“She told me not to send her a dick pic. So I’m sending Dick—capital D—pictures.”
“Ah, you’re trying to charm her with that nonexistent wit.”
“Something like that.” Was it working? He sure the hell hoped so. He couldn’t wait to go out with her the next evening. “Where should we go for our first date? I have no idea.”
“Since you’re wooing my future sister-in-law, try not to screw it up. I’d say take her skating, but you can’t with that knee.”
“I could maybe just skate slow.”
“No. Don’t do it.”
He sighed.
“A bar with music would be nice. After dinner.”
“I can do that.”
“Not Stabby’s.”
Well, there went that idea. “Any suggestions?”
“I’ll ask Mom and Dad.”
“No.” He cleared his throat, annoyed when he saw her smirking. “I can handle it myself.”
“I should get them all up in your business. What’s up with throwing me to the wolves, Junior?”
“My name is not junior, first of all. And that, right there, is why. You’re always picking on me.” He made sure to include a deep whine with his complaint then laughed at her expression. “I’m glad you came home. I missed you.”
Her eyes shone. “I missed you too, little guy.”
He topped her by six inches, but to Grace, he’d always be the little brother she’d watched out for.
“So, about this chick,” she prodded.
“Marlie.”
She nodded. “Marlie. Is Dad right?”
Damon lifted his head to look around. Not spotting his parents, he answered quietly, “I honestly don’t know. But man, I like her. A lot. And I barely know her.”
“This isn’t just about getting into her pants?”
“Well, I’m a guy. Sure, it’s about that. But not only. She’s tall. Really pretty. Snarky. Mean.”
She groaned. “Hell. We all know you like them aggressive.”
“Coming from this family, that’s a given.”
Grace chuckled. “That’s true. To handle my brother, she’d have to be strong. Well, I’ll give you until Christmas. If you haven’t won her over by then, I’ll lend you a hand.”
“Please, don’t.” After a pause, he asked, “So who’s this woman you’re into? I mean, I’ve always known you like girls. Why blurt it out now?”
“What do you mean you’ve always known?”
He scoffed. “Subtle is not your middle name. In high school, how many times did you and Jenny Fielder have sleepovers where you went to sleep in one outfit and woke up wearing each other’s?”
“That proves nothing.”
