. She’d labored six weeks for this, six weeks during which her leisure hours could be counted on the fingers of one hand.
Kayla huddled close in solidarity as she pressed the button that committed the final code to the repository. Darcy 2.0 was frozen. More than that—he was off her hands. The IT department would do the standard packaging and downloading tests now. For better or worse, no more code could be altered.
“It’s done,” Zoe breathed.
She hugged Kayla and took a moment to let the hugeness of the occasion sink in but not long enough to get maudlin about anything. Seventy emails in her inbox. The well-wishing would continue all day, with everyone jumping on the bandwagon. Darcy was the world’s worst kept secret. And once the official press release went out in two weeks there’d be no peace at all.
“I’ve too much email,” Kayla complained.
“Get Darcy to filter.” Zoe paced in a circle around the floor. “But first get me someone from product management in a meeting around noon, please. Not Ben—he’s a waste of time. I need a senior decision-maker.”
Kayla practically ran out the door.
Zoe packed gadgets together for a 10:00 a.m. meeting with events management to discuss something about the launch party. As if she didn’t have enough to do. But before she could leave, someone bustled through the door.
“Way-hey, D-day!” Laura bounded into the office and came to hug Zoe. “I can’t believe it. Did you sleep?”
“Not a wink.”
“Where’s your Swedish slave?”
“Server room, PM department, I don’t know.”
“How are you doing there, Darcy? Nervous?”
“I most certainly am not,” Darcy replied.
“Did you give him a facelift?” Laura moved her face closer to the screen. “He looks frozen. Ha, ha.”
“Yes, I asked graphics to trim the eyebrows and the burns. Just a tad. And he’s a few shades paler now. Less ruddy. Less like a landlord who actually does the rounds of the estate from time to time, but it has better traction in Japan, I’m told. What do you think?”
Laura cocked her head critically. “I prefer the old guy.”
“So do I,” Zoe said.
Laura rubbed her arm. “I know it’s been tough, losing three men.”
“How do you reckon three?”
“Tyler, Max, Darcy 1.0.”
“Except only one of those was a real man,” Zoe murmured.
“They all had their potential.”
“Oh, Laura, I’m so nervous. If only I could have a few more days to double-check everything.”
“Stop right there, Zoe. It’s over. He’s going to be huge. I’m sure of it.”
Zoe allowed herself to smile. “Sure hope so.”
“We’re going shopping to get you an outfit for the launch party.”
“No way, I don’t have time.”
Laura stuck her fingers in her ears. “La, la, la, not listening. I know you hate shopping, but I know something you don’t, and I’m telling you, you need a new outfit for the release party.”
“I’ll get it online.”
“No, no. You need guidance. My guidance. You need to look fabulous.”
“What are you talking about?” A half-buried hope shot to the surface. Could Laura possibly be talking about a certain person she’d all but written off? Would he show up for this shindig? But why would he? It was too much to believe.
“Ah, that would be telling,” Laura sang. “See, I need to do this, otherwise you’ll root around in your dusty old thrash bags and find something revolting, possibly steampunk. You need Hollywood style. Only when I’m satisfied will I tell you why it’s important.”
“Oh my God, you’re so annoying,” Zoe said. Whatever happened, she would look her best for this party.
“I know. That’s what best friends are for.”
• • •
“Hand me the spanner,” Mal’s voice sounded from under the HiAce van. His oily fingers appeared from under the fender, clicking expectantly.
Max handed him a spanner from the bench.
“Not that one. A number five. Can’t you see I’m—” Mal’s speech disintegrated into a growl.
“Be more specific when you name your tools,” Max said.
“Dork.”
“Amateur.”
Max searched for a number five among the greasy tools. If they’d been cleaned up better and stored properly, it would be a much easier task. This whole blasted Mal’s Garage enterprise would be a much easier task. He pushed the number five into his brother’s hand. “The state of these tools.”
“Eww,” Mal wailed. “Did you damage your manicure?”
“I’ll damage your nose if you don’t shut up.”
Mal’s muffled laugh came from under the vehicle. He poked his head out again, grinning. “Truth is, you’re not as bad as you used to be.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“I heard what you did for Maeve.”
“Don’t dress it up.” Max examined his fingernails. “I invested in real estate, that’s all.”
“And she moved into it, and Dermot called her three days later begging her to have him back. I wouldn’t call that dressing it up.”
Had his plan really worked? No contingencies? “Well, I heard nothing of it.”
“That’s because she only talks to me.”
“If you know something, you’d better tell me.”
Mal scrambled out from under the van and rose to stand beside him. Hands on hips, he was definitely enjoying this. “She told him no, of course.”
Oh no. What had he done? Max sank against the van. He’d been too heavy-handed. Again. Trying to sort out his sister’s life and ruining it in the bargain. She’d never, ever forgive him.
“Don’t worry.” Mal slapped him on the back. “Dermot proposed to her last night.”
“You better not be messing with me.” Max pushed his face closer to Mal’s.
Mal shoved him away, laughing. “He even set the date. April 7.”
Max tripped backward over a toolbox, fell on the ground, and gaped up at his brother. “Holy cow.”
“Yep, only took him five years, ten months, and seven days. What’re the bets it’ll rain?”
“In April? Almost certain.” Max picked himself up from the ground and dusted off his overalls. “But why didn’t she tell me?”
“Ah, she will in her own time, little bro. She has to get used to you being around, like. You’re this big hero to her. My advice? Play hard to get.”
“And you’d know all about that. No, Mal, that’s not my style.”
“Well, enjoy your big hero moment. It won’t last long ’cos once this shop’s properly up and running, I’ll be the big guy again.”
“You sure you still want my help because it sounds like you’ve got it all under control.”
Mal made a show of pondering the notion hard. “All right, if you stay in the background, like. Let me be the smart guy for once.”
“And I can be the rogue?”
Mal laughed loudly. “You wouldn’t know how.”
Max picked up another spanner to clean it. He had to fight a flare of resentment starting up again, but it was definitely fainter.
“Look, mate, I’m sorry about Shauna.” Mal shuffled his feet. “I just thought I was protecting you.”
“Bloody funny way of showing it.” Max grunted.
“Well, that’s just how it works sometimes. Accept it.”