Mikayla chuckles. “You love us more than anyone else in the world.”
“Hardly,” I lie. “You’re like fifth or sixth on the list.”
“Then I know I’m third or fourth. I must be higher than you,” Sandy teases Mikayla. “I’m the nicer one.”
“When are you seeing him again?” Mikayla asks, ignoring Sandy again.
“Tonight,” I tell her. “I’m staying at his place again because his family is having a dinner. It’s something they do every week.”
“Oh my God,” Sandy says, practically squealing with excitement.
“Well, at least you already met them,” Mikayla says.
I shake my head, my stomach already turning at how wrong she is. “No. That was only a few people. This is everyone.”
Sandy’s eyes go wider somehow, and Mikayla claps, showing almost as much excitement as Sandy about the situation.
“Perfect,” Mikayla says. “Big step.”
I’m not sure I’m ready for a bigger step than I’ve already taken, but I don’t have a choice in it now. I am going to put on my big-girl panties and dive right into the madness. This is what people do when they are in relationships. I am in a relationship. I have reminded myself of that fact multiple times today because it still feels so surreal.
“But the distance is going to be a problem,” Mikayla adds.
“It’s the same city,” I tell her.
“With the worst traffic,” she replies.
“We’ll figure it out. It’s not like I have an office job I have to be at early.”
“I see lots of sleepovers in your future,” she says.
I smile because, if things go right, I see them too, and they’re divine.
15
BRAX
“This is my little brother, Mason,”I tell Iris as Mason stands in front of us, staring at her like he’s in a trance.
“Hi,” Iris says, giving him a smile.
“Hi,” Mason says back, still staring.
“You okay?” I ask him because it’s not like my little brother to be so limited in his ability to communicate. He’s also never this quiet.
He nods slowly. “She’s just so…”
Iris gazes at me, worry etched all over her face. I shrug back because I’m at a complete loss as to where he’s going, but it sure as hell better not be anywhere bad. If he hurts her feelings, I’ll choke him out in front of the entire family.
“So what?” I ask, curling the fingers on my right hand into a fist.
“Pretty,” he whispers.
My shoulders relax. “You’re an idiot,” I mutter.
“You’re sweet,” Iris says, eating up the compliment.
“Not really,” Mason tells her as his lips finally curve upward. “If you ever dump this idiot, I’m single. I’ll be a way better boyfriend than he ever could be.”
