"The 'Nope' Card"
"It's his what?"
Beth's voice practically squeaked in her incredulity, gaping at Ellie in very understandable confusion. Her half-drunk glass of wine was frozen only an inch from her mouth.
Ellie sighed and rolled her eyes in weary agreement to her best friend's thoughts. Wordlessly she reached into her pocket and withdrew the object they were speaking about, trying with all her might not to turn around and glare behind her in the direction of her house.
"He says it's his 'nope' card," she explained through gritted teeth. "He claims it can get him out of going to social gatherings or anything to do with human interaction 'without fear of guilt, retaliation, or explanation'."
Beth stared down in wonder at the small card Ellie had handed over to her. Sure enough those exact words were printed clearly for her to see. She hid a sudden snort of laughter behind a cough and handed it back. "It's going to be amusing to see how you and Hardy play out, Ell. Do you think he has a few extra of those cards I could use?"