He laughed, deep and long. “This is far from being over the top, baby.”
I liked hearing him call me ‘baby’ over the phone, but I wouldn’t let him charm me right now. “Agree to disagree… baby.”
He growled. “This is why you should be here. Need to kiss you, and I can’t.”
“I’m sorry. There’ll be plenty of time for that later.”
“You’re right. Gonna grab some grub. I love you.”
I loved hearing him say that. “I love you, too, Raff.”
Half an hour later, Jasmine strutted into Mom and Dad’s living room carrying a drawstring knapsack. “My brother explained a lot of things, but I still want the scoop. You can tell me while we go swimming.”
I shook my head. “I don’t have my swimsuit.”
She opened her knapsack. “Don’t give me that. You’ve worn one of your mom’s before, or you can wear one of mine.”
I had a decent figure and adequate curves. Jasmine’s figure was downright voluptuous and she had to have at least an extra cup size on me.
“Jazz, there’s no way I’ll fit into one of your swimsuits.”
She arched a brow. “It’s a string bikini, you can just tie it tighter.”
“I don’t think it works that way.”
She tossed two scraps of hot pink material onto the couch and shrugged. “Well, I don’t care if I see your side-boob or whatever. We’re swimming.”
“Do you have time for that?”
Her eyes widened. “I don’t have to report in until six. We got a good two hours we can spend in the water.”
“Friday traffic.”
She waved a hand at me. “Will you stop it and get a swimsuit on? Don’t make me push you in the pool with your clothes on. That’s your other option.”
“When did you get so pushy?” I asked, picking up the bikini.
“When I found out my brother woke the fuck up.”
“Jasmine,” I murmured.
A devious smile curled her lips, her brown eyes twinkling. “And that you woke the fuck up, too.”
I laughed. “Okay. Enough gloating, let’s go swimming.”
“You’re gonna wear my suit?”
I glanced over my shoulder at her. “Probably not, but I’m curious to see how it fits.”
As I expected, my girls were not up to the task of filling Jasmine’s bikini top. No matter how tight I tied it. Instead, I wore one of Mom’s old suits.
“Chicken,” Jasmine said when I came out of the bathroom.
I handed her a beach towel and led her out to the back patio. “Whatever. I’m sorry I didn’t call you this week. A lot’s been going on.”
She tossed her towel on a lounger. “That’s all right since now we’re gonna be sisters!”
Somehow, I hadn’t thought of that. It thrilled me and scared me. “Not for a while though.”
